Pictures from Greece

Youth Pilgrimage to Greece

Following the Footsteps of St. Paul

Led by:

Ashley Lytle
The Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
Marietta, GA

June 1 – 10, 2011

Trip map

DAY 1, Wednesday, June 1, 2011 - Depart the Atlanta Airport for our trans-Atlantic flight to Athens, Greece where we connect to our flight into Thessaloniki. D

DAY 2: Thursday, June 2, 2011 - We will arrive in Thessaloniki, Greece (Acts 17:1-13), meet our escort and board our motor-coach.  There will be some time to settle into our hotel and enjoy free time to explore this afternoon.  This city has seen the rise and fall of many civilizations: Macedonian, Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, that of the Jews and of the modern Greeks.  Paul wrote two letters to the people here.  We will enjoy a "welcome to Greece" dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. MD

DAY 3: Friday, June 3, 2011 - Today we visit Kavala where Paul landed after sailing from Troas (Troy) in Turkey.  Then on to Phillippi, the city to which Paul wrote his Epistle and visited twice on his missionary journeys.  We will see where Lydia, Paul's first European convert, was baptized (Acts 16:12-16) as he opened the continent of Europe to the Christian faith.  We will view the Roman Baths, the Agora where Paul and other missionaries were dragged before the magistrates, the 5th c. Basilica and the possible prison from which Paul was set free (Acts 16:19-24; 35-40).  Return to Thessaloniki for overnight. BD

DAY 4: Saturday, June 4, 2011 - After breakfast we explore Thessaloniki and the significant sites of Georgios St. Dimitrious Church, probable site of Paul's preaching.  We will visit Ayia Sofia which contains two magnificent mosaics:  one of the Ascension and the other of the Virgin Mary holding Jesus in her arms.  We will depart for Litochoro.  Dinner and overnight Litochoro. BD

DAY 5: Sunday, June 5, 2011 - Today will enjoy a seven hour hike starting at the village of Panonia and ending back in Litochoro.  We will stop at the Monastery of Agios Dionysius, which, during the 400 years of its life, provided religious and economic support to this part of Olympus.  Dinner and overnight Litochoro. BD

DAY 6: Monday, June 6, 2011 - Today we continue on to Kalambaka near the Hanging Monasteries of Meteora which were built 1356 - 1372 on strangely shaped pinnacles that rise out of the Peneus Valley.  We tour the Hanging Monasteries, where, in the 9th century, ascetic hermits were living in the rock crevices and where they eventually formed religious communities.  We will overnight in Kalambaka. BD

DAY 7: Tuesday, June 7, 2011 - We depart from Kalambaka and travel southward toward Athens.  On our way we visit Delphi where we will explore the Temple of Apollo, the Greek god and in later times the Roman god of sunlight, music, prophesy and poetry, the Athenian Treasury, and the Theatre.  We will explore the Delphi Museum which contains a wonderful collection of art and architectural sculpture, principally from the Sanctuaries of Apollo and Athena Pronoia.  We depart Delphi and travel to Athens for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 8: Wednesday, June 8, 2011 - This morning we will depart for Corinth travelling along a scenic coastal highway and arriving first at the Corinthian Canal, a stunning deep cut pathway for all ships to travel between the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea.  We continue on to Ancient Corinth, where Paul wrote his Epistles.  We see where Paul preached, the Museum and other sites.  We will visit Mycenae before returning to Athens for overnight. BLD

DAY 9: Thursday, June 9, 2011 - Today we will enjoy a panoramic tour of Athens seeing the Plaka district, the Acropolis, Olympic Stadium and the Presidential Palace.  This evening we will enjoy a "farewell to Athens" dinner.  Overnight Athens. BD

DAY 10: Friday, June 10, 2011 - An early morning departure for the Athens Airport where we board our non-stop flight home. BM

Price: $3,279.00  Price is based on triple occupancy without airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Roundtrip air from Atlanta, GA.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single supplement $199.00.  Double supplement $99.00 per pilgrim

* Price does not include the cost of the airline ticket from Athens to Thessaloniki.  The cost of the flight is estimated to be about $225.00 per person.  Once the airline opens the space up we will confirm the price for this segment and it will be added to the total cost of your pilgrimage.

The price includes Trip Cancellation/Trip Interuption Insurance.

* Excludes airline taxes and surcharges that will be added to your final payment invoice.  Estimated taxes as of September 23, 2010 $431.70 per person.

Final Payment due by March 2, 2011

Cancellation Penalties
◊ October 14, 2010 – March 2, 2011 - $100.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ March 3, 2011 – April 1, 2011 - $200.00 plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After April 2, 2011:  NO REFUND

Meals: B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner, M Meals on Aircraft

The itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion and direction of the leader or guide.