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Follow the Footsteps of Paul in Greece and Turkey 2010 with Pastor Jim Lyon (52107)

This Trip Visits:

  Greece • Turkey

Trip Includes:

Roundtrip Airfare, Deluxe Motorcoaches, First Class Hotels, Guided Sightseeing, Continental Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Daily, Entrance Fees, Study Guide, Lecture Program, Services of EOT Staff and much more!

ItineraryFine PrintTaxes & Tips
  1. Day 1 - DEPARTURE FROM USA

    Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your overnight, international flight.

  2. Day 2 - ARRIVAL IN GREECE

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    You will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

  3. Day 3 - ATHENS

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    Enjoy the architectural splendors of the ancient city of Athens as you follow your guide to the world renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon, and the Erectheum. View Mars Hill where the apostle Paul stood and said, " I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you" (Acts 17:23). See the Agora, the ancient market place and center of the Athenian public life, where the apostle Paul preached "Jesus and the resurrection" (Acts 17:18) to the skeptical Athenians. Also see the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This afternoon is free to explore Athens on your own or enjoy an optional journey to Sounion to visit the famous Temple of Poseidon (additional $39). Overnight in Athens.

  4. Day 4 - CORINTH and CENCHRAEAE

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    In Corinth, the city where Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla, the tent makers, and where the Lord spoke to Paul by a vision saying, "I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city" (Acts 18: 10). Here, Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue believed in the Lord, and many Corinthians as well hearing Paul, believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8); thus, began the church at Corinth to whom Paul wrote two epistles. Visit the Archaeological Museum, the Market Place and Temples. Walk among the ruins and stand on the Bema where Paul stood before Gallio facing charges brought by the Jews that were dropped. Paul stayed awhile in Corinth before leaving for Syria from the port at Cenchraeae (Acts 18: 12-18). Overnight in Athens.

  5. Day 5 - DELPHI and METEORA

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    Travel to scenic Delphi, the religious center of the ancient Greek world, considered by early Greeks to be the center of the world and marked by the conical stone, called the omphalos or navel. Walk the Sacra Via to the Athenian Treasury, the Theatre, and the Temple of Apollo where the oracle performed his or her prophetic rituals. With innumerable pagan ruins surrounding your walk, capture a glimpse of the challenge the apostle Paul incurred in preaching the Gospel of Christ in Macedonia. Visit the Museum where you will view many ancient treasures, the chief of which is the 5th century bronzed Charioteer, complete with even eyelashes. Visit the rock forest of Meteora in western Thessaly and ponder the rough terrain in which the apostle Paul walked during his missionary journey. See famous Byzantine monasteries perch precariously on summits of soaring, sheer-sided grey rock pinnacles of varied and spectacular shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in cliff-side caves, then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, later transformed into monasteries. Visit one of these monasteries. Stay in the area for dinner and overnight.

  6. Day 6 - VERIA and THESSALONIKI

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    When the apostle Paul arrived in Veria (Berea), he went to the Jewish synagogue, where he discovered the Jews had accepted the new faith along with some honorable Greeks (Act 17: 10-12). In Thessalonika, the city where Paul was accused of turning the world upside down by his preaching of Christ (Acts 17: 3-6), and the church to which he addressed his Thessalonian epistles, visit St. George's Basilica, where tradition holds it is built over the synagogue where Paul preached. View the Old City Ramparts, and the Galerius Arch that rises over the Via Egnatia. Visit the Archaeological Museum. See two of the most beautiful basilicas in the city, St. Sophia and St. Demetrios, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert. Overnight in Thessaloniki area.

  7. Day 7 - AMPHIPOLIS, PHILIPPI, and NEAPOLIS

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    Pass through Apollonia like the apostle Paul and Silas. Travel to Amphipolis, where you will see the ruins of many Christian basilicas. Visit Philippi, where Paul, intending to find a place to pray by the riverside, spoke to women who had gathered there among whom was Lydia, the seller of purple and whose heart the Lord opened to hear the words that he spoke (Acts 16:13-15). Lydia was the first Christian to be baptized on European soil. Visit the place where this event is remembered and see a crypt dating from the Roman period, which is thought to have served as a prison for the apostle Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, the Basilica, and the Theater. Visit Neapolis (Kavala), one of Greece's most picturesque mainland ports. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. See the Roman Aqueduct and Acropolis. Overnight in Kavala.

  8. Day 8 - ISTANBUL

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    Cross the border to Turkey and continue on to Istanbul. You'll visit the famous Blue Mosque, with its six minarets and sparkling interior. Walk through St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia) that, for 1000 years, was the largest church in Christendom. Built by Justinian (532-537 AD), the church has 107 columns, fossil imbedded white marble floors and beautiful glass mosaics. Today, it is the Museum of Byzantine Art. Catch a whiff of cinnamon, cloves, thyme and other exotic spices as you explore the Grand Bazaar. Over 4000 shops sell everything from herbs to gold. Check into your hotel for dinner and overnight.

  9. Day 9 - ISTANBUL and NICEA

    You'll visit the Topkapi Palace, once home to royal Sultans. Inside, you'll see the fabled jewels of the Treasury, delicate displays of Chinese porcelain in the Kitchen Quarters and the provocative Harem Quarters. Visit the lakeside town of Iznik, known in Byzantine times as Nicea and site of two ecumenical church councils. The ancient name is associated with the Nicene Creed that many Christians can recite from memory. You will see the ancient walls and sites associated with the town's Christian heritage: the ruins of the Basilica of St. Sophia, the Baptistry, and the Christian Tombs on the outskirts of town. Continue on to Canakkale for dinner and overnight.

  10. Day 10 - TROY, TROAS and PERGAMUM

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    In Troy, history is buried in myth and mud. Nine layers of the fabled city have been found. Homer's Iliad relates the legendary story of the Trojan War. Not far away is Troas. Here, on his second missionary journey, Paul had a vision in which he was called to Macedonia (Acts 16:8-13). Later, during his third journey, Paul spent a week in Troas preaching and resurrected Eutychus (Acts 20:6-12). The most favored of the Seven Churches was Pergamum and the church was praised for its forbearance during hard times (Rev. 2:12-17). Rome executed the first Christians here. Towering 1000 feet above the town and commanding a spectacular panorama is the fabled Acropolis. As you pass through the Royal Gates, you will enter one of the great centers of classic Greek culture. You'll see the foundations of the Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Athena and the ruins of the Library that once held 200,000 parchment volumes. You'll also see the remains of the Temple of Trajan, the Grand Theatre, the Gymnasium, and the Health Center (Aesclepion). Continue on to Smyrna, modern day Izmir for dinner and overnight.

  11. Day 11 - SARDIS, HIERAPOLIS, and LAODICEA

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    Sardis, another of the Seven Churches of Revelation, was berated by John the Prophet for its facade of strength when, in reality, it was weak (Rev. 3:1-6). In Sardis, coins were minted and the dyeing of wool originated. The massive scale of the Temple of Artemis and by the white marble Royal Road, the gymnasium and the synagogue will impress you. Hierapolis is blessed by hot mineral springs and some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in Asia Minor. Christianity came to Hierapolis via Paul (Colossians 4:13). The ruins cover more than a mile. You'll see the impressive amphitheatre with seats still in perfect condition. You'll see the City Gates, column-lined streets and arches that have stood through time and earthquake. Today, the area is known as Pamukkale, meaning "Cotton Castle". It is named for the limestone-laden hot springs that cascade from one white-edged terrace pool to the next. The Christians of Laodicea, one of the Seven Churches (Rev 3:14-22), were chastised for being lukewarm, "You are neither cold nor hot" (Rev. 3:14) and for being too comfortable incorporating pagan and Christian beliefs. In the famous scripture from Revelation (3:20-21), Jesus says to the Laodicean church: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock..." Today, there are many acres of ruins to see, including the stadium and columned streets. Continue on to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.

  12. Day 12 - MILETUS and PRIENE

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    Visit the excavations at Miletus, where Paul bid farewell to the elders of the church at Ephesus at the end of his Third Missionary Journey (Acts 20). Priene had a substantial Christian community during the Byzantine period and was the seat of a bishop. Four of Priene's bishops are known: Theosebius, present at the Council of Ephesus (431); Isidore, who was living in 451; Paul, present at the Council of Constantinople (692); and Demetrius (12th century). Overnight in Kusadasi.

  13. Day 13 - EPHESUS

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    Ephesus is one of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 1:11). In ancient days, Ephesus was a bustling port town of 250,000, graced with wide, colonnade-bordered streets. Today you will be impressed with the spectacular excavations of the major streets of ancient Ephesus. You'll view the Library and the huge Agora. The Temple of Artemis was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Today, only a single column remains to mark the site. You'll visit the Basilica of St. John, traditional site of his grave. From the basilica, enjoy a commanding view of the area. You'll visit the Museum of Ephesus for an up-close look at artifacts from the ancient city. You will have time to explore this powerful city on your own and recreate some of the footsteps of Paul. Return to Izmir for dinner and overnight.

  14. Day 14 - DEPARTURE

    Return to the USA.