Today we will visit the cities of Sardis, Philadelphia and Heiropolis before heading to Pamukkale.

The capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia and a very important city in the Persian, Roman and Byzantine Empires as it was strategically located and was built on the fertile plain of the Hermus. It was addressed by St John in the Book of Revelation as one of the seven churches. We shall visit the gymnasium, the temple of Artemis and the church.

Meaning “one who loves his brother” Philadelphia was a city established in 189 BC by the King of Eumenes II in honor of his brother. It is well known for its mention in the Book of Revelations as the sixth of the Seven Churches. The domed Bassilica of St John was built in the 6th century, which has been left in ruins after frequent earthquakes and volcano eruptions. We will visit the archaeological site where the Basilica once stood.

Our next stop will be in Hierapolis or “holy city”. This city was blessed with thermal springs, which have been used since the 2nd century BC for healing. Christianity was brought to Heiropolis by St Paul who founded a church here. The city today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will be visiting the amphitheatre, city gates, column lined streets, the Christian basilica and the Martyrium where it is believed apostle Phillip was crucified.

Today we leave Kusadasi on board a cruise ship. We will be sailing to the Greek islands starting with Patmos, the “Holy Island”.

Patmos is known as the sacred island. St John sought refuge here in the 1st century AD. It is here where St John heard the voice of God and wrote the Book of Revelations in the Cave of the Apocalypse.

We will disembark in Patmos and will have ample time to visit the Cave of the Apocalypse and the Monastery of St John “the Theologian”.

Our next destination is the island of Rhodes

Rhodes is the capital and the largest of the Dodecanese islands. Its history dates back to the Neolithic times. It was inhabited by the Minoan Greeks, invaded by the Mycenaeans, became part of the empire of Alexander the Great and later the Roman. It was most famous for the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

After the Byzantine era came to an end, the island was occupied by the Knights Hospitaller, the Knights of St John, who build the Palace of the Grand Master and a city reminiscent of a European medieval one. We shall have time to visit the Palace and stroll in the old town.

Today we will disembark in Piraeus and travel to the Peloponnese to visit Ancient Corinth.

Drive through the coastal road to the Corinth Canal, which separates Peloponnese from the Greek mainland and connects the two Seas, the Ionian and the Aegean. Continue to Ancient Corinth, one of the most important trading cities of ancient Greece dating back to the 6th century B.C. visiting the archaeological site we will come across the Temple of Apollo, the agora, the sacred spring and the Peirene Fountain.

The apostle Paul resided in Corinth for 18 months in A.D. 51–52. Here he wrote the First and Second Epistles to the Corinthians. We shall visit the site of the Bema of St. Paul, where he preached. Back in Athens you can take advantage of your free afternoon to explore, relax and shop in the central neighbourhoods of Plaka and Monastiraki.

This morning we will continue north and visit Vergina and Veria before reaching Thessaloniki.

The town of Verias dubbed “Little Jerusalem” for the many churches that are built across it. Here we will visit the Bema of St Paul where the Apostle stood and preached the Gospel to the Veroeans in 49 AD.

Vergina is the first capital of Macedonia and the burial place of the Macedonians. Here we will visit the very impressive site of the Royal Tomb of King Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. Displayed within this tomb are the finds such as the gold ossuary with the 16 pointed Macedonian star, gold leaf wreaths, frescos and ornaments.

Thessaloniki was built about 315 B.C. by King Cassander, brother-in-law of Alexander the Great, who named the city after his wife Thessaloniki. It was a major commercial center in Roman times as well as the second largest and wealthiest during the Byzantine era. In 50 A.D. St Paul visited the city and wrote two epistles to the ancient Thessalonians. At present Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city.

Today we will leave Thessaloniki and travel east skirting the Lakes Koronia and Volvi for a visit of Philippi and Kavala before returning to Thessaloniki.

Philippi, as its name implies, was established by Philip II of Macedonia in 358 B.C. It was here that Octavian and Anthony defeated Brutus and Cassius, last defenders of the Roman Republic in 42 B.C.

St Paul first arrived at Philippi around 50 A.D. It was one of the first European cities to accept Christianity. Here he delivered his first sermon and baptized the first Christian convert, Lydia. We will view the baptismal site and visit a crypt dating from the Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for Paul.

We will also see the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the Theatre.
Kavala, ancient Neapolis, was the main port of Philippi and where St. Paul accompanied by Silas, Luke and Timothy, first set foot in Europe and sowed the seeds of Christianity. Aside from the great panoramas of Kavala, the city has a Byzantine castle, aqueduct, and museum containing finds from Ancient Amphipolis and Philippi.