Under the Auspices of H.G. Bishop David
Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of New York & New England
SPSA invites you to The 6th Annual Trip
Greece & Ephesus
Footsteps of Apostle Saint Paul
When: Saturday, July 23rd – Monday, Aug 1st, 2022
Price: $2,250 per person Land/cruise portion (Double Occupancy)
Turkish Airlines $1,200 Per Person (Limited Tickets)
To Reserve More information Please call/text
Father Andrew
203-455-7447
Payments can be done through Venmo, Zelle, or Checks
Checks should be Payable to “St. Peter & St. Andrew Church”
Attention Father Andrew Awad
138 Evergreen Hill Road
Fairfield CT 06824
All passengers traveling internationally must have a valid Passport. It should be active for more than 6 months from the expiration date. All green cardholders will need visas, Visas are the responsibility of the traveler.
Group Tickets on Turkish Airlines $1,200 Per Person
“We do not admire St Paul the Apostle for raising the dead or for healing a leaper, we admire him for sayings such as, ‘Who is weak and I am not weak?! Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?!’ 2 Cor.11: 29 These words are more powerful than the ability to do thousands of miracles. For these words are more precious than pearls!” (St. John Chrysostom)
Day 1, Saturday, July 23
Depart from JKF to Thessaloniki, Greece
Day 2, Sunday, July 24 Arrive Thessaloniki, Greece
Welcome to Thessaloniki, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions, and continue to the city center to see the highlights and visit the Churches of Aghios Dimitrios and St. Sophia. Continue to the hotel for check-in. Balance of the day at leisure. Dinner & overnight in Thessaloniki at the Hotel Capsis
Day 3, Monday, July 25 Thessaloniki. Excursion to Philippi & Kavala
Today begins along Paul’s route via Amphipolis, a wealthy city in ancient Macedonia where a large number of Christian churches were built in the 5th and 6th centuries. Next, travel to Philippi, a busy Roman colony with an impressive library and theater. It was here that Paul preached and established the first church in Europe, and to whom he wrote his Philippians epistle while imprisoned in Rome. Continue to Kavala, the ancient port of Neapolis. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki at the Hotel Capsis
Day 4, Tuesday, July 26 Thessalonika–Veria–Kalambaka
This morning, stop in Veria (called Berea in the New Testament), where Paul and Silas were sent by friends after being accused of treason in Thessalonika. Visit the BEMA OF APOSTLE PAUL, where he preached the gospel to the local community, then continue to Kalambaka, home to the awe-inspiring Meteora monasteries. Dinner and overnight in Kalambaka at the Hotel Divani Meteora
Day 5, Wednesday, July 27 Kalambaka–Meteora–Athens
A real highlight is in-store today. Situated atop soaring cliffs and rock faces, the Meteora monasteries create one of the most inspirational sites in the world. Visit the HOLY MONASTERY OF VARLAAM, the second-largest of the monasteries, and the HOLY MONASTERY OF ST. STEPHEN was bombed by the Nazis during WWII but later was reconstructed by nuns. Here you will be introduced to the many historical and religious treasures. Dinner and overnight in Athens at the Hotel Zafolia
Day 6, Thursday, July 28 Corinth-Athens
Travel to Corinth to visit the EXCAVATIONS where Apostle Paul worked for 18 months with tent-makers Aquila and Priscilla. Learn about this ancient city-state and its early church, which was the recipient of Paul’s two Corinthians epistles. Return to Athens for sightseeing that visits the ACROPOLIS with the Parthenon and AREOPAGUS, where Paul delivered his famous sermon about the identity of the “Unknown God.” Tonight, join your traveling companions for a final evening of fellowship and celebration at a farewell dinner with wine at your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Athens at the Hotel Zafolia
Day 7, Friday, July 29 Athens–Piraeus (Embarkation)–Mykonos
Awaken refreshed this morning and ready to begin your 3-night CRUISE around the Greek Isles and Turkey. Headfirst to mountainous Mykonos with its iconic windmills and brilliant whitewashed houses. Watch for Petros the Pelican, the island’s most famous resident since 1954! Dinner & overnight on the Cruise Celestyal Olympia
Day 8, Saturday, July 30 Kusadasi, Turkey–Excursion to Ephesus–Patmos, Greece
Visit the Turkish port of Kusadasi for an included excursion to the RUINS OF EPHESUS, the former capital of the Roman province of Asia. Walk in the footsteps of Apostle Paul, who lived and preached here, and meditate on what life must have been like for the early Ephesian Christians in this pagan society. Also see the House of Mary, where the Virgin Mary is said to have spent her last days. Continue your cruise to the island of Patmos, the “Jerusalem of the Aegean,” and visit the MONASTERY OF ST. JOHN and the CAVE OF THE APOCALYPSE, where John the Evangelist received the visions that he recorded in the Book of the Revelation during his exile. Dinner & overnight on the Cruise Celestyal Olympia
Day 9, Sunday, July 31 Cruising: Crete, Heraklion–Santorini
The first port of call today is Heraklion on Crete. An included excursion is available to nearby KNOSSOS, the center of the 3000 BC Minoan civilization and historic site of mythology’s tales about the Minotaur and the labyrinth. Afternoon call (weather permitting) at Santorini, the “Black Pearl of the Aegean.” An optional shore excursion takes you up to the cliff-top village of Oia for one of the world’s most glorious panoramic views. Dinner & overnight on the Cruise Celestyal Olympia
Day 10, Monday, Aug 1 Piraeus (Disembarkation)–Departure
Mikrolimano is a fishing port with colorful buildings and restaurants. Athens, Greece – Piraeus, Mikrolimano harbor. Disembark and transfer to the airport
RATES INCLUDE:
- Accommodation on half board (breakfast & dinner at hotels) as follows…
o 2 nights at a hotel in Thessaloniki
o 1 night at a hotel in Kalambaka
o 2 nights at a hotel in Athens - Accommodation 3 nights on full board on the cruise in CAT/IB inside cabins on Celestyal Cruises
- Ephesus & House of Mary shore excursion in Kusadasi
- St. John’s Monastery and the cave of Apocalypse excursion in Patmos
- Minoan Palace of Knossos excursion in Heraklion (Crete)
- Shuttle service in Mykonos between port and town
- Unlimited drink package during the cruise
- Gratuities on the cruise
- Port taxes
- Excellent English speaking guide for the land tour
- Deluxe coach for all tours and transfers
- Entrance fees to all sites mentioned in the program
- Whisper phones (headsets) during the land tour
- Single Supplement $500
RATES DO NOT INCLUDE:
- Porterage. At hotels, it is a total of USD 8 per person (in/out). At the airport, trolleys are available for €1 coin each.
- Hotel Overnight tax; €3 per room per night.
- Tips for guide and driver – suggested tip amounts (Guide € 5 per person per day)
(Driver € 4 per person per day) - Lunches on the land part of the tour (lunches included on the cruise)
COVID-19 INSTRUCTIONS:
Travelers arriving from the United States of America are permitted to enter Greece under the condition that they display one of the following:
a) Vaccination certificate (for those who have completed vaccination for COVID-19 at least fourteen (14) days before arrival) valid for 9 months after the completion of the basic vaccination and without time limit for travelers who have received the booster dose. The vaccination certificate must include the full name of the traveler as registered in the passport, the type of vaccine given, the number of doses and inoculation dates, or
b) Proof of recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection, issued 14 days after the day of the first positive COVID-19 test (PCR or Rapid Antigen test) and valid for 180 days thereafter, or
c) Negative molecular test for COVID-19 (PCR) performed up to 72 hours before the scheduled arrival, or negative Rapid Antigen test performed up to 24 hours before the scheduled arrival.
However, once in the country visitors must abide by the domestic validity period. This means that access to indoor areas of restaurants, cafes, bars, and other leisure facilities in Greece is allowed only after showing either:
– a vaccination certificate valid for 7 months (210 days) since full vaccination (two shots) for Covid-19 (and without validity limit for travelers who have received the booster dose)
– or proof of recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection valid for 3 months (90 days) after its issue date.
Click here for the current requirements for joining your cruise in Greece
All passengers boarding the cruise must hold in their hands the following documents:
- Passports
- e-tickets
- Vaccination certificates
- Completed health questionnaire (as attached)
- Rapid test result (electronic or printed out)
The rapid test we can arrange at the hotel, costs €10 per person.
Here you will find up-to-date protocols for the cruise: https://celestyal.com/ie/greece-cruise-protocols/