Footsteps

Day 1: Departure (Plus)

Today you embark on the journey of a lifetime. Visit lands overflowing with ancient biblical history and, at the same time, the living presence of God. Bring your walking shoes and prepare to follow in the footsteps of Paul, and to take a few planes, trains, boats, and buses too.

Day 3: Samos Island (Plus)

The history of Samos has been marked by some famous personalities, such as the astronomer Aristarchus, the first to argue that the sun was the center of the universe, the philosopher Epicurus, the fable writer Aesop, and the famous mathematician Pythagoras. Explore its history, caves, monasteries, aqueducts, waterfalls, mountains, museums, or beaches on this day of acclimation and rest.

Day 5: Patmos (Plus)

Ferry to Patmos where, in 95 AD, John the Theologian was sent into exile where he remained for 18 months. Tour the fortified monastery and the cave where John is said to have received the visions recorded in the Book of Revelation. Gaze out over the island and consider the way God used his creation to shape the many visions about which John wrote (e.g., Revelation 8:6–9:21).

Day 7: Philippi (All)

Drive through modern Kavala (biblical Neapolis) to Philippi, the place where the Apostle Paul is credited for establishing the first European Christian community in 49 AD (Acts 16:6-10). Walk through the former wealthy Roman colony where Paul preached, where he and Silas were imprisoned (Acts 16:16-24), and from where Lydia—the first Greek, the first European, and the first woman—was baptized (Acts 16:11-15).

Day 9: Meteora (All)

The Greek word “meteora” means “suspended in the air,” and this phrase aptly describes these remarkable monasteries. Monks of the 14th century sought refuge from the Turkish invasion in the cliffside caves, and then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters later transformed into monasteries. A preservation ark for the 2,000-year-old Christian Orthodox tradition, only 6 of the original 24 monasteries remain homes to a few dozen monks. This UNESCO site is breathtaking and instills a deep sense of awe for solitary life.

Day 11: Athens (All)

Ferry to Athens and enjoy the old neighborhoods on a self-guided tour. Plaka, the oldest, rests in the shadow of the Acropolis, is mostly closed to automobile traffic, and boasts quaint shops and restaurants. Monastiraki cradles iconic landmarks including the Metropolitan Orthodox Church, archaeological sites, museums, and a flea market. Syntagma once served as the capital of the newly born Greek Kingdom (1894) and hosts Parliament, several neoclassical buildings, green spaces, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Alternatively, find a café and watch people from all over the world come to experience this ancient city.

Day 13: Athens (All)

Explore the Acropolis together. Ascend the steps to the Parthenon and learn about the sacred temple constructed in the 6^th century BC. This temple represents the home of one of the 30,000 gods that failed to satisfy the Athenian people. So unsatisfied were they that they erected an alter to the unknown god (Acts 17:23), to whom Paul introduced the Greek Philosophers from the Areopagus (Acts 17). During an afternoon of self-guided activities, tour historic sights, visit museums, walk the old squares, catch a performance, or relax in the National Garden. Spend your final day exploring this rich city filled with biblical history.