In the footsteps of Saint Paul the Apostle
1) ISTANBUL
2) ISTANBUL
Visit the Hippodrome where the Roman chariot races were held. Visit the Blue Mosque, and Emperor Justinian’s Hagia Sophia, one of the wonders of the world. Visit Topkapi Seraglio, the palace and the residence of the Ottoman Sultan. Go to the Grand Bazaar, the biggest of its kind with 4000 tiny shops, café’s and tea houses. Cruise the Bosphorus, one of the 7 great rivers in the world. While sailing, view the Dolmabache Palace, Ciragan Palace, etc. (Mass for the Day can be arranged with the Church of Sts Peter and Paul administered by the Dominican Fathers.)
3) ISTANBUL – ADANA – TARSUS.
Fly from Istanbul to Adana in ancient Cilicia. Off to Tarsus, the birthplace of St Paul. Have the Eucharist there. See St Paul’s well, and Cleopatra’s Gate. Back to Adana for the night.
4) ADANA-ANTIOCH-ADANA.
Drive to Antioch, center of Hellenistic Civilization. This place became the hub of St Paul’s mission.
5) ADANA-PAMUKKALE.
Leave for Konya, center of the Selcuk Empire. Move on to Pamukkale
6) PAMUKKALE – KUSADASI.
Pammukale is the place of calcareous Thermal Springs, considered as natural heritage and part of the World Heritage declared by UNESCO. Kusadasi is one of the oldest holiday resorts in Turkey.
7) KUSADASI – EPHESUS – KUSADASI.
Visit the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, where she is said to have spent her last days. (Mass could be celebrated at this shrine of the Blessed Mother.) Drink of the Holy Waters from the Sacred Spring nearby. Visit the ruins of the Basilica of St John the Evangelist where his tomb is located. Tour the ruins of the old city and appreciate how Ephesus was an important cultural center. See the Library of Celsius, the Temple of Hadrian, the Temple and the statue of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. See also the public latrine of the old city. See also the Great Theatre that could sit 24,000. St Paul stayed in Ephesus for over 2 years during his Third Missionary Journey.
8) KUSADASI – TROY - CANNAKALE.
Drive to Troy, visit the ruins of the ancient city. Night in Cannakale.
9) CANNAKALE – ECEABAT - THESSALONIKI.
Short ferry ride to Eceabat to the second largest city of Greece: Thessaloniki. It is to Christians in this city that Paul wrote his oldest letters, which are also the oldest parts of the New Testament. This city was Paul’s base in preaching the Gospel to the Macedonians.
10) THESSALONIKI.
Visit the churches of Agios Demetrios and Agia Sophia. Pass through the remains of the Roman period which recall the presence of St Paul in this city. Pass the Galerius Arch, and visit the Monastery of Valtadon. See the Roman Agora.
11) THESSALONIKI – VERGINA – KALAMBAKA.
Drive to Vergina, the seat of the Macedonian kings: King Philipp, father of Alexander of the Great. Pass to Meteora with its rock monasteries.
12) KALAMBAKA – ATHENS.
Visit the two Monasteries at Meteora – a unique wonder of the world. Pass by Thermophiles and view the memorials of Leonidas, the hero of Sparta. Arrive in Athens.
13) ATHENS - CORINTH – MYCENAE – ATHENS.
Leave for Corinth and stop to see the canal that divides Corinth from the mainland. Continue to ancient Corinth where Paul stayed for around 1 and 1/2 years during his Second Mission Journey. Here he worked as a tentmaker. Proceed to Mycenae, once a great power in Greece until it was destroyed by fire. Visit the Acropolis through the Lion Gate.
