Under the Auspices of H.G. Bishop David
Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England
You are invited to
The 1st Annual Young Professional Trip to Greece & Ephesus
Footsteps of Apostle St. Paul
When: Saturday, May 20 – Monday, May 29th, 2017
Price: $1,850 per person Land/cruise portion (Double Occupancy).
It is cheaper to reserve individual airline tickets from Kayak or other discount flight websites. Please click here to view the flight we will be using or call/text Fr. Andrew (203) 455-7447 for information about Airline reservation & Trip
Please Reserve by: April 16, 2017
HG Bishop David will Honor us during the Trip
To Reserve or More information Please call/text
Father Andrew
203-455-7447
Checks should be Payable to “St. Peter & St. Andrew Church”
Attention Father Andrew Awad
138 Evergreen Hill Road
Fairfield CT 06824
All passengers traveling internationally must have a valid Passport. It should be active for more than 6 month from expiration date.
All green card holders will need visas, Visas are the responsibility of the traveler.
Sunday, May 21 Arrive Thessaloniki, Greece
Welcome to Thessaloniki, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions, and continue to the city center to see the highlights and visit the Churshes of Aghios Dimitrios and St. Sophia. Continue to hotel for check-in. Balance of the day at leisure. Dinner & overnight in Thessaloniki at the Hotel Capsis
Monday, May 22 Thessaloniki. Excursion to Philippi & Kavala
Today begins along Paul’s route via Amphipolis, a wealthy city in ancient Macedonia where a large number of Christian churches were built in the 5th and 6th centuries. Next, travel to Philippi, a busy Roman colony with an impressive library and theater. It was here that Paul preached and established the first church in Europe, and to whom he wrote his Philippians epistle while imprisoned in Rome. Continue to Kavala, ancient port of Neapolis. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki at the Hotel Capsis
Tuesday, May 23 Thessalonika–Veria–Kalambaka
his morning, stop in Veria (called Berea in the New Testament), where Paul and Silas were sent by friends after being accused of treason in Thessalonika. Visit the BEMA OF APOSTLE PAUL, where he preached the gospel to the local community, then continue to Kalambaka, home to the awe-inspiring Meteora monasteries. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka at the Hotel Divani Meteora
Wednesday, May 24 Kalambaka–Meteora–Athens
A real highlight is in store today. Situated atop soaring cliffs and rock faces, the Meteora monasteries create one of the most inspirational sites in the world. Visit the HOLY MONASTERY OF VARLAAM, the second-largest of the monasteries, and the HOLY MONASTERY OF ST. STEPHEN, which was bombed by the Nazis during WWII but later was reconstructed by nuns. Here you will be introduced to the many historical and religious treasures. Dinner and overnight in Athens at the Hotel Zafolia
Thursday, May 25 Corinth-Athens
Travel to Corinth to visit the EXCAVATIONS where Apostle Paul worked for 18 months with tent-makers Aquila and Priscilla. Learn about this ancient city-state and its early church, which was the recipient of Paul’s two Corinthians epistles. Return to Athens for sightseeing that visits the ACROPOLIS with the Parthenon and AREOPAGUS, where Paul delivered his famous sermon about the identity of the “Unknown God.” Tonight, join your traveling companions for a final evening of fellowship and celebration at a farewell dinner with wine at your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Athens at the Hotel Zafolia
Friday, May 26 Athens–Piraeus (Embarkation)–Mykonos
Awaken refreshed this morning and ready to begin your 3-night CRUISE around the Greek Isles and Turkey. Head first to mountainous Mykonos with its iconic windmills and brilliant whitewashed houses. Watch for Petros the Pelican, the island’s most famous resident since 1954! Dinner & overnight on the Cruise Celestyal Olympia
Saturday, May 27 Kusadasi, Turkey–Excursion to Ephesus–Patmos, Greece
Visit the Turkish port of Kusadasi for an included excursion to the RUINS OF EPHESUS, the former capital of the Roman province of Asia. Walk in the footsteps of Apostle Paul, who lived and preached here, and meditate on what life must have been like for the early Ephesian Christians in this pagan society. Also see the House of Mary, where the Virgin Mary is said to have spent her last days. Continue your cruise to the island of Patmos, the “Jerusalem of the Aegean,” and visit the MONASTERY OF ST. JOHN and the CAVE OF THE APOCALYPSE, where John the Evangelist received the visions that he recorded in the Book of the Revelation during his exile. Dinner & overnight on the Cruise Celestyal Olympia
Sunday, May 28 Cruising: Crete, Heraklion–Santorini
First port of call today is Heraklion on Crete. An included excursion is available to nearby KNOSSOS, the center of the 3000 BC Minoan civilization and historic site of mythology’s tales about the Minotaur and the labyrinth. Afternoon call (weather permitting) at Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean.” An optional shore excursion takes you up to the cliff-top village of Oia for one of the world’s most glorious panoramic views. Dinner & overnight on the Cruise Celestyal Olympia
Monday, May 29 Piraeus (Disembarkation)–Departure
Disembark and transfer to the airport
RATES INCLUDE:
- Accommodation on half board (breakfast & dinner at hotels) as follows…
o 2 nights at hotel Capsis in Thessaloniki
o 1 night at hotel Grand Meteora in Kalambaka
o 2 nights at hotel Zafolia in Athens - Accommodation 3 nights on full board on the cruise in CAT/IB inside cabins on Celestyal Cruises
- Any 3 shore excursions Patmos, Rhodos and Heraklion
- Unlimited nonalcoholic drink package during the cruise
- Gratuities on the cruise
- Port taxes
- Excellent English speaking guide for the land tour (on May 22, 23, 24, 25 and 29)
- Deluxe coach for all tours and transfers
- Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the program
- Whisper phones (headsets) during the land tour.
RATES DO NOT INCLUDE:
- Porterage. At hotels it is total USD 8 per person (in/out). At airport, trolleys are available for €1 coin each.
- Tips for guide and driver – suggested tip amounts (Guide € 5 per person per day)
(Driver € 4 per person per day) - Lunches on the land part of the tour (lunches included on the cruise)