Depart USA to Thessaloniki, Greece.

Arrive in Thessaloniki at 11 PM and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Dinner and your overnight stay are in Thessaloniki.

Follow in the footsteps of Paul and Silas to Amphipolis and explore the ruins of the many Christian basilicas there. In Philippi, there is a baptismal site commemorating where God opened the heart of Lydia (a seller of purple from Thyatira) to hear the words of Paul (Acts 16:13-15). Lydia and her household were the first Christian converts baptized on European soil. View the Roman-era crypt thought to have served as a prison for the Apostle Paul, and explore Philippi’s famous Agora, the Basilica of Paul, and the theater. Today’s last stop is Neapolis (Kavala), one of Greece’s most picturesque mainland ports, where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. See the Roman aqueduct and acropolis.

Discover Thessaloniki, where Paul was accused of turning the world upside down with his preaching of Christ (Acts 17:3-6). Stroll through the archaeological museum and the beautiful basilica of St. Demetrios, dedicated to a distinguished Roman proconsul martyred for his Christian faith. Look upon the agora. Along the Via Egnatia stands the Galerius Arch, and you can look out over the second-largest city in Greece from the Old City Ramparts, some dating back to Roman times. Depart Thessaloniki to Athens. Stay overnight in Athens.

Board the ship and sail the blue waters of the Aegean Sea. In the evening, you
will arrive at the world-famous Greek island of Mykonos, where gleaming
white-washed buildings seem to climb atop each other to reach the azure
sky. Today’s excursions are on your own. They can be purchased on the ship.

This morning, you arrive in Kusadasi, Turkiye, and journey to Ephesus, where
the Apostle Paul spent three years of his ministry. He planted a church here
and later wrote to them in his Epistle to the Ephesians. Many of the ruins
of Ephesus (known as “the marble city”) have been restored to show the
city as it was in the Apostle Paul’s time. Visit the agora and imagine where
Demetrius, the silversmith, sold his silver shrines of the Greek goddess
Artemis. Stroll through the great theater where Paul witnessed faithfully
for Christ. Not far away is the stadium where chariot races took place and
gladiatorial combats were held. Tradition has it that the Apostle Paul himself
fought here against wild beasts. Visit the ruins of St. John’s Basilica, where
early Christian tradition tells us the “disciple whom Jesus loved” was buried.
View one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,” the ruins of the
Temple of Diana (Artemis), before setting sail for the Island of Patmos to
visit the Monastery of St. John, high on the mountain overlooking the entire
island. Walk down to the Grotto of the Apocalypse and the caves where it is
believed that the exiled Apostle John lived and was inspired by God to write
the Book of Revelation as well as other letters to the early church.

The Colossus might not be standing anymore, but the Greek island of. Rhodes still delivers beauty and allure on a giant scale. Explore Rhodes today and see the site in the harbor where the now-destroyed wonder of the ancient world once stood. Then, head to the Old Town, surrounded by medieval walls and seven ancient gates. Don’t miss the Palace of the Grandmaster, with its mosaic floors dating from Hellenic, Roman, and early Christian times. Today’s excursions are on your own. They can be purchased on the ship.

Dock this morning in Crete’s port of Heraklion, just three miles away from the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899, and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. This afternoon, enjoy time in Santorini, one of the most beautiful of the Greek islands. Here, picturesque, whitewashed villages topped with brilliant blue domes stand in stark contrast to the sheer drop cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea. Today’s excursions are on your own. They can be purchased on the ship.

Disembark in the port of Piraeus this morning. Enjoy the rich
architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens as your guide
introduces you to the world-renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the
Parthenon, and the Erechtheum. Stand on Mars Hill as the Apostle
Paul did when he proclaimed, “I found an altar with this inscription,
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship,
him declare I unto you” (Acts 17:23). As you stroll the agora (ancient
marketplace and center of Athenian public life), recall that this was
where the Apostle Paul preached “Jesus and the resurrection” (Acts
17:18) to the skeptical Athenians. Also see the House of Parliament,
the Presidential Palace, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This
afternoon is free to explore Athens on your own or enjoy an optional
visit to the New Acropolis Museum (Starting at $30). Dinner and
overnight are spent in Athens.

Return to the USA.