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Tour Host: Dr.
Jeff Weima
TOUR ITINERARY:
March 7 Sat Depart from USA
March 8 Sun Arrive at Thessaloniki Airport
Our representative will
meet you after the customs and baggage claim with a “FAM
TRIP-TUTKU TOURS” sign. Transfer to the hotel for
dinner and overnight. (D)
March 9 Mon Neapolis, Philippi, Amphipolis, Thessaloniki
We enjoy a scenic drive along the Aegean Sea to Kavala
(ancient Neapolis), the port city of Philippi, where Paul
landed by boat and first brought the gospel to Europe. We’ll
travel inland to Philippi, named after Philip II, the father
of Alexander the Great. We follow the Via Egnatia which the
apostle took into the city. Here at Philippi Paul preached
his first sermon in Europe (Acts 16:13-15) and baptized the
first Christian convert in the continent, a “certain woman
named Lydia.” The Philippian church became one of Paul’s
favorite congregations and many years later, while under
house arrest in Rome, he wrote them a letter (Philippians)
expressing his gratitude for their faithful support of his
missionary activity. Extensive Roman and Byzantine ruins
have been uncovered and there is a crypt where it is
believed Paul and Silas were imprisoned. We leave Philippi
and continue to follow the Via Egnatia to Amphipolis (Acts
17:1) to view the Lion Monument that Paul would have seen as
he traveled by this city. We pass by Apollonia (Acts 17:1)
and return to our hotel in Thessaloniki (B, D).
March 10 Tue Thessaloniki, Berea, Kalambaka (Meteora)
Paul spent a number of weeks in Thessalonica during his 2nd
Missionary Journey establishing a church (Acts 17:1-9) to
whom he would a short time later write two letters (1 & 2
Thessalonians). Visit the Roman Agora (marketplace), where a
mob was formed against Paul and an ensuing riot started in
the city (Acts 17:5) as well as the Archaeological Museum.
Other impressive sites include the triumphal Arch of
Galerius (AD 305-311), remnants of two beautiful Byzantine
churches (Hagia Sophia & Saint Dimitrius), the ancient
ramparts of the city, and the White Tower—the symbol of the
city. We leave Thessaloniki for a brief visit to Berea
(modern Veria), the place whose Jewish citizens “received
the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures
every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).
After viewing the Bema—the spot where tradition has Paul
teaching the Bereans—and the beautiful monument dedicated to
the apostle, we drive south to Kalambaka (B, D).
March 11 Wed Meteora, Delphi
Here are the famous Cenobitic Monasteries that are perched
precariously on top of huge and precipitous columns of rock
that rise up out of the ground, thereby giving rise to the
name “Meteora,” which means “in the air.” It was in the 11th
century that the first hermits sought refuge in the caves of
Meteora where the solitude and spectacular vistas enhanced
the mystic way of life. Eventually the hermits began to
group together in monasteries whose buildings were decorated
with frescoes and icons by the great artists of the day.
After touring one of these historic and breathtaking
monasteries, we spend the afternoon enjoying the scenic
drive to Delphi (B, D).
March 12 Thu Delphi, Athens
Located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of
unparalleled beauty and majesty, Delphi is the home of the
Sanctuary of Apollo and the world-renowned “Delphic oracle.”
Other impressive ruins found here include the Temple of
Athena, a well-preserved theatre that seats 5000 people, an
athletic stadium seating 7000, a gymnasium for physical
training, various stoas, and treasuries. It is with good
reason that Delphi is widely acknowledged as the most
spectacularly beautiful ancient site in Greece. We also will
visit the Delphi Museum, whose impressive collection
includes an inscription concerning the governor Gallio (Acts
18:12), which plays a crucial role in establishing the
chronology of Paul’s life and ministry. We end the day with
a drive to Athens (B, D).
March 13 Fri Athens
Paul
visited Athens during his 2nd Missionary Journey (Acts
17:15-34). We’ll see the Agora (“Marketplace”) of ancient
Athens where the apostle dialogued with the Athenian
citizens and philosophers (Acts 17:17) and also at the
Areopagus (“Mars Hill”) where Paul addressed the city
leaders (Acts 17:19-33). Before going up to see the
Acropolis, we’ll stop at the New Acropolis Museum which
helpfully explains the history of this world-famous place.
Then we’ll go up to the Acropolis, which towers over the
city of Athens and which houses the Parthenon, a building so
masterfully created that it has been the subject of
architectural study since its creation. Equally impressive
buildings on the Acropolis include the Erechtheion, with its
Porch of Maidens, and the Temple of Athena Nike, the goddess
of “Victory.” The area surrounding the Acropolis houses a
number of other striking archeological sights: the Stoa of
Attalos, the Theatre of Dionysus, the Odeion of Herodes
Atticus, the Temple of Hephaestus, the Arch of Hadrian and
the Temple of Olympian Zeus (B, D).
March 14 Sat Corinth, Cenchrea, Athens
After briefly stopping at the Corinthian Canal, we proceed
to nearby Cenchrea, one of the two harbors of ancient
Corinth from where Paul sailed on more than one occasion
(Acts 18:18) and which was also the home of another early
church and an influential Christian woman, Phoebe (Rom.
16:1). We then visit Corinth, the place where Paul
ministered for 1½ years (Acts 18:1-18) and would later write
at least four letters, two of which have survived (1 & 2
Corinthians). The city is located on the slopes of the
Acrocorinth, a towering mountain rising 1,886 feet above the
sea and crowned in ancient times by the temple of Aphrodite.
Extensive ruins of Corinth are visible today, including
temples, water fountains, shops, various public buildings,
the largest Agora (“Marketplace”) in the ancient world and
the Bema, where Paul likely met before the governor Gallio
(Acts 18:12-17). The Corinthian Museum contains many
significant artifacts, several of which have a direct link
to events, items and people mentioned in the New Testament
(B, D).
March 15 Sun Transfer to Athens Airport for flight to USA
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
info@tutkutours.com
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