Steps of Paul in Greece & The Seven Churches in Turkey

Arrive Thessaloniki, a city that is over 2300 years old. It was built in 316 BC by Kassandros, the Macedonian King, and was named after his wife, Thessalonika the sister of Alexander the Great. It was here that Paul wrote his letter to the Thessalonians. Later the city flourished under the Byzantine Empire ; transfer to our hotel for Dinner and overnight

Apostle Paul visited Philippi together with Silas during his Second Missionary Journey. Our first Biblical encounter with Philippi is through Act 16:11-40. At the time, Philippi had no synagogues and very few Jews, so Paul decides to wait for the Sabbath and go to the riverbanks outside the city. There he began to talk to the women that gathered there, amongst them, Lydia-the first person to be Baptized in European soil-she and her whole household became believers. During your tour in Philippi, you will have the opportunity to visit and study your Bible in the actual place where the Baptism took place called "Lydia's Baptistry." You will also see the place where Paul and Silas were imprisoned and freed by a violent earthquake. From there, you will continue to Kavala; the site was used to be Ancient Neapolis that Paul, Timothy, and Silas landed. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki

Apostle Paul came to Thessaloniki and went straight to the Synagogue. As described in your Bible in Acts 17:1-9, Paul preached in the Synagogue for three consecutive Sabbaths, and he gained many followers who believed. A couple of the Jews who were not persuaded created an uproar and attacked the House of Jason, one of the believers Paul was staying with during his visit. During your tour, you will have the Biblical Experience of those verses as you will see the agora in Thessaloniki, where Paul preached to the local Jews, as well as the House of Jason, where he lived! You will also have the opportunity to visit St. Demetrius Basilica, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert, and see the Galerius Arch rising over the famous via Egnatia. Continue to Berea, as described in Acts 17:10-15 Paul and Silas go to Berea and preach at the Synagogue. Many of the Jews became believers, but Paul's ministry was cut short. While you are in Berea, you will see St. Paul's Bema, where he preached to the local Jews in 54 AD. After your tour, continue to Athens. Upon arrival in Athens you will meet your driver and head to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

In 51 AD, Apostle Paul traveled from Berea to Athens by boat. His boat anchored at Faliron that used to be the main port serving Athens. Apostle Paul traveled from port to Athens. While waiting for Silas & Timothy to come from Macedonia, he spent most of his time talking with citizens at the Synagogues and the Agora. The Athenians took an interest in his teachings and invited him to present it more analytical at the Aeropagus, the hill west of Acropolis. Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and gave his famous Aeropagus Sermon, emphasizing the need to known God rather than worship the unknown as described in Acts 17:16-34. Follow your guide on a journey to the ancient Acropolis where you will see the Propylaea, the Parthenon and the Erectheum. View Mars Hill where Paul preached the gospel to the intellectual Athenian community of his day (Acts 17: 15-34). View the ruins of the Agora, ancient market place and center of Athenian public life, where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. You will view the Olympic Stadium, where the modern Olympics began and where the games returned in 2004. In the evening  flight from Athens to Izmir Airport. Upon arrival meet your guide anc conitnue to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.  

Our journey today continues on the road to the ancient city of Pergamum. See the Red Basilica which housed the 1st Century Christian Church referred to by John in revelation. Visit the Acropolis of Pergamum designed to imitate the one in Athens and the Asclepeion Temple once dedicated to the Greek god of healing. Revelation 2:12-17 records the letter written to the Christian church of Pergamum; verse 13 of this passage speaks of “Satan’s seat” being here (Pergamum was a center of idolatry). Paul was not allowed to preach here. Drive through Izmir  that was known as Smyrna and was another of the Seven Churches (Rev. 2:8-11). Here we'll see Polycarp's Church and the ancient agora. Return to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight

Drive to Thyatira, another of the Seven Churches with remains of a Basilica. A member of one of the guilds of the city, Lydia of Thytira,whom Paul met outside of the city of Philippi (Acts 16:14) was a seller of purple goods. drive to Sardes (Rev: 3-1). Visit of the Temple of Artemis, the recently reconstructed gymnasium and the largest synagogue discovered in Asia Minor. Then on to the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia,  founded by Pergamon King Attalos II for his brother Eumenes. Attalos wanted his new city to become the center of the Greco- Roman Civilization.   The sixth letter of the Apostle John to the Seven Churches of Asia Minor was the letter to Philadelphia.Return to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.  

Visit the most impressive biblical site of our trip:Ephesus where Paul first came on his 2nd journey (Acts 18:19-21). Ephesus was one of the most beautiful cities of ancient world and its former glory can still be appreciated today from its well- preserved streets, temples, fountains, public baths, terraced houses and theatres. Paul returned to Ephesus on his 3rd journey, staying and preaching for a period of about two years, where “special miracles” were wrought (Acts 19:120, 20:20).. Drive to Izmir airport for your flight to Athens Arrive Athens ,transfer to your hotel for a beautiful dinner and Overnight

Depart for Corinth with a brief stop at the Corinth Canal, which separates Peloponnese from the Greek mainland and connects the two seas (Ionian and Aegean). Later visit Corinth which was home for Paul for eighteen months. We visit the Archaeological Museum, the Bema, the Market Place and the Temples. From the Bema at Corinth, Paul spoke to the Corinthians about our Lord and Savior Christ. Return to Athens for dinner and overnight.