We pick you up from your hotel at 08.00, our first stop will be at Thermopylae where you will see the statue of Leonidas as a memorial for the famous battle of the 300 Spartans against the Persian army . Expected arrival time at Thessaloniki around 14.30. Check in at your hotel and enjoy some free time for yourself. In the afternoon we will visit the Vlatadon Monastery that the Apostle Paul stopped there to drink water. Believers from all over the world come to visit the Monastery and enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of Thermaikos Gulf & Thessaloniki. In the evening we suggest that you taste the delicious Greek cuisine, or to walk on the promenade of the city, the second largest city of Greece! Overnight in Thessaloniki.

DAY 2: THESSALONIKI – FILIPPOI – KAVALA

After breakfast, we meet you at your hotel and Explore Thessaloniki, where Paul preached and wrote two epistles to the Thessalonians during the winters of 49-50 AD. See the ramparts of the city: the triumphal Arch of Galerius, built in 303 AD, at the Via Egnatia The Rotonda is one of the most imposing monuments of the city of Thessaloniki. Visits St. Demetrius Basilica church with the most important part of the temple, an underground ancient “Crypt”. According to the Christian Tradition, St. Demetrius dyed here.
Another of the city’s Gem of devotion, is The Acheiropoietos Church – The Acheiropoietos Church owes its name to an icon of the Virgin Mary, (‘Acheiropoietos’ meaning “made not by human hands “), which was kept in the church. It is one of the first churches founded sometime between 450 and 475 AD. We depart Thessaloniki towards Kavala, where we visit Filippi, where St, Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians in Europe! Visit the ”Baptismal” site, where Lydia was the first European woman to be baptized, and the secret crypt where Paul was prisoned in.
We visit the Acropolis of Philippi, visit the theatre, Basilica and the prison were Apostle Paul and Silas where imprisoned. Drive into the modern city of Kavala the “ancient Neapolis” where Paul accompanied by Silas, Luke and Timothy, first set foot in Europe, have lunch in the town of Kavala. Overnight in Kavala.

DAY 3: KAVALA – VEROIA – VERGINA – METEORA

Starting at 08.00 we will pick you up from your hotel to drive to the most beautiful city of Veroia at Northwestern Greece. We visit the church of Apostle Paul. We will visit also the “BEMA of Apostle Paul”, the BEMA used by Paul to preach to the people, one of his most beloved cities for many days. We then drive on to the Ancient city of Vergina and to the King’s tombs, one of them belonging to PHILLIP, father of Alexander the Great and ex-king, and we drive on to finally arrive at Kalambaka. Overnight in Kalambaka (Meteora).

DAY 4: METEORA – DELPHI

At 09.00 we pick you up from your hotel and we will visit the MONASTERIES of Meteora, that are included on the UNESCO world heritage monument list. Our first stop will be at The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron which is the biggest and oldest of all. It was called the monastery that was “suspended in midair” (Meteoro), because of the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which it was built. Our second visit is at the great monastery of St. Stephen. The Monastery of St. Stephen, which is a small church built in the 16th century and decorated in 1545. We could visit another Monastery if you wish. We will leave Meteora around 13.30 towards Delphi. We should reach Delphi around 17:00 check in at your hotel and enjoy your free time for yourself. Overnight in Delphi.

DAY 5: DELPHI – MONASTERY OF SAINT LOUKAS – ATHENS

At 09.00 we will pick you up from your hotel to visit Castalia Spring. We will visit also the archaeological site of Delphi, the treasury of the Athenians, the Athenian Stoa, the Polygonal Wall, the monument of Platea and the Temple of Apollo famous for its oracle and Delphi museum. Its spectacular exhibits include the frieze of the Treasury of the Sifnians, the Naxian Sphinx, the Statue of Antinoos the metopes of the Athenian treasury, the famous bronze Charioteer, originally created to commemorate a victory during the 476 B.C. Pythian Games, and many other artifacts. The next visit will be at the wonderful Byzantine Monastery of St. Loukas. The Monastery of Saint Loukas is an 11th century monastery. This monastery is the epitome of the Byzantine architecture while it is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. You will have lunch at the traditional taverna, before we return to Athens late in the afternoon. Overnight in Athens.

DAY 6: CHRISTIAN TOUR IN ATEHNS & ANCIENT CORINTH

We will pick you up from your hotel at 08.00 to start the wonderful Christian tour in Athens. We will visit the ancient Agora which was the heart of Athens in antiquity and the meeting point of Saint Paul with the first followers of Christianity in Athens. The next step will be the “Mars Hill”, where Apostle Paul proclaimed the word of the Christian God to the Athenian philosophers. The element that caused a shock to some Athenians was the concept of Resurrection, which was a powerful argument in the truth of St Paul’s teaching.
We will then reach the coastal district of Palaio Faliro. This is the area where St Paul arrived with the escort of Beroia after his departure from Beroia and Thessaloniki. Of course, in combination with our Christian tour we will have a panoramic city tour in Athens (visit the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, and the most important sights of the city, The Stadium, Parliament House, Presidential Guards, Athens Trilogy.

CHRISTIAN TOUR IN ANCIENT CORINTHOS

We will continue driving along the mainland coast to Peloponnese and our first stop will be at the Canal of Corinth (6 km length and 80m height). Next we will continue to reach Ancient Corinth where Saint Paul lived and preached for more then 21 months of his life. You will have the chance to visit the Ancient Market, the Bema of Apostle Paul, and you will walk at the same paths the Apostle of Nations walked and preached hundreds of years earlier. Next stop will be at Cenchreas Port from where Paul sailed off to Effesos. Then we drive to Athens thus ending our Journey.

You can customize this private tour at any time, either on the way together with your private chauffeur or in advance by contacting our Michael‘ Greek tours.

www.athenstaxitour.com. We try to make you feel good!

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A Christian Tour which will take you to the Corinth Canal, ancient Corinth, Mycenae, Nafplion, Epidaurus, Olympia, Levadia, Delphi, Arachova, Kalambaka, Amphisa, Lamia, Trikala, Meteora, byzantine monasteries of Meteora, Vergina, Dion, Thessaloniki, Phillipi, Kavala and back to Athens. 

Day 1: Athens

Athens taxi tours start’s your Athens private  tour visiting the city of Athens, We begin our city tour by visiting the site of some of the most exquisite pieces of architecture in the world, the world-renowned Acropolis of Athens, which includes a visit to the Parthenon and The  Erechtheion, The Temple of Nike,  MARS HILL (Areopagus th Hill of Ares) where Apostle Paul delivered his well known sermon (Acts 17:22). Your private tour ends with the highlights of modern Athens: passing by the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament House, Presidential Mansion, Panathenian Stadium (site of the first modern Olympic games in 1896), Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Academy, the University and the National Library. The area of Monastiraki, the Plaka, the Ancient Greek agora, the Roman agora one of the many museums (we recommend The Byzantine Museum), and  enjoy the wonderful panoramic view of Athens and Piraeus port from LycabettusHill, the highest pick in the city. In the afternoon we will continue our Athens private tour by visiting the Monastery of Daphne with the most beautiful Mosaics ever, founded in the 11th century A.D.  The monastery is situated just a few minutes drive outside the city. The rest of the afternoon is at your disposal to explore the lively city of Athens on your own. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 2 Itinerary: Athens – Corinth canal – ancient Corinth – Athens

The next and second day, we will travel to Corinth, – Greece. In Corinth St. Paul spent 18 plus 3months preaching the Gospel to the Jews and Gentiles. The site is overlooked by the Acrocorinth. In Corinth, St. Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla making tents, The community he founded here caused him much grief and prompted him to address at least three letters to the Corinthians, one is lost.  St. Paul`s trial by Gallio took place in the agora (Acts 18:12-17). It is from Corinth, also, that St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. We celebrate our liturgy today in Corinth with a reflection on Paul the Missionary. We will visit the ruins of Kenchreae, the harbour from which St. Paul sailed for Ephesus (Acts 18:18). Continuing our Greece private tour we will drive on to Mycenae, site of the Cyclopean walls. The walls are called cyclopean because they were thought to have been built by the mythical gigantic Cyclopes. The famous Lion Gate and the beehive tombs were  excavated (1876-1878) by the German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann and they are known locally as the Treasury of Atreus and the Tomb of Clytemnestra. Visit the tomb of Agamemnon (King of Mycenae and leader of the allied Achaean forces that sailed against Troy). Our tour continues to Nafplion, the first capital of Greece after its liberation from the Ottoman Empire following the Revolution in 1821). michael‘s tours will drive you to Epidaurus home of the one of the world`s best-preserved amphitheaters, with remarkable acoustics. We end our Tour taking  the same route back to Athens. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

Day 3 Itinerary: Athens – Delphi – Meteora

After breakfast Michael‘s Greek tours will drive us to Delphi. Delphi was one of the two most important cultural  centers in ancient Greece. People journeyed to Delphi from all over the ancient world to participate in religious ceremonies and to consult the oracle before making important decisions. It was to the Delphic oracle, that King Croesus of Sardis sent messengers to request guidance from the gods about whether he should go to war against Cyrus the Great. The oracle`s response was ambivalent – If you attack Cyrus a great an empire will fall – Croesus misinterpreted, He attacked but his own empire fell. Even if Delphi were not so crucial for understanding the mythology, religion, history and literature of ancient Greece, the beauty of the place would demand that we pause and contemplate. We continue our private tour visiting the site and museum. Lunch I Delphi or Arachova, a picturesque snow ski resort. After lunch our driver will drive us to Meteora. Dinner and overnight in Meteora or Kastraki.

Day 4 Itinerary: Meteora – Thessaloniki

In the morning Michael‘s Greek tours will drive on to Meteora, an area of unexplained rock formations rising from the plain. You will wind your way through a forest of gigantic needle-like pillars, some as high as 1,820 feet above sea level. Back in the 14th century these inaccessible pinnacles offered a safe refuge to pious hermits and were later used as sites for hermits. We will visit Meteora Monasteries famous for their Byzantine museums perched precariously on huge finger-like rocks, exhibiting superb icons, old manuscripts and unique mosaics and frescoes.

The most important monasteries of Meteora are:

• The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron. It is the biggest of the Meteorite monasteries.
• The Holy Monastery of Varlaam is the second largest monastery after the Great Meteoro.
• The Holy Monastery of Rousanou. It is dedicated to ‘The Transfiguration’ but consecratedto Saint Barbara.
• The Holy Monastery of St. Nicholas Anapausas. It is the first we will come across on our way from Kastraki to Meteora.
• The Holy Monastery of St. Stephen. It is one of the most easily accessible, as one does not have to climb innumerable steps to reach it.
• The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is very difficult to reach. The visitor has to cross the valley and continue high up through the rock before we arrive outside the entrance.

After Lunch we will drive to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Thessaloniki

After breakfast we’ll travel with our Michel’s Greek tour driver to the city of  Thessaloniki founded about 315 BC by Cassander, brother-in-law of Alexander the Great, where St. Paul wrote two letters to the ancient Thessalonians. St. Paul established the first church here (Acts 17:1-10). Ruins of an early Christian church are near the Palace of Galerius. In St. Paul’s letters to this community we see his unbounded determination to continue the Church. We will also visit the church and crypt of St. Demetrius and the church of St. Sophia. Michael‘s Greek tour will drive to the upper part of the Old City Walls where you will have excellent views of the city and the opportunity to take pictures. Continue this private tour driving to the Vlatadon Monastery visit. Your tour will end with a drive of the city viewing the White Tower and the Triumphal Arch of Galerius standing on the Egnatian Way. Afternoon free.

Day 6 Itinerary: Veria -Vergina

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, you will depart Thessaloniki with Michael‘s Greek tours and drive south toward Beroia . Following St. Paul’s footsteps in his second missionary journey, the Apostle Paul successfully preached to the Jewish community in Beroia  after fleeing Thessaloniki. In Veria, you will view reconstructed steps of the bema stand (pulpit) commemorating the place where Paul was believed to have preached. Continue our private tour to Vergina (ancient Aigai), the first capital of Macedonia, we will  visit one of the most important tombs of Philip II of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great. We will arrive late in the afternoon in Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7 Itinerary: Philippi – Kavala (Neapolis)

In the morning, you will depart Thessaloniki with Michael‘s Greek tours for a full day excursion to Philippi named after King Philip II of Macedonia, where St. Paul delivered his first sermon in Europe and sowed the seeds of Christianity. Paul and Silas came to Philippi on their second missionary journey and St. Paul returned on his third (Acts 20:2-6). It was here that Paul baptized a woman named Lydia, the first Christian convert in Europe. The Roman Forum here, completely excavated, was built after Paul`s time. You will walk among the ruins, located on the rocky ledge above the town`s main road and view the Prison where St. Paul and Silas were thrown after exorcizing a spirit from a slave girl. On the rocks, you will find inscriptions and carved reliefs of deities. It was in Philippi that Octavian and Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius, last defenders of the Roman Republic in 42 BC. Some ten miles southeast of Philippi continuing our private tour is the modern port city of Kavala, ancient Neapolis, where St. Paul, accompanied by Silas, Luke, and Timothy, first set foot in Europe. To reach Kavala  we will follow the Via Egnatia, a remnant of Rome’s highway system, viewing  Roman and Greek tombstones. Upon arrival in Kavala, located like an amphitheater by the sea, we will have the rest of the afternoon to explore this historical city. You may want to visit the Old City of Kavala including the Islamic Minaret, the lighthouse (which provides an amazing, full view of Kavala), the castle with its tower, and the famous Kamares, which is the Roman aqueduct that was reconstructed by the sultan Suleiman the Magnificent around 1550. You may also wish to visit the Modern City of Kavala, including the Heroes’ Monument next to the Public Garden, the Town hall, the Municipal Library, the building of the Byzantine Antiquities Authority and the Municipal Museum. The ruins of ancient Neapolis were built upon and the site became known as Christopolis because St. Paul traveled there in 50 A.D. Dinner and overnight.

Day 8 Itinerary: Thessaloniki

Early in the morning Michael‘s Greek tours will drive us back to Athens passing through the towns of Thessaloniki, Katerini, Tembi mountains, Larisa, Lamia, Thermopylae (visit the monument of Leonidas and the 300 Spartans) and we will end this tour following the footsteps of St. Paul in Athens late in the afternoon.

You can customize this private tour at any time, either on the way together with your private chauffeur or in advance by contacting our Michael‘ Greek tours.

www.athenstaxitour.com. We try to make you feel good

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Let us take you and show you all the sites that St. Paul spent most of his time preaching the Gospel to the Athenians by following his footsteps. We first drive to were St.Paul first came to Athens from Thessaloniki we then go on to visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon,the Erechtheion, Mars Hill (Areopagus), (Acts 17:22) were Apostle Paul delivered his sermon to the Athenians. You then proceed by visiting the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Nike, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament House, Presidential Palace, Panathenian Stadium, Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Plaka, the Ancient agora,(St. Paul’s meeting place), the Roman agora, Academy, the University and the National Library, Monastiraki, The Byzantine Museum, the new Acropolis museum, the Monastery of Kaisariani, founded in the 11th century A.D. and consecrated to the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple.

We will end this tour in the afternoon taking you back to your hotel or your cruise ship.

The post Full Day Following Paul’s Footsteps in Athens appeared first on Athens TAXI Tours.

We first drive to were St.Paul first came to Athens from Thessaloniki we then go on to visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon,the Erechtheion, Mars Hill (Areopagus), (Acts 17:22) were Apostle Paul delivered his sermon to the Athenians.You then proceed by visiting the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Nike,  the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament House, Presidential Palace, Panathenian Stadium, Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Plaka, the Ancient agora,(St. Paul’s meeting place), the Roman agora, Academy, the University and the National Library.

Our tour will take you to visit the  Corinthian Canal, and the Ancient city of Corinth. The famous Canal merges the prefectures of Attica and Corinthia, as well as the Peloponnese Peninsula with Central Greece, connecting the Aegean with the Ionian Sea. It is 78 meters high and 25 meters wide and cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth. Our tour continues and shortly we will reach the ancient city of Corinth (visit) where St. Paul lived and preached for 18 months. Back in the ancient times Corinth was amongst the wealthiest cities. The ruins of this once splendid city lie high up on a hill above the modern town, overlooking both the Corinth and the Saronicos Gulfs. In fact, ancient Corinth owed it’s wealth and it’s power to it’s advantageous position being between two harbors, (Lechaion in the Corinthian Gulf and Kechreae on the Saronic Gulf ). The principal sights include the Temple Apollo (6th C.B.C) , The fountain of Pirene, the Market place, Theate, the Odeum.

Also we will also visit Kechreai were St. Paul disembarked to Ephesus.

We will have lunch in a traditional greek Taverna and return to Athens.

The post Full Day Following Paul’s Footsteps Sites In Athens And Corinth appeared first on Athens TAXI Tours.

We first drive to were St.Paul first came to Athens from Thessaloniki we then go on to visit the Acropolis, the Parthenon,the Erechtheion, Mars Hill (Areopagus), (Acts 17:22) were Apostle Paul delivered his sermon to the Athenians. You then proceed by visiting the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Temple of Nike,  the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament House, Presidential Palace, Panathenian Stadium, Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Plaka, the Ancient agora,(St. Paul’s meeting place), the Roman agora, Academy, the University and the National Library.

The post Following Paul’s Footsteps in Athens, Half Day Tour appeared first on Athens TAXI Tours.

The famous Canal merges the prefectures of Attica and Corinthia, as well as the Peloponnese Peninsula with Central Greece, connecting the Aegean with the Ionian Sea. It is 78 meters high and 25 meters wide and cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth. Our tour continues and shortly we will reach the ancient city of Corinth (visit) where St. Paul lived and preached for 18 months. Back in the ancient times Corinth was amongst the wealthiest cities.

The ruins of this once splendid city lie high up on a hill above the modern town, overlooking both the Corinth and the Saronicos Gulfs. In fact, ancient Corinth owed it’s wealth and it’s power to it’s advantageous position being between two harbors, (Lechaion in the Corinthian Gulf and Kechreae on the Saronic Gulf ). The principal sights include the Temple Apollo (6th C.B.C) , The fountain of Pirene, the Market place, Theater and the Odeum.

Also we will also visit Isthmus at the site of the ancient port of Kechreai where St. Paul disembarked to Ephesus.

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