We arrive in Athens and check into the hotel. Enjoy a free day and dinner at the hotel. Rest and enjoy the city!

Visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and Erectheum before viewing Athens atop Mars Hill where Paul stood and preached the truth to the Gentile nation. Additional sites that will be seen include the Agora from above (ancient market place and center of Athenian public life), the house of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and the Presidential Palace. We will leave Athens and drive southwest until we reach the Corinth Canal which connects the Aegean Sea with the Ionian Sea. We will drive on and visit the ancient town of Corinth where St. Paul
lived and preached for two years. The remains of the City, which include the Agora (market place) and Apollo’s Temple (6th century B.C.) clearly show how rich and important Corinth was in Ancient Times. We then travel to the Site of the Ancient Port of Cechries, where St. Paul disembarked, this will conclude the visit. Return back to in Athens where you will enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.

We will board our cruise ship and sail this morning from Athens to the quaint isle of Mykonos, called the island of windmills. This is a stunningly picturesque Cycladic town with a maze of tiny streets and whitewashed steps, lanes, houses and churches, gathered around its harbor in the middle of a wide bay. Experience the waterfront lined with shops and cafes and then stroll the charming walkways. You may choose to explore on your own, before returning to the ship for dinner and evening activities.

This morning your cruise will be docking in Turkey. You will enjoy a tour of Ephesus (included), the city of the Bible and one of the largest restorations still in progress with miles of ancient treasures. Ephesus was once a thriving port town of 250,000 people. Today you can still see the spectacular excavations of the major streets in this ancient city. This afternoon we will visit the Isle of Patmos (included), under statutory protection as a historic monument, you will take a tour to see the fortified monastery of St. John (included) and the cave claimed to be where John received the Revelation. The Cave of the Apocalypse is situated about halfway up the mountain on the Aegean island of Patmos, along the road between the villages of Chora and Skala. This grotto is believed to mark the spot where John of Patmos received his visions that he recorded in the Book of the Apocalypse (Revelation). In 1999, UNESCO declared the cave a joint World Heritage Site together with the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. Back on the ship you will enjoy the dinner before settling into your cabin for the night.

You will wake up to visit the island of Crete. Participating in the excursion (optional), we can visit the Palace of Knossos and its famous “Labyrinth” which was the Centre of the Minoan civilization. It is absolutely incredible! Next you will visit the island of Santorini which is perhaps the most breathtaking of all the Greek islands. The town of Thera has white washed houses, narrow streets, and open air cafes that are accessible by cable-car or mules. There will be several optional tours offered in Santorini, including the Essence of Santorini and Akrotiri Village & Excavations, or you may choose to spend the day shopping and exploring on your own. Again we return to the ship for dinner and evening entertainment.

This morning you will disembark from the cruise ship and transfer to Athens airport for a short ight to Rome. This afternoon we will take a tour of the Catacombs where thousands of Christians were buried in a remarkable tiered series of galleries. (B, D)

We begin our walking tour at the ancient Roman Forum, where our guide will divulge its secrets. We will visit the Arch of Titus which commemorated the sack of Jerusalem by Titus in AD 70.
We will view the Mamertine Prison exterior, where tradition says the Apostle Paul was imprisoned. The Roman church would say that Peter was imprisoned here as well, but there is no empirical evidence that Peter was ever in Rome.
Next, we visit the Coliseum, where thousands of people and animals perished during gladiatorial games. The Colosseum rst opened in AD 80 and within 100 days of its opening, 5000 wild beasts perished here. The slaughter of both humans and animals continued for three more centuries. Historians believe the Colosseum could hold between 40,000 and 80,000 people depending on how close the seating was. The oor has recently had a plank placed over the middle making it accessible for people to walk over the labyrinth of brick cells, ramps, and elevators used to transport animals and gladiators into the arena. Hear the stories of the games that have fascinated people for hundreds of years. We conclude our day at the ruins of Ostia Antica, which provides an excellent example of city life in classical times and the Ostian Gate, today called the Gate of St. Paul.

After breakfast you will begin a full day of sightseeing. First visit Vatican City where you will see the Basilica at St. Peter, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums with stunning works of art at every turn. After some free time for lunch, you will stop at The Abbey of the Three Fountains, the traditional site of Paul's martyrdom and the ancient street that he walked on. Next, visit the 4th century Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the site of Paul’s tomb, and the Scala Santa, where Martin Luther made his stand against the practice of indulgences. This fascinating museum houses the Steps from Pilot's Judgment Hall in Jerusalem brought to Rome by Helena, the mother of Constantine. Additional sights include the Arches of Constantine and Titus, Circus Maximus and the beautiful marble monument called the Wedding Cake.

After breakfast, we transfer to Athens Airport for a departure flight.