Join Fr. Christogonus Iwunze, SDV, and Sandra Jean on a pilgrimage to Greece, including a 4-Day Cruise. Visit Athens, Corinth, Santorini, and more.
Fr. Christogonus Iwunze, SDV, Sandra Jean, and a Christian guide will meet your party at the airport and accompany you every step of the way as you explore Greece, including stops in Athens, Corinth, Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini, and more!
Sandra Jean is a Catholic pilgrimage leader with Select International Tours. She has accompanied pilgrims through Greece alongside Fr. Christogonus Iwunze, helping the group experience the places of the early Church through prayer and fellowship.
For your convenience, a $280.00 tip and government island fees fund will be pre-collected and added to your invoice.
We depart on an overnight flight from JFK International Airport to Thessaloniki. Dinner and breakfast are served on the plane. Quotes for optional Premium Economy and Business Class upgrades are available upon request, 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 booking the Land Only package.
We arrive in Greece’s vibrant second largest city, named after Alexander the Great’s sister. Our Greek tour manager helps us settle into the hotel, where dinner awaits us. Overnight in Thessaloniki. (Dinner with wine)
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). Enjoy dinner in a local restaurant. Return to our hotel in Thessaloniki for the overnight. (B.Special dinner with wine)
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 overnight at our hotel.
Marvel at the Meteora “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 today. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka.
This morning, we drive toward 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 the Plaka, the city’s historic old town, where you can sample local Greek delicacies in a charming neighborhood setting. Overnight in Athens.
After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our tour of one of the oldest cities in the world, Athens! We visit the rock that has dominated the panorama of Athens for twenty-five centuries, the Acropolis. Ascend Mars Hill, where Saint Paul spoke to the Athenians about the one and only God (Acts 17:22). While in this city, view the ancient Agora, the former public center of Athenian life. We see the House of Parliament on Syntagma Square. We visit Panathenaic Stadium, the beautifully marbled multi-purpose stadium. It is home to the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the site of the first modern-era Olympics (1896). Then depart Athens for ancient Corinth. Under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, Saint Paul lived in Corinth for two years. While here, he felt great grief over what the Gentile Church in Corinth had become. As a result, he wrote 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. Following our visit to Corinth, we stop at a local winery for a taste of the wine made in that region. Then return to Athens for dinner and the evening at leisure. Overnight in Athens. (B. Wine tasting)
We check out of our hotel, celebrate Mass, and drive to the port to board our 4-day cruise. 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 an overnight stay.
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. Explore 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. Continue to the Basilica of Saint John, built over the grave of St. John the Evangelist. Upon our return to the port of Kusadasi, we 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.
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 lead us on a walking tour of the city, including the Master’s Palace, after which we celebrate Mass. The rest of the day is at leisure in Rhodes to explore the city on our own. Return to the ship for an included lunch and relax onboard, or enjoy lunch on your own in town.
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 before returning to the ship for our last dinner and overnight on the cruise.
After disembarkation, we return to Athens for a full day at leisure and opportunity to explore the city on your own. Tonight, we enjoy a festive farewell dinner with great food and wine. Overnight in Athens. (B.Special dinner)
Today marks the end of our pilgrimage. We say farewell to a country and a trip that will last in our memories forever. We are transferred to the Athens airport for our return flight home.
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, we are greeted at the airport and transferred to our hotel in the historic Galata district. Depending on our arrival time, you may begin to feel the city’s unique rhythm with its lively streets, historic facades, and views stretching across the Golden Horn. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast, step into the heart of the city for a day filled with history, faith, and architectural wonders. Our morning begins with a visit to St. Antuan of Padua Church, one of Istanbul’s most important Catholic churches, offering a peaceful and spiritual start to the day. Continue to the magnificent Topkapi Palace, once home to Ottoman sultans, where opulent courtyards and imperial treasures tell stories of a powerful empire. Within its grounds, visit the serene Hagia Irene, one of the city’s oldest churches. Then explore the breathtaking Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece that has stood at the crossroads of empires and religions for centuries. We end our day at the vibrant Spice Bazaar, where the scents of exotic spices, teas, and sweets create a truly unforgettable atmosphere, and the Grand Bazaar where we enjoy shopping and bargaining with the local merchants. Dinner tonight is in one of the restaurants along the Bosphorus River. Overnight in Istanbul. (B. Special dinner)
After breakfast, we check-out from our hotel and transfer to the airport for our departure flights. As we leave Istanbul, we take with us memories of a city where every corner tells a story and every moment connects past and present.
Base Price. Main trip package.
Solo Room. Additional supplement.
Optional Extension to Istanbul (Double Occupancy). Optional trip component.
Optional Extension to Istanbul (Solo Room). Additional supplement.
Protect your investment against cancellation, illness and disruption.
Learn more →Deposit, payment, cancellation and responsibility terms for this trip.
Learn more →Passport, visa and destination entry requirements.
Learn more →Packing, weather, electrical and on-the-ground practicalities.
Learn more →Short, practical videos to help you make the most of your pilgrimage.
Learn more →Registration, payments, lodging, walking, mobility and more.
Learn more →Review the trip details and registration information, then reserve your place.
