Apostle Paul's Journey

Tour #7

Turkey/Greece/Italy

September 8-23, 2010

This exciting Bibleland’s tour will gain an insight into the life of the Apostle Paul and his ministry in Asia Minor, Greece and Italy. The theme of this tour is: “What helped them to remain faithful.” This tour will be conducted by Brother Emmanuel Zervides from England, who has escorted many Bibleland tours. He will give several Bible lectures on how our early Christian brothers faced many difficulties. In order to hear all of the commentary each day, everyone will be given a headset to use for the entire tour. Best of all, breakfast and dinner are included daily except for the evening on the cruise from Greece to Italy. One of the highlights of the tour will be meeting friends in the local congregations as you travel from country to country.

Sept. 8 Depart your hometown and fly to Washington, DC to board our overnight flight to Izmir, Turkey. Enjoy dinner, a movie and some rest.

Sept. 9 Arrive Izmir and transfer to your hotel in Kusadasi. Tonight there will be a “Welcome Dinner” to meet friends from other countries who will be traveling with you on this tour. This is your home for two nights.

Sept. 10Your first day will be an exciting one as you visit Ephesus, the most ancient city ever excavated. (See WT, 5/1/05, p. 30) Here you will stroll down the marble streets where chariots have left their mark. See the Theater, Agora and the Library. (For an account of Paul’s ministry, see Insight, Vol. 1, p. 734 and Vol. 2, p. 746. Also WT 12/15/04, p. 26)

Sept. 11 We will visit the beautiful reconstructed site of Sardis. (Rev. 3:1-6) The message to this congregation will not only have deeper meaning, but will encourage you to remain faithful when facing problems. Overnight in Izmir known as Smyrna. (Rev. 2:8-11)

Sept. 12 Travel to Pergamum to visit the impressive ruins (Rev. 2:12-17) where we can appreciate why Jesus said that “the throne of Satan” was dwelling there. Overnight in Canakkale on the banks of the Bosphorus.

Sept. 13 A short ferry trip across the Black Sea on to Ipsala, the Turkish/Greek border. Arrive in Kavalla, known in the Bible as Neapolis where Paul first entered Europe in response to the call, “Step over into Macedonia.” We stay here for two nights. As from today and for the next six days we follow Paul’s missionary travels recorded in Acts, Chapters 16-18.

  
   

     
                     
 

YOUR TOUR WILL INCLUDE:
• Round-trip airfare
• All sightseeing and hotels
• Breakfast daily plus 13 dinners
• An experienced tour escort

All prices are per person based on two people in a room. If you do not have a roommate, we will attempt to assign one for you or you can pay a supplement of $1199 for a single room. Besides the above cities, you can depart from any U.S.A. or Canadian airport by indicating this on the reservation form. We will then inform you of the total cost from your hometown.

   
                     
       

       
                     
         
         
                     

Sept. 14 Bring your “Kingdom Interlinear,” as we will visit the places mentioned in Acts. 16:11-40, truly following in Paul’s footsteps. After visiting Philippi, the first city in Europe to accept Christianity, we will see the river where Lydia was baptized and the site of Paul and Silas’ imprisonment. The afternoon is at leisure to shop or relax on the sandy beach at our hotel.

Sept. 15 Pass through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica (Salonica), where we will stay for two nights. (Acts 16:1-9) Here Paul remained faithful despite the problems that he encountered.

Sept. 16 Travel through Pella, Alexander the Great’s birthplace, to Beroea (Acts 17:10-14). We will see the old synagogue, reminding us of Paul’s zealous activity here.

Sept. 17 Today we will stop at Thermopylae, where Medo-Persians led by Ahasuerus battled with the Spartans. (Daniel 11:2) Arrive Athens, our home for the next three nights.

Sept. 18 Sightseeing tour of Athens and the site of the 2004 Olympic Games. Next, you'll visit the Acropolis, Parthenon and Areopagus. See the marketplace where Paul answered the philosopher's questions and helped some to serve faithfully. (Acts 17:16-34) You'll be able to climb the Areopagus (Mars Hill), scene of Paul's dramatic experience, where he delivered his most famous discourse of the unknown god. (See WT 7/15/98, p. 25 and Awake 3/8/00, p. 13) In the afternoon, you can visit the oriental bazaar in the Plaka area for great buys on jewelry, leather and souvenirs.

Sept. 19 Entire day free in Athens to rest, shop or do as you please.

Sept. 20 See a breathtaking human achievement as we cross the Corinth Canal. Continue on the road taken by Paul to visit the ancient city of Corinth. (Acts 18:1-17) See the museum, theater, the Judgement Seat and the Pavement of Erastus and the Isthmian games which Paul had in mind when writing to the Corinthians. (1 Cor. 9:17-24) During Paul's visit, he established a congregation and now there are over 600 in Greece. (See Awake, 1/22/91, p. 16 and Insight, Vol. 1, p. 508) At Patres we board a ship for an exciting overnight cruise on the beautiful Adriatic Sea to Italy.

Sept. 21 Arrive Bari, Italy and then to Pompeii, a city buried beneath the volcanic lava for 2,000 years. See the preserved homes, bakery, and gardens buried by lava flows from Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E. (Awake 9/8/96, p. 22 and 2/07, p.15) Later, arrive in Rome for the last two nights.

Sept. 22 Rome is known as the "Eternal City" and world empire of Bible history. Visit St. Peter's Square and Basilica, the largest church in Christendom. (Awake, 4/8/91, p. 24) See the Roman Forum, the magnificent Colosseum, the site of Gladiator fights and the Circus Maximus where chariot races were held. In Rome, Paul wrote six letters encouraging his brothers to remain faithful. Tonight's highlight will be a "Farewell Dinner."

Sept. 23 Upbuilt spiritually, we depart Rome to the U.S.A. Visiting the Biblelands is an experience you will not forget, as it makes the Bible come alive as you follow in the Apostle Paul's footsteps.