In the Footsteps of St. Paul Pilgrimage to Greece with The Catholic Talk Show

Depart on an overnight flight to Greece. This is a land-only package. Please book your own flights. A group transfer will be provided in Athens on Saturday morning at 11 AM.

This morning, we arrive in Athens*, where we meet our English-speaking Greek guide who will accompany us during the land portion of the trip. Our first stop is the Catholic Church of St. Dennis, where we celebrate Mass. Settle into the hotel and enjoy dinner before getting a well-deserved night of rest. Overnight in Athens. (B.D) *The group transfer will depart at 11 AM.

Following Mass with the local Catholic faithful in Athens, we embark on a city tour. Athens is one of the most glorious cities in the world and the cradle of Western civilization as we know it. On our tour, we visit the rock that has dominated the Athens skyline for twenty-five centuries, the Acropolis. At the Acropolis, we see the ruins of the Parthenon, Erechtheum, and Propylaea. Ascend Mars Hill, where Saint Paul spoke to the Athenians about the one and only God (Acts 17:22). See the ancient Agora, the former public center of Athenian life. The afternoon and dinner are at leisure to explore the city on our own. Overnight in Athens.

We celebrate Mass this morning and then proceed to the port to board our 4-day cruise. Settle into our cabins and explore the ship. Beverages are included, so be sure to grab a cool drink and meet on the deck as we depart the mainland to enjoy the beautiful views of the city. Our first stop is the island of Mykonos, the most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands, which attracts visitors from all over the world. After docking, we transfer to Hora, the island’s capital, where we have time at leisure to explore the narrow, cobbled streets of the city. Pass by chic boutiques, elegant nightclubs, and whitewashed houses to arrive in Alefkandra. This section of Mykonos is known as the “Venice of Mykonos” because the homes with wooden balconies are built directly over the sea. Historically, these homes were of the wealthy merchants and captains. Return to the cruise ship for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we disembark via tenders in Santorini. We take the cable car to visit Thira with its iconic white-washed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes, and glittering boutiques that cling to steep cliffs. We celebrate Mass at St. John Catholic Church before returning to the ship.

The island of Rhodes is a mix of Roman and Byzantine architectural styles. Rhodes was one of the most important seafaring and trading centers in the Eastern Mediterranean during ancient times. In 1309, it was occupied by the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem. It is now under the protection of UNESCO. A tour of Rhodes is included in the morning, along with time at leisure to explore on your own. We may return to the ship for our included lunch or enjoy lunch on our own in town before we celebrate Mass at Santa Maria Catholic Church of Rhodes (a 5-minute walk from the port). An optional excursion to Lindos may be purchased on the ship. Dinner and overnight on the ship.

After breakfast on board, we arrive at the lively Turkish port of Kusadasi. Transfer to the small village of Mt. Koressos, where we will visit the small stone chapel on the site where the Virgin Mary spent her last days following Christ’s crucifixion. Following Mass, we continue to ancient Ephesus and begin our walking tour, which takes us through the most magnificent excavations in the world. The last stop on the walking tour is the Great Theater, with a capacity of 25,000 people, where Saint Paul preached. On the return of our walking tour, follow the exact route that Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession via the Arcadian Way. This main street runs from the Great Theater to the main city’s harbor. Upon arrival in Kusadasi, enjoy free time to explore on our own before returning to the ship. The next stop is Patmos, where we visit the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. This marvelous structure was built nine hundred years ago and continues to be supported by the walls of a strong fortification. In addition to the stunning main church with outstanding frescoes, we view the beautiful courtyard, dining room, and bakery. Our tour continues to the small museum, where we see priceless ecclesiastical treasures, including books, manuscripts, mosaics, icons, textiles, vestments, and jewelry. Board the bus, which takes us to the Monastery and Grotto of the Apocalypse. In this grotto, experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view the site where the Book of Revelation was written. Then return to the ship for dinner and overnight.

After disembarkation, we drive to ancient Corinth. Under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, Saint Paul lived in Corinth for two years. While here, he felt great grief over the way that the Gentile Church in Corinth had become. As a result, he was prompted to write four letters, all with the overarching theme of love. In Corinth, we have the opportunity to view 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 have lunch in Corinth and visit a local winery. In the late afternoon, we return to Athens for an overnight. Dinner is at leisure. (B. Special Lunch)

Enjoy a day at leisure in Athens to explore the city, visit a museum, or just soak up the local atmosphere. Tonight, we are together again for our farewell dinner, featuring Greek music. (B.Special Dinner)

Today marks the end of our pilgrimage. We say our heartfelt farewells to a journey that will last in our memory forever. There will be one group transfer to the airport based on the majority of the group’s flight departure time. (B) WELCOME HOME!