14-DAY HOLY LAND & GREECE

Today: We go to visit Mount of Beatitudes (the location of Sermon on the Mount). Tabgha, the site where the miracle of the multiplication of fish and bread took place. Close by, is the Church of Peter’s Primacy the location of the Miraculous Fishing. Continue to Capernaum where Jesus lived, and started his ministry. In the afternoon, Mass will be celebrated on the Boat, on the Sea of Galilee, as was done in the time of Jesus. Drive towards Bethlehem.

Evening: Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at your hotel in Bethlehem.

Today: In Bethlehem we visit the Shepherd’s Fields, celebrate Mass here. We also visit the Church of the Nativity that stands upon the site where Jesus was born. In the afternoon, we go to Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist and to the Church of the Visitation, where the Virgin Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and proclaimed the ‘Magnificat’.

Evening: Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at your hotel in Bethlehem.

Today: We visit the Mt. of Olives and The Pater Noster where Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer to his disciples. We walk the Palm Sunday route stopping at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see The Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed his last prayer before his arrest. Mass will be here at the Church of all Nations. We make a stop at the Chapel of the Ascension, located on the site where Jesus ascended into Heaven after his resurrection. This afternoon, we drive to the hill of Mount Zion, the highest point in ancient Jerusalem. It is dominated by the Church of the Dormition. The location is identified in Christian tradition as the place where the Virgin Mary died or “fell asleep”, as the name suggests. End our day at St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied our Lord thrice.

Evening: Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at your hotel in Bethlehem.

Today: We visit Bethany, site where Lazarus lived with his sisters Martha and Maria. After visiting Lazarus church, continue to the Jordan River to renew our baptismal vows. Drive down the Jordan Valley and stop at the oasis town of Jericho. This day we will have Mass either in Bethany or in Jericho. We will continue our visit to the excavations of the oldest city in the world. We view the Mt. of Temptation where Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan. We will visit the excavations of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were uncovered. On the way back, there is time for a swim (or rather a float!) in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, renowned for its healing properties. Return to Bethlehem.

Evening: Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at your hotel in Bethlehem.

Today: This morning we will transfer to the airport to catch our return flight to Athens. Upon arrival, you will be greeted by your tour escort and driver. We will make a panoramic tour of the city. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation.

Evening: Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at your hotel in Athens.

Today: We will go to the port of Piraeus to board a ship that will take us on a cruise through the Greek islands. Our first stop will be on the island of Mykonos, an island of whitewashed houses and beautiful views. We will have free time to explore this picturesque island and watch the multicolored sunset.

Evening: We return to the ship for dinner and to retire for the night.

Today: Arrival at Kusadasi in Turkey. Tour Ephesus, through paved streets of marble, you can admire the masterpieces of ancient architecture, such as the Magnesia Gate and the Celso Library, before arriving at the amphitheater in which St. Paul was imprisoned before his expulsion from the city. We will also visit the house of the Virgin Mary where she spent her last days. We will depart from the port of Kusadasi to Patmos. At arrival, time is at your disposal to visit freely this quiet island known for being the place where St. John the Evangelist wrote the Apocalypse during his exile from Rome. The cave in which according to tradition lived the apostle, is today the Monastery of the Apocalypse. In the second century the abbot Christodoulou founded the monastery of San Juan in one of the highest points of the island. In his museum there are some icons and manuscripts of inestimable value. Departure from Patmos. Full on board accommodation on the boat.

Evening: We return to the ship for dinner and to retire for the night.

Today: Breakfast at the boat, we will arrive at the port of Heraklion on the island of Crete, time at your disposal to visit freely: the commercial port, the ruins of the palace of Knossos, discovered in 1899 by Sir Arthur Evans and partly rebuilt, this majestic palace encloses the legendary labyrinth of the King Minos and is the cradle of the ancient Mycenaean civilization. The Archaeological Museum of Heraklion exposes many of the treasures found in the excavations. Boarding and departure from Heraklion to Santorini, landing arrival and time at your disposal to freely visit the most unique of the islands of all Greece with its whitewashed houses, its alleys, outdoor cafes and the beautiful shops of the city of Thira that is in the highest part of the same. You can go up to the city with a cable car or on the back of a donkey. Full on board accommodations and sailing during the night.

Evening: We return to the ship for dinner and to retire for the night.

Today: We will travel to Corinth. Here St. Paul spent 18 months, and preached to the Jews and Gentiles. Here too, Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla and was tried by Galleon in the Agora. The community he founded here caused him great pain and compelled him to write at least four letters. We will celebrate our liturgy here, ending with a reflection on Paul the Missionary. We had lunch in Nauplius and complete our day in Epidaurus, one of the best-preserved amphitheaters in the world with remarkable acoustics.

Evening: Dinner and accommodation will be at the hotel in Athens.

Today: This morning we will transfer to the airport to catch our return flight home.