Depart the USA.

Arrive at the Athens airport this morning, where your guide will meet you. 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 look at the agora, the 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. Dinner and your overnight stay are spent in Athens.

Journey to the city of Corinth, where the Apostle Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquilla and Priscilla and received a vision from the Lord saying, “I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city” (Acts 18:10). As Paul spoke, Crispus (chief ruler of the synagogue) and many others believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8), establishing the church at Corinth to whom Paul later wrote his two epistles. Discover the archaeological museum, marketplace and temples. As you walk among the ruins, stand on the Bema, where the Apostle Paul stood before Gallio to face charges brought against him by the Jews. Stop briefly at the port town of Cenchreae, from which Paul later departed for Syria (Acts 18: 12-18). Return to Athens for dinner and your overnight stay.

All day cruise to the islands of Agistri, Moni, and Aegina with lunch and drinks included.

Fly from Athens to Thessaloniki this morning. Discover Thessaloniki, where Paul was accused of turning the world upside down with his preaching of Christ (Acts 17:3-6). As you explore St. George Basilica, believed to be built over the synagogue where Paul preached, reflect on the two epistles the Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church here. Stroll through the archaeological museum and the beautiful basilicas of St. Sophia and St. Demetrios. St. Demetrios is dedicated to a distinguished Roman proconsul martyred for his Christian faith. 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. Follow the path of Paul when he fled Thessaloniki for the safety of Veria (Berea), where Jews and some honorable Greeks accepted the new faith (Acts 17:10-12). 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 see 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 marketplace, 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 before checking into your hotel in Kavala for dinner and your overnight stay.

Today, you will cross the border into Türkiye. Upon arrival in Türkiye, you will be met by your local guide and transferred to Istanbul. Dinner and your overnight stay are in Istanbul.

Begin your exploration of Istanbul with an enjoyable two-hour Bosphorus Cruise. You will glide beneath some of the city’s famous bridges and sail past some of Istanbul’s more colorful neighborhoods and peaceful suburbs. Your boat will take you past castles and quaint fishing villages. Later, you will visit the eastern or Asian part of Istanbul. You will see the Byzantine city walls, the Golden Horn, and the world-famous mosaics of the Kariye Church.

The bejeweled capital of Istanbul sits between two continents and is home to 450 mosques. You will visit the famous Blue Mosque with its six minarets and sparkling interior. Walk through Hagia Sophia, which was the largest church in Christendom for 1,000 years, built by Justinian (532-537 AD). The church has 107 columns, fossil-embedded, white marble floors, and beautiful glass mosaics. Enjoy the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices as you explore the Grand Bazaar. Over 4,000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold. Transfer to the Istanbul airport for your flight to Cappadocia. Dinner and your overnight stay are in Cappadocia.

Explore Cappadocia’s amazing cone-shaped rock formations, which create a fairy-tale landscape. Even today, people make their homes in the cliffs and rock cones of Cappadocia. It is estimated that over 3,000 rock churches exist in the region. You will visit the rock chapels of Goreme, the cave village of Avcilar, and the monastic complex of Zelve. Dinner and your overnight stay are in Cappadocia.

Before departing Cappadocia, you have the option for an early morning balloon ride (additional charge). Also, visit the underground city of Ozkonak. Explore Konya or ancient Iconium, where Paul the Apostle and Barnabas invested a lot of their missionary efforts preaching the Gospel despite persecution. Dinner and your overnight stay are in Konya.

Arrive in Pisidian Antioch, the site of Paul’s first recorded speech. Paul delivered it in the synagogue among his fellow Jews. He spoke of the wonders God had done throughout Israel’s history that led to the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus (Acts 13:14-52). The Jews were outraged at this. Paul and Barnabas were expelled from the city, but not before the Gentiles in Antioch heard the Gospel and were persuaded that it is indeed the truth that leads to Life Eternal. These believers then established the first-ever fully Gentile Christian community. Stop at Tel Colossae, home of a Pauline Church. Dinner and your overnight stay are in Pamukkale.

Hierapolis is blessed by hot mineral springs and some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Asia Minor. Paul mentions Hierapolis in his Letter to the Colossians in saluting Epaphras, a fellow laborer, for his love of the brethren there (Colossians 4:13). The ruins cover more than a mile. You will see the impressive amphitheater with seats still in perfect condition. You will see the city gates, column- lined streets, and arches, which have stood through time and earthquakes. Today, the area is known as Pamukkale, meaning “Cotton Castle”, named for the limestone-laden hot springs which cascade from one white-edged terrace pool to the next. The Christians of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches (Rev. 3:14-22), were chastised for being lukewarm, “You are neither cold nor hot” (Rev. 3:15), and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. In the famous scripture from Revelation (3:20-21), Jesus says to the Laodicean church: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock . . .” Today, there are many acres of ruins to see, including the stadium and columned streets. Dinner and your overnight stay are in Kusadasi.

Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 1:11). In ancient days, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250,000, graced with wide, colonnade-bordered streets. Today, you will be impressed with the spectacular excavations of the major streets of ancient Ephesus. You will view the library and the huge agora. The Temple of Artemis was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, only a single column remains to mark the site. You will visit the Ephesus Experience Museum for an up-close look as ancient artifacts come to life. You will have time to explore this powerful city on your own and retrace some of the footsteps of Paul. Fly from Izmir back to Istanbul for dinner and your overnight stay.

Return Home.