Depart from the US for a transatlantic flight to Athens.

Thursday, October 26

Arrive in Athens. Meet and greet at the airport. Transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Friday, October 27

This morning we begin our tour of Athens⁽¹⁾, the Acropolis, Agora, and Mars Hill. We will visit the Acropolis to see the ruins of the Parthenon, Erectheum and Propylae. We shall also ascend to Mars Hill, view the Agora (the ancient market place where Paul spoke to the ancient Athenians). We will also see the House of Parliament, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Presidential Palace, Hadrian’s Arch and the Panathenaic Stadium. We will continue to Piraeus Port and embark our cruise ship, enjoying the fellowship of other Christians and excellent teaching.

Saturday, October 28

Thessaloniki⁽²⁾—The second largest city in Greece, and the capital of Macedonia, Thessaloniki was named after Alexander the Great’s sister. Paul preached here and founded a church. The New Testament books of Thessalonians are his correspondence with the people of this church. Paul preached in Thessaloniki during the winters of 49-50 AD and wrote two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. See the ramparts of the city, the triumphal Arch of Galerius starting the Via Egnatia, once a strategic artery of the Roman Empire, the House of Jason and the Roman Agora where Paul preached. We shall also see St. Demetrios Church with its valuable mosaics and frescoes and will drive up to the upper town, which offers a marvelous view of the city. The site where the monastery of Vlatadon was built is believed to be the location where Jason’s house once stood and where Paul was accommodated during his visit to Thessaloniki. Journey to Veria⁽³⁾—ancient Beria—to the memorial commemorating Paul’s preaching to the local Jews in 54 AD. Still visible today in Veria, is part of the Roman road—the Egnatia Way—its remains a silent witness to Rome’s greatness.

Sunday, October 29

We call at Kavala⁽⁴⁾ (ancient Neapolis) where Paul, Timothy and Silas landed on the coast of Thrace. From there, visit Philippi⁽⁵⁾, named after Philip II, father of Alexander. It was here that Paul won his first European convert, a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira. Visit the Baptistery of Lydia⁽⁶⁾, the market place (where Paul and Silas were brought before the rulers,) the cistern which tradition identifies as the place where Paul was imprisoned.

Monday, October 30

A tour from Dikili (our port) is to Pergamon⁽⁷⁾, the great city of Bergama and a city of the Book of Revelation. It is one of the best-preserved ancient sites in Turkey. The letter in Revelation “to an angel of the church at Pergamum” was from “the One who has the sharp, two-edged sword.” He spoke of the place where Satan has his throne. This might be the altar of Zeus in the citadel; it is more likely that it refers to the fact that the city was center of the Roman authority for the area and therefore the place of persecution for those who refused to worship Caesar.

Tuesday, October 31

We arrive at Kusadasi, a beautiful town where we will remain docked for the next two days. From here we will make our excursions. Today, we visit Sardis⁽⁸⁾, the most picturesque of the Seven Churches. John told the Christians of Sardis that the letter in Revelation was from “the One who holds the seven spirits of God, the seven stars.” He admonished them to “wake-up, and put some strength into what is left.” We will view the ruins which included the famous temple of Artemis lying along the Pactolus River and dates from the Fourth Century BC. Continue for a tour of Miletus⁽⁹⁾. Paul and his companions traveled via Mytilene, Chios and Samos to Miletus where Paul delivered his touching farewell address to the elders of Ephesus and predicted his death.

Wednesday, November 1

Our tour today takes us to Ephesus⁽¹⁰⁾, the most impressive archaeological site in Turkey. Extensive excavations have facilitated the restoration of old Ephesus. From the harbor a thirty-five foot wide marble-paved and pillar-lined street led into the interior of the city. The Apostle Paul would have approached the city through this street, entering it through the northern gate, called the Magnesian. Paul suffered many trials and tribulations in Ephesus, leading finally to his imprisonment. We then proceed to Biblical Smyrna⁽¹¹⁾ , birthplace of the famous epic poet, Homer.

Thursday, November 2

The island of Patmos⁽¹²⁾ is considered an “Holy Island” for the Christian faith since this is the site of the apocalyptic Revelation of John, written here during exile from the Roman Empire. The cave where he lived is near the site of the Monastery of the Apocalypse. The Monastery of St. John, built on one of the island’s highest points, houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its treasury.

Friday, November 3

Disembark the cruise ship and begin the tour of ancient Corinth⁽¹³⁾. Here under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, Paul preached and lived for two years. The vigorous and mostly Gentile church he founded here in 50 AD caused him much grief and prompted him to write at least four letters to them. Visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. See the remains of firstcentury shops, the agora where Paul was on trial at the Bema, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo, and visit the museum filled with treasures from the ancient sites. We return to Athens for dinner and overnight.

Saturday, November 4

This morning we leave Athens and the marvelous sites of the New Testament and return to the U.S. From now on, as we read our Bibles or hear our pastors teach on the Books of the New Testament, we will feel the Bible come alive and enjoy vivid memories of our wonderful Footsteps of Paul and Revelation Alive cruise.

* All touring described in this itinerary is included in the price of the tour.

⁽¹⁾Athens Acts 17:22–23 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, "Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you."
⁽²⁾Thessaloniki Acts 17:1–2 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures.
I Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
⁽³⁾Veria (Beroea) Acts 17:10–11 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea:who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
⁽⁴⁾Kavala (Neapolis) Acts 16:11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis.
⁽⁵⁾Philippi Thessalonians 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
⁽⁶⁾Baptistery of Lydia Acts 16:14–15 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us:whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there." And she constrained us.
⁽⁷⁾Pergamon Rev 2:13–14 The one with the sharp two-edged sword says this: "I know that you live where Satan’s throne is, and yet you hold fast to my name and have not denied your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas…Yet I have a few things against you…"
⁽⁸⁾ Sardis—Rev 3: 1-2 "I know your works; you have the name of being alive, and you are dead. Awake, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God."
⁽⁹⁾Miletus—Acts 20:15,17 And we sailed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and tarried at Trogyllium; and the next day we came to Miletus. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
⁽¹⁰⁾Ephesus—Rev 2:3-4 "Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first."
⁽¹¹⁾Smyrna—Rev 2: 9-10 "I know your tribulation and your poverty and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."
⁽¹²⁾Patmos—Rev 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
⁽¹³⁾Corinth—Acts 18:1,8 & 19:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized. And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

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