PILGRIMAGE TO TURKEY & GREECE September 16‐27, 2019 with Fr. Jerome Cudden, O.P.

 

 

 

I T I N E R A R Y


Day 1 ‐ Sep. 16: Depart U.S.A.
Our spiritual pilgrimage begins as we depart on our
overnight flight to Istanbul.
 

Day 2 ‐ Sep. 17: Istanbul
Upon arrival in Istanbul we will be met by our guide who

will give us a brief orientation of the city before driving to
our hotel.


Day 3 ‐ Sep. 18: Istanbul
Our morning begins with a visit to Sultan Ahmed’s famous
Blue Mosque with its six minarets and sparkling interior.
Then visit Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman
Sultans, where we will view the Treasury and the world’s
biggest emerald. The next visit will be to the Hagia Sophia

which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and has a
history dating back to the 4th century. We will conclude the
day with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, the oldest and largest
covered market in the world where over 4,000 shops sell
everything from herbs to gold.


Day 4 ‐ Sep. 19: Istanbul / Canakkale
After breakfast we will visit the Chora Church which houses
marvelous golden Byzantine mosaics and frescoes depicting
the life of the Virgin Mary and Christ. Then depart Istanbul

and drive along the Sea of Marmara and across the
Dardanelles to Gallipoli, the famous site of the World War
One battle. Continue on to legendary Troy to see the city
made famous in Homer’s poems and visit Troas where St.
Paul had a vision in which he was called to Macedonia.
Proceed on to Canakkale for overnight.


Day 5 ‐ Sep. 20: Canakkale / Izmir
Depart Canakkale and drive to visit Pergamum, the most
favored of the Seven Churches of Revelation where
Christianity was introduced very early. Here we will see the
Temple of Zeus, the Temple of Athena, the fabled Acropolis
and the Royal Gate. We will also visit Asclepion, one the
foremost healing centers of the ancient world. Continue on
to Thyatira, another of the Seven Churches. Then visit the
Church of St. Polycarp, which is the oldest church in ancient
Smyrna and is dedicated to one of the first Christian
martyrs. Proceed to Izmir for overnight.

Day 6 ‐ Sep. 21: Izmir / Pamukale
Following breakfast, drive to Sardis, the Lydian capital city
where money was first minted, to visit the Roman
Gymnasium and the remains of the Artemis Temple which
symbolized one of the Seven Churches. We will then stop
at Philadelphia which was referred to as the “New
Jerusalem”. Proceed to the spa city of Pamukale where we

will see the cascading water from the cliffs forming
crystallized, dazzling white “frozen waterfalls”. Visit the
ruins of the Roman health spa of Hierapolis and see the
magnificently preserved Necropolis, the Main Street and
Gates. Overnight in Pamukale.

Day 7 ‐ Sep. 22: Pamukale / Kusadasi
Depart Pamukale and drive to Laodicea, one of the Seven
Churches where Christians were chastised by John for
being lukewarm. Then proceed to Ephesus to visit the site
of the Temple of Artemis which is one of the Seven
Wonders of the World. Paul spent two years in Ephesus
and it was to this community that he wrote his Epistle to
the Ephesians. Paul implored the Ephesians to cease their
worship of Artemis and to turn to Christianity. We will see
the great theater where Paul addressed the crowds and
visit the site of the scene of the riot from which Paul
escaped. Visit the Church of the Virgin Mary, the House of
Mary, and the Tomb of St. Luke. While driving to the
colorful port of Kusadasi, we will visit the Basilica of St.
John, which was erected over his grave in the 6th century
A.D. by the Emperor Justinian.

Day 8 ‐ Sep. 23: Kusadasi / Patmos
Transfer to the pier at Kusadasi and take a ferry to the
island of Patmos where St. John received the mystical
Revelation which forms the last book of the New
Testament. Once we reach the island we will take an
excursion to the Grotto of Revelation and the 11th century
Monastery of St. John which houses the original script of
the Gospel. We will then board an overnight ferry for
Piraeus.

Day 9 ‐ Sep. 24: Piraeus / Corinth / Athens
This morning we will disembark from our overnight ferry in
Piraeus and then drive to ancient Corinth, the city that
inspired many of St. Paul’s most familiar letters. See the
Archaeological Museum, the Market Place, the Bema, and
the Temples. Standing in the midst of the ruins of the
church of Corinth and seeing the pillars, steps, and public
worship place where Paul preached will enhance our
understanding and love of I & II Corinthians. We’ll celebrate
Mass in Corinth before proceeding to Athens for check‐in
at our local hotel.

Day 10 ‐ Sep. 25: Athens
This morning we will enjoy a tour of Athens starting with a
visit to the ancient Acropolis with its Parthenon. We’ll stroll
through the Ancient Agora where Socrates, Plato, and much
later St. Paul spoke to the people of Athens. Then we’ll
head over to the National Archeological Museum for a
guided tour of one of the world’s greatest museums. The
remainder of the day will be free.

Day 11 ‐ Sep. 26: Athens / Delphi / Athens
Today we will enjoy an excursion to the magnificent
archeological site of the ancient City of Delphi which
contains some of the best remains from Greek Classical
Antiquity (6th Century B.C.E.). After a complete tour of
Delphi we will return to Athens for overnight. This evening
enjoy a farewell dinner on the Plaka.

Day 12 ‐ Sep. 27: Athens / U.S.A.
This morning we will transfer to Athens airport to catch our
return flight home.

 


P I L G R I M A G E    C O S T
$3,859.00 per person/double occupancy
For single occupancy please add $576.00


This price includes:
– Roundtrip airfare from San Francisco
– Airline taxes/fuel surcharges as currently levied
– Accommodation in 5 star hotels in Turkey and in a
– Superior 4 star hotel in Athens
– Overnight ferry from Patmos to Piraeus with
– accommodation in private double occupancy cabins
– All hotel taxes
– Breakfast and dinner daily
– Land transportation by deluxe motorcoach
– All transfers and baggage handling
– Comprehensive sightseeing as per itinerary with
– professional guides
– All entrance fees as per itinerary
– Daily Mass
– All gratuities

 

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