★ Hosted by Most Rev. Michael J. Fitzgerald, J.D., J.C.D.
12 Days · Greece and Turkey

Pilgrimage to Greece with Bishop Michael Fitzgerald

Join Bishop Michael Fitzgerald on a pilgrimage to Greece, including stops in Athens, Corinth, Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini, and more!

Dates
September 28 – October 9, 2027
Departs Philadelphia
Duration
12 Days
Trip code 27LD09GRMF
From
$4,595
Reserve your spot
The Pilgrimage

Walk in the Footsteps of Faith

Most Rev. Michael J. Fitzgerald, J.D., J.C.D.
Your Host

Most Rev. Michael J. Fitzgerald, J.D., J.C.D.

Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Philadelphia and Titular Bishop of Tamallula

Most Rev. Michael J. Fitzgerald is Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Philadelphia and Titular Bishop of Tamallula. Ordained a priest in 1980, he earned degrees in civil and canon law and served the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in legal services, seminary formation, and tribunal leadership, including as judicial vicar. He was ordained a bishop in 2010 and retired from active episcopal office in 2023 while continuing pastoral service. His pilgrimage ministry draws on decades of priestly, canonical, educational, and episcopal experience.

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Know Before You Go

What's included

✓ Included

  • ✓Round-trip airfare from Philadelphia to Thessaloniki and Athens to Philadelphia (will be added to the trip cost in November)
  • ✓Airport taxes and fuel surcharges
  • ✓First-class hotels for 6 nights
  • ✓Service charges and hotel taxes
  • ✓4-night Greek Island cruise
  • ✓Buffet breakfast daily
  • ✓2 lunches on the land tour
  • ✓Visit to a winery and wine tasting
  • ✓Restaurant dinner in Thessaloniki with wine
  • ✓3 Hotel dinners (standard 3-course menu; beverages may be purchased at an additional cost)
  • ✓Farewell dinner with wine in a local Athenian restaurant
  • ✓Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and afternoon tea on the ship
  • ✓Coffee, tea, and soda with meals on the ship
  • ✓All transfers with a private A/C motor coach as per the itinerary
  • ✓Shore excursion to Ancient Ephesus & the House of the Virgin Mary
  • ✓Shore Excursion to St. John’s Monastery & Grotto of the Apocalypse
  • ✓Outside cabins and Port Taxes
  • ✓Professional English-speaking Christian tour guide throughout
  • ✓Entrance fees are included for sites specifically listed (outside view means no entrance is included)
  • ✓Luggage handling at hotels (one piece per person in/out)
  • ✓Confirmation of daily private Mass
  • ✓Whisper sets
  • ✓For your convenience, $225.00 for tips will be added to the invoice and collected in advance

× Not included

  • ×Personal expenses incurred during the trip
  • ×Trip Protection & Medical Insurance (strongly recommended; see Travel Protection section)
  • ×Beverages at meals (unless noted above)
  • ×Church donations: approximately $3–$5 per person, per Mass
  • ×Airport transfers for land-only passengers
  • ×Airline seat assignments and flight pre-checkin fees
  • ×Government-imposed destination charges (to be paid on the ship approximately) $70.00
  • ×Electronic Travel Authorization fees (ETIAS) if applicable
  • ×Airline baggage charges
  • ×Baggage handling at the airports and hotels is limited to one suitcase per person.
  • ×Any charges incurred due to excessive luggage, including the cost of an additional baggage vehicle or porterage charges.

For your convenience, $225.00 for tips will be added to the invoice and collected in advance.

Day by Day

Your pilgrimage, mapped out

Tap any day to explore. Meals: B breakfast · L lunch · D dinner.
Day 1September 28, 2027
DEPART FOR GREECE
+

We depart on an overnight flight from Philadelphia 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.

Day 2September 29, 2027
ARRIVE THESSALONIKI
+

We arrive late 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. Meals: D

D
Day 3September 30, 2027
PHILIPPI – KAVALA – THESSALONIKI
+

Following breakfast, which is included each morning, we travel to Philippi, where St. Paul first preached on European soil (Acts 16). We celebrate Mass at the riverside site of Lydia’s baptism, then explore the ruins of Philippi, including the forum and prison of Paul and Silas. Follow the path of St. Paul, Silas, and Timothy to the ancient port of Kavala (Neapolis). We enjoy dinner in a local restaurant in Thessaloniki. Meals: B. Special dinner

BD
Day 4October 1, 2027
THESSALONIKI – WINE TASTING IN NAOUSSA
+

Celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and enjoy a tour of Thessaloniki’s ancient ramparts, the St. George Church, and the Galerius Arch. Later, 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

BLD
Day 5October 2, 2027
METEORA MONASTERIES
+

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

BD
Day 6October 3, 2027
ATHENS
+

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

BL
Day 7October 4, 2027
ATHENS – START 4-DAY AEGEAN CRUISE: MYKONOS
+

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

BLD
Day 8October 5, 2027
CRUISE: KUSADASI – EPHESUS (MARY’S HOUSE) – PATMOS
+

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 will celebrate Mass and visit the small stone chapel on the site of Mary’s House, where the Virgin Mary lived out her last days. Explore on foot the ruins of ancient Ephesus, where we see the Great Theater, with a capacity of 25,000 people, where Saint Paul preached. On the return of our walking tour, we follow the exact route that Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. We see the Basilica of Saint John, built over the grave of St. John the Evangelist. Upon our return to the port of Kusadasi, we will make a stop at the carpet-making factory, as mandated by the cruise line. Please do not feel compelled to buy any rugs unless you absolutely love them. We return to the ship for lunch and sail to the Holy Island of Patmos. On the island, we visit the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian and the Monastery and Grotto of the Apocalypse, where the Book of Revelation was written. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight. Meals: B.L.D

BLD
Day 9October 6, 2027
CRUISE: RHODES – THE ISLAND OF KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN
+

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. Conquered in 1309 by the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem, it is now under UNESCO protection. Our guide will show us the city, including the Master’s Palace, after we celebrate Mass at Santa Maria Catholic Church. The rest of the day is at leisure in Rhodes to explore the city on our own. We can return to the ship for our included lunch and relax, or enjoy lunch on our own in town. Meals: B.L.D

BLD
Day 10October 7, 2027
CRUISE: CRETE (HERAKLION) – SANTORINI
+

This morning we are in Crete. You may purchase one of the many optional shore excursions offered on the ship, which include a visit to Heraklion with its ancient ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Or you may follow our guide to the town to explore the market and the lively Greek life at leisure. 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 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 for our last dinner and overnight on the cruise. Meals: B.L.D

BLD
Day 11October 8, 2027
CORINTH – ATHENS
+

After disembarkation, we visit the ancient city of Corinth. Under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, Saint Paul lived in Corinth for two years. While here, Saint Paul felt great grief over how 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 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. 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 (Acts 17:22). Tonight, we enjoy a festive farewell dinner with great food and wine. Overnight in Athens. Meals: B.Special dinner

BD
Day 12October 9, 2027
FAREWELL TO GREECE – BACK IN THE USA
+

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 to Philadelphia. Meals: B

B
Pricing

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Base Price
$4,595per person

Base Price. Main trip package.

Solo Room
$1,695additional

Solo Room. Additional supplement.

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ETA Required
Confirm requirements with Select for this destination.
Deposit
A deposit of $750.00 per person should accompany your registration by June 15, 2027.
Final Payment
Final payment is due by June 30, 2027.
Passport Validity
Your passport must be valid through April 9, 2028.
Payment Fee
A convenience fee of 4% will be charged for credit card payments.
Pilgrimage Information

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