Join The Rev. Kendall Koenig and Light of Christ Church: Church walking lands and cruising waters where St. Paul travelled, sharing the gospel of Christ. We will visit towns and ruins in Philippi, Corinth, and Ephesus, places where Paul preached and later sent letters. We’ll hear those letters in scripture speak faithfully as we come to understand better the culture and context of Paul and his beloved people. We’ll visit the Island of Patmos, where St. John wrote Revelation, and other islands where early church converts built places of worship. We’ll visit Meteora and the monasteries in the clouds. And, we’ll spend time in Athens on the Acropolis with the Parthenon and Mars Hill, where Paul famously preached in Acts 17. We’ll have time in the city to explore, sample cuisine, and enjoy the culture. We’ll return home renewed with the stories of learning and faith.
DETAILS:
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Trip departs on October 10, 2027, and returns on October 20, 2027
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If you’re booking your own flights, please arrange to arrive in Thessaloniki (SKG) and depart from Athens (ATH).
PRICING:
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$3,990.00 per person based on double occupancy - book now as space is limited!
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Single room supplement - $1,190
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Land Only (If you book your own flight) $3,990
PAYMENT PLAN:
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$300.00 deposit per person with registration to secure space
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Balance due on or before December 12, 2026
REGISTRATION:
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Registering online? Click the "BOOK NOW" button and fill out the online form; you can pay by check or with a credit card (a 4% platform fee applies)
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Registering by mail? Please download and complete the registration form (both the personal information page and the terms and conditions page signed at the bottom) with a copy of your passport and a deposit of $300.00 per person made payable to Elias Tours and mail to: 4941 Chalden Ln NE, Marietta, GA 30066
FLIGHT SCHEDULE:
* Flight times, flight numbers, equipment, gates, and seats are subject to change. For the most current information check the airline website.
What is included in the tour
- 10 nights in 4-star hotels (double occupancy)
- 3-day cruise
- Patmos and Ephesus Excursion
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- Lunch on the Cruise
- Entrance fee to all sites
- All ground transportation in a private tour bus
- Elias Tours Expert Tour Guide
What is NOT included in the tour
- Gratuities for the guide and driver
- Airfare
- Lunch (Except on the Boat)
- Visa if Applicable
- TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is not included in the purchase price. For your convenience, we offer travel insurance through *Travelex Insurance Services. For questions, quotes, or to purchase travel insurance, visit Travelex Insurance or call (800) 228-9792 and use the code 26-0057 for Elias Tours.
Explore the lands of Greece and Turkey as the history of the New Testament comes alive. Retrace the voyages of the Apostle Paul as you learn about the early church and the spread of the Gospel. Start your cruise ship journey in Athens and Corinth, sail to Ephesus, and make your way to Patmos and 3 other islands.
Day 1, October 10: Departure from the USA
Depart from the US for an overnight flight to Thessaloniki, Greece.
Day 2, October 11: Beginning the Footsteps of Paul - Thessaloniki
With our arrival in Thessaloniki, we have entered into the world of the New Testament where St. Paul and his companions established the first Christian communities throughout his four missionary journeys. On arrival, we will be met at the airport for a transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
Day 3, October 12: Thessaloniki - Kavala - Philippi
Begin the day in the port of Kavala where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. This port was also a destination for Luke the evangelist when he sailed from Troas. See a Byzantine castle, the Roman Aqueduct, and the ruins of an acropolis. Follow the Via Egnatia, a remnant of Rome’s highway system, viewing Roman and Greek tombs and ruts of ancient chariot wheels. Next, stop in Philippi, where Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the very first Christian convert on European soil. Among the ruins located on the rocky ledge above the town’s main road is the prison into which Paul and Silas were thrown. It was in Philippi that Octavian and Anthony defeated Brutus and Cassius in 42 BC. Return to Thessaloniki to explore the ancient city where Paul planted a church that would later receive two New Testament epistles. View one of the most beautiful basilicas in the city, St. Demetrius. Continue along the waterfront to the massive White Tower and nearby triumphal Arch of Galerius. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki.
Day 4, October 13: Thessaloniki City Tour - Veria - Meteora
We will start our day by visiting King Philip II of Macedon's tomb. He was the king of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia from 359 BC until his death in 336 BC. He was a member of the Argead dynasty, the founder of the ancient kingdom, and the father of Alexander the Great. Then continue to Veria, known for its numerous Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches—about 48 surviving today and 72 originally—resulting in the name “Small Jerusalem,” as well as unique collections of Byzantine icons. Particularly famous is the Church of the Resurrection. We then spend some time marveling at the unique natural phenomenon of Meteora—24 perpendicular rocks where, 600 years ago, Byzantine monks chose to worship God and build their cave-like monastic community. Take in the striking monasteries that crown the summits of these pinnacles with their wooden galleries and corniced rooftops. Hanging over the stunning abysses, these primitive dwellings compose one of the most fascinating sites on earth. A special treat awaits with a visit to two of these timeless monasteries to see the exquisite specimens of Byzantine art on display. Overnight in Kalambaka.
Day 5, October 14: Delphi - Athens
Breakfast at the hotel, and we begin our exploration of the ancient site of Delphi. The pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo spoke, was the site of the omphalos, the “navel of the world.” Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was indeed the religious center and symbol of unity of the ancient Greek world. We then travel directly to the center of Athens for free time for the rest of the day. Dinner and overnight in Athens.
Day 6, October 15: Athens - Acropolis - Mars Hill
Breakfast at the hotel, and we travel directly to the center of Athens to start our half-day panoramic city tour, which gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens unique. See the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896. Continue past the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian’s Arch. Rising some 377 feet above the land below and not far from the Acropolis and Agora, Mars Hill served as the meeting place for the Areopagus Court, the highest court in Greece. Mars Hill is the location of one of Paul’s most important gospel presentations during his visit to Athens on his second missionary journey (Acts 17:16–34). It was here that he addressed the religious idolatry of the Greeks, who even had an altar to the “Unknown God.” Then visit the ancient Roman Agora. On the Acropolis, visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion, and finally the Parthenon. Return to the hotel. Free afternoon in Athens. Overnight in Athens.
Day 7, October 16: Athens - Start the 3-Night Cruise - Mykonos
Begin the day with a drive to the Port of Lavrio and step aboard Celestyal Discovery to start a 3-night Greek Islands cruise. Spend the afternoon exploring the island of Mykonos, world-renowned for its lovely windmills, small cobblestone streets, and beautiful countryside. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight.
Day 8, October 17: Ephesus (Turkey) - Patmos (Greece)
Step off the ship at Kusadasi and into nearby Ephesus, Turkey, Asia Minor’s greatest archaeological site. This Greek and Roman city has been remarkably preserved. Walk along the broad marble streets where Paul walked. Gaze at the Temple of Artemis (Diana), the Temple of Hadrian, and the Celsus Library. Marvel at the massive theater where Paul was opposed as he spoke boldly about Christ. In the afternoon, enjoy cruising aboard Discovery to the island of Patmos, built on a mass of volcanic rock. The island marks the site where the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation. Visit the Monastery of St. John and the Cave of the Apocalypse. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight.
Day 9, October 18: Crete - Santorini
Arrive in Heraklion, Crete, the largest of the Greek Islands and the cradle of the ancient Minoan civilization. This island is where the Apostle Paul spent time as he was being transported to Rome as a prisoner and where Titus remained to help the churches. Take a walking tour through town and stop at the Church of St. Titus, Paul’s true son in the faith and the first Bishop of Crete. Board Discovery for an afternoon cruise to the famous island of Santorini, formed by the half-submerged crescent of a volcanic caldera. Perched atop high cliffs, savor the island’s breathtaking views from Oia. Dinner and overnight on the ship.
Day 10, October 19: Athens - Corinth
After breakfast, arrive at the port and disembark. Depart for a full-day tour of Ancient Corinth, a city that was a center of trade for many centuries. To begin, we will stop at the famous Corinth Canal, the place where the Peloponnese and central Greece meet, as well as the Aegean and Ionian seas. The canal was completed at the end of the 19th century and saves ships the more than 400 kilometers required to sail around the Peloponnese peninsula.
We will visit Ancient Corinth with its amazing artifacts, some of which date back to 6000 B.C. The remains of the city, including the Agora and the Temple of Apollo, clearly show how rich and important Corinth was in antiquity. The Romans rebuilt the city in 44 B.C., and it later became the provincial capital of Greece.
On our way back to Athens, we will make a brief stop at the site of the ancient port of Cenchreae, associated with St. Paul’s missionary journeys. For Christians, Corinth holds special significance in the New Testament. Paul ministered in the city and later addressed its Christian community in his two epistles, First and Second Corinthians. At the end of the tour, return to Athens. Overnight in Athens.
Day 11, October 20: Athens - USA
Following breakfast at our hotel, we are met by our English-speaking concierge for our private transfer to Athens Airport (ATH). We fly home and arrive the same day.
NOTE: The schedule is subject to change due to various factors and the tour guide’s discretion.
