Footsteps of St. Paul Pilgrimage to Greece with Fr. Dustin Schultz and Deacon Mike Pool

We depart on an overnight flight from Chicago or Indianapolis to Thessaloniki. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flight. Quotes for optional Premium Economy and Business Class upgrades are available upon request and will be provided starting at 120 days before departure. We work with group airfares (minimum of 10 passengers) that do not allow seat selection. If you wish to reserve specific seats on the flights, we recommend purchasing your own airline tickets and the land-only option with us.

We arrive in Greece’s vibrant second city, named after Alexander the Great’s sister. Our Greek guide helps us settle into the hotel, where dinner awaits us. Overnight in Thessaloniki. Mass will be celebrated. Meals: D

Following breakfast, which is included each morning, we travel to Philippi, where St. Paul first preached on European soil. We celebrate Mass at the riverside site of Lydia’s baptism, then explore the ruins of Philippi, including the forum and the prison of Paul and Silas. We follow the path of St. Paul, Silas, and Timothy to the ancient port of Kavala (Neapolis). We enjoy a special dinner in a local restaurant in Thessaloniki. Meals: B. Special Dinner

We celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and enjoy a tour of Thessaloniki’s ancient ramparts, St. George Church, and the Galerius Arch. We then travel to Naoussa, a region famed for its red wine, for a tasting at the Kir Yiannis Winery before continuing to Kalambaka for dinner and an overnight. Meals: B.L.D

Marvel at the “monasteries in the sky”, Byzantine structures perched atop dramatic gray rock cliffs since the 14th century. We visit a traditional icon-making workshop to see how these sacred works of art are created. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka. Mass will be celebrated. Meals: B.D

We drive to Athens, stopping en route for a break and lunch. In the afternoon, we celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Dionysius. We check into the hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure in Plaka, the city’s historic old town, where you can sample local Greek delicacies in a charming neighborhood setting. Overnight in Athens. Meals: B.L

We check out of our hotel, celebrate Mass at St. John’s Church, and drive to the port to board our 4-day cruise aboard the Celestyal Discovery. Our first stop is Mykonos, the “Venice of the Aegean.” Wander through its iconic whitewashed streets, chic boutiques, and the beautiful harbor of Alefkandra. We return to the cruise ship for dinner and overnight. Meals: B.L.D

After breakfast on board, the ship arrives at the lively Turkish port of Kusadasi. We transfer to the small village of Mt. Koressos, where we celebrate Mass and visit the small stone chapel on the site of Mary’s House, where the Virgin Mary lived out her last days. We explore the ruins of ancient Ephesus, including the Great Theater, with a capacity of 25,000 people. On our return walk, we follow the route that Mark Antony and Cleopatra once rode in procession, and visit the Basilica of Saint John, built over his grave. The ship sails to the Holy Island of Patmos, where we visit the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Monastery and Grotto of the Apocalypse, where the Book of Revelation was written. We return to the ship for dinner and overnight. Meals: B.L.D

The Island of Rhodes is a captivating blend of Roman and Byzantine architectural styles, and was one of the most important seafaring and trading centers in the Eastern Mediterranean in ancient times. Conquered in 1309 by the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, it is now under UNESCO protection. We celebrate Mass at Santa Maria Catholic Church, then our guide shows us the city, including the Master’s Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore on our own. We may return to the ship for our included lunch or enjoy lunch in town. We return to the ship for dinner and overnight. Meals: B.L.D

This morning we are in Crete. You may purchase one of the many optional shore excursions offered on the ship, including a visit to Heraklion with its ancient ruins of the Palace of Knossos, or follow our guide to explore the market and vibrant local life at leisure. We return to the ship for lunch and sail to the idyllic island of Santorini, widely regarded as the most breathtaking of all the Greek Islands. We disembark via tender and take the cable car to visit Thira, with its iconic whitewashed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes, and glittering boutiques clinging to steep cliffs. We celebrate Mass at St. John Catholic Church before returning to the ship for our last dinner and overnight on the cruise. Meals: B.L.D

After disembarkation, we visit the ancient city of Corinth. In the shadow of the towering Acropolis, Saint Paul lived in Corinth for two years, during which he was moved to write letters with an overarching theme of love. We see the remains of the first-century shops, the site of Saint Paul’s trial by Gallio, the Fountain of Peirene, and the Temple of Apollo. We celebrate Mass at the Steps of St. Paul in Ancient Corinth. We then return to Athens for a city tour including a visit to the Acropolis and Mars Hill, where Saint Paul spoke to the Athenians about the one and only God. Tonight, we enjoy a festive farewell dinner with great food and wine. Meals: B. Special Dinner

Today marks the end of our pilgrimage. We say farewell to a country that will last in our memory forever. We are transferred to the Athens airport for our return flight home. Meals: B