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The Classical World in the Time of St. Paul: Exploring the Ancient Shores of Greece, the Greek Islands, and Turkey
One of the pivotal figures in early Christian history, Saul of Tarsus, later called St. Paul, authored one of the greatest sea sagas of the ancient world. Spreading the Gospel through much of the Mediterranean by a combination of faith, fortune (both good and bad), soaring oratory and guile, his stories and teachings form much of the canonical New Testament. On this voyage aboard Corinthian II, we will follow in the footsteps of St. Paul and learn about the culture of the ancient Mediterranean at the first flowering of Christianity. In Athens we see the rock where, in the mid-1st century, Paul preached his sermon on “the Unknown God,” and at Thessaloniki and Philippi—an important stop on his apostolic mission — we enter the churches and basilicas that are among Christianity’s earliest existing monuments. Journeying to Ephesus in present-day Turkey, we explore the very amphitheater where Paul spoke, vividly recounted in Acts xix 23-40. Our voyage also encompasses the island of Rhodes, where Paul was famously shipwrecked.
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Itinerary
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July 29 • USA
July 30 • ATHENS, Greece
July 31 • ATHENS
August 1 • ATHENS | CORINTH | PIRAEUS | EMBARK
August 2 • HERAKLION | KNOSSOS | GORTYN | HERAKLION, Crete
August 3 • RHODES | LINDOS | RHODES
August 4 • KUSADASI | EPHESUS | KUSADASI OR MILETUS | KUSADASI, Turkey
August 5 • MYTILINI, Lesvos, Greece
August 6 • THESSALONIKI
August 7 • KAVALLA | PHILIPPI | KAVALLA
August 8 • ISTANBUL, Turkey| DISEMBARK | USA
View Detailed Itinerary
For this voyage, our experts include a specialist in Classical Studies, a professor of religious studies, specializing in the New Testament, and a medievalist / folklorist.
July 29
USA
Fly from the U.S. to Athens, Greece.
July 30
ATHENS, Greece
Arrive in Athens and transfer to the Hotel Grande Bretagne for two nights. Enjoy a welcome reception this evening.
July 31
ATHENS
Enjoy a tour of the Acropolis and the majestic ruins of the Parthenon, one of the most perfect structures in the world. Also visit the Hill of the Aeropagus, where in A.D. 51, Paul disputed with the philosophers of Athens and preached his sermon on “the Unknown God,” which converted the senator Dionysos. After lunch, tour the Agora, the center of ancient Athens known to Solon, Pericles and Socrates as well as to St. Paul.
August 1
ATHENS | CORINTH | PIRAEUS | EMBARK
Depart for Corinth, where St. Paul worked as a tentmaker for 18 months between A.D. 51 and 52, attempting to reform the wealthy Roman citizenry. Visit the many monuments that Paul saw while he lived in Corinth, including the Doric Temple of Apollo and the Theater. Transfer to Piraeus and embark on Corinthian II.
August 2
HERAKLION | KNOSSOS | GORTYN | HERAKLION, Crete
Take an excursion to one of the finest achievements of the Minoan civilization, the partially reconstructed Palace at Knossos. The palace contains an underground labyrinth, legendary domain of the Minotaur. Knossos’ corridors, stairways and chambers are decorated with frescoes illustrating life as it was 4,000 years ago. Continue to the archaeological site at Gortyn, the Roman capital of Crete, where the Gortyn Law Code was written. St. Paul came to Crete with his disciple Titus, to whom he addressed an Epistle.
August 3
RHODES | LINDOS | RHODES
Explore the city of Rhodes, a stopover for St. Paul on his way to Rome and the 14th-century outpost of the Crusader Knights of St. John. Visit the Street of the Knights; the Palace of the Grand Master; and the Archaeological Museum. In the afternoon travel to Lindos, where St. Paul is said to have escaped a storm at sea. Set high above the village are the remains of the Acropolis and the Doric columns of Athena’s Temple.
August 4
KUSADASI | EPHESUS | KUSADASI or MILETUS | KUSADASI, Turkey
From Kusadasi, visit Ephesus, one of the most important sites in the history of the ancient world and in the life of St. Paul. Visit the theater where the Ephesians rioted against St. Paul; the Library of Celsus with its imposing facade; and the Temple of Serapis. Return to Kusadasi and enjoy the afternoon at leisure or join an excursion to Miletus, a stop on St. Paul’s final journey to Jerusalem. Visit the great Roman theater, built to accommodate 15,000 spectators.
August 5
MYTILINI, Lesvos, Greece
Arrive in Mytilini, where, according to tradition, Paul landed in A.D. 60 en route to Rome. Explore the town, which is crowned by a Byzantine-Genoese fortress, and visit the interesting Archaeological Museum.
August 6
THESSALONIKI
Today explore Thessaloniki, the biblical Thessalonica, where St. Paul founded the Christian community in A.D. 49-50. Visit the Church of Hagia Sophia and St. Dimitrios, Greece’s largest church, which preserves the tomb of the martyred patron saint of Thessaloniki. Also enjoy the Archaeological Museum, with its artifacts from the royal tombs of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great.
August 7
KAVALLA | PHILIPPI | KAVALLA
Call at Kavalla, where in A.D. 49 Paul addressed his Epistle to the Philippian Christians. Then continue to the town of Philippi, Paul’s first major destination in Macedonia. The congregation he established here proved extremely successful, even though the Roman townspeople beat and imprisoned him. Visit the town’s extensive ruins, largely Roman or early Christian in design; the Acropolis; the theater; and two Byzantine basilicas.
August 8
ISTANBUL, Turkey | DISEMBARK | USA
Disembark in Istanbul and transfer to the airport for return flights to the U.S.
