In the footsteps of a remarkable journey

Transcription

1 In the footsteps of a remarkable journey St Paul embarked on three missionary journeys in his lifetime. These travels took him throughout southern Asia Minor, to the lands surrounding the Mediterranean and as far west as Rome and on to modernday Spain. This voyage will take you to several of the places the Apostle visited, teaching and preaching on his three missionary journeys, including Corinth and the ancient city of Ephesus. It was in ancient Corinth that St. Paul lived for two years and founded a church in 50AD. Visit the ruins of the ancient city where Paul worked and explore the 1st-century ruins of the agora where Paul's trial by Gallio took place. In Ephesus you will walk through one of the most magnificent ancient sites in the world and see the Fountain of Trajan, the Library of Celsus and, of course, the 24,000 capacity Great Theatre where St. Paul preached. This itinerary also includes other places of great spiritual significance including the beautiful island of Patmos where St. John wrote the Book of the Revelation, the island of Delos most sacred of places to the ancient Greeks and Philippi where Paul baptized Lydia, the first European Christian convert. So, there you have it: a journey that takes you to some of the most important and inspiring sites on St Paul s missionary travels and also to some of the most beautiful spots in the Mediterranean. 2 I could just enjoy each day and know it was all taken care of.

2 Tour Highlights Stop over both ways in Dubai for greater comfort during the long flight 11 night cruise of the Mediterranean on the MV Aegean Odyssey The Walls and Agora of Thessaloniki Philippi and the Baptistery of Lydia The Dardenelles and Istanbul Pergamon, one of the best preserved sites in ancient Turkey Ephesus and the Great Amphitheatre Island of Patmos, where the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation Corinth s Museum and other biblical sites Your Holiday Includes A Christian Tour Leader throughout the holiday Daily Devotions throughout the holiday CFT shore excursions Quality hotel accommodation with private facilities Full Breakfast B Lunches where designated L and Dinners D Entries to attractions have been included. See itinerary for details Luggage assistance at hotels A chance to worship Worship Athens Parthenon, Acropolis, Mars Hill and Olympic Stadium The itinerary was more than I expected not rushed. 3

3 Itinerary DAY 1 Tuesday 26 April 2016 Australia Dubai An evening flight from Australia (direct flights from all mainland capital cities) takes us to Dubai where we have arranged for the hotel rooms to be ready for our early morning arrival. Overnight: On flight DAY 2 Wednesday 27 April 2016 Dubai B D After a chance to freshen up, later in the morning you ll enjoy a guided tour of this amazing new city resplendent with stunning skyscrapers and towers: an architectural oasis in the desert. We ve allowed some free time at the Dubai Mall, the largest mall in the world. We will enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants here before enjoying the dancing fountain show. We will then be transferred back to the hotel. Overnight: Dubai DAY 3 Thursday 28 April 2016 Dubai to Athens B D Transfer this morning to the airport to depart Dubai, joining our flight to Athens in Greece. On arrival, we transfer to our selected hotel. Overnight: Athens Meals on flight DAY 4 Friday 29 April 2016 Athens Today we enjoy a full morning s guided tour of Athens. Built during the Golden Age of Athens between BC under the orders of the great statesman Pericles, the Acropolis represents the magnificent achievements of Athenian culture during this remarkable era. You will also visit the marvellous Acropolis Museum and the Areopagus (Mars Hill), where Saint Paul delivered his famous Men of Athens speech (Acts 17:15). After lunch you are free to relax or continue exploring the city. Overnight: Athens DAY 5 Saturday 30 April 2016 Athens Sightseeing Embarkation Today we visit Corinth (Acts 18: 1-18), a city that inspired Paul s most familiar letter. You ll visit the Market Place, the Temples, and walk among the ruins and stand on the Bema where Paul stood. Whilst there we ll read some of Paul s letter to the Corinthians and visualize his address to the Gentiles as he began the task of building Corinth s church. Take time to imagine where Aquila and Priscilla lived and where they had their tent making business. In the afternoon we head to the port of Piraeus to embark on your floating hotel for the next 10 days the Aegean Odyssey. 4 The little extras were very much appreciated.

4 Itinerary DAY 6 Sunday 1 May 2016 Delos Mykonos A feature of Christian Fellowship Tours is the ability to share in a joint time of worship, and this will be arranged on the cruise. We will also enjoy shore visits to two beautiful Greek Islands the islands of Delos and Mykonos where you will delight in the architecture and the means of transport used today by local people. These small island communities have had communities of people from well before Jesus time and feature in Greek mythology. DAY 7 Monday 2 May 2016 Patmos Worship Patmos is the Holy Island for the Christian faith. We ll visit the grotto where the book of Revelation was written during John s exile from the Roman Empire, and also see the 11th Century Monastery of St John, home to over 300 beautifully preserved early manuscripts, including a Gospel of Luke. DAY 8 Tuesday 3 May 2016 Kusadasi We arrive at Kusadasi. Visit Ephesus, the most impressive archaeological site in Turkey, including the Great Amphitheatre where the crowds chanted for two hours. This afternoon we tour Miletus, where Paul delivered his touching farewell address to the elders of Ephesus, in which he predicted his death (Acts 19:1-41; Revelation 2:1). DAY 9 Wednesday 4 May 2016 Dikili After breakfast we depart from the fishing port of Dikili for a day tour of Pergamon in the present-day city of Bergama, and a city mentioned in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 2:12). It is one of the best preserved ancient sites in Turkey, and we will see the remains of temples and the Greek theatre. I enjoyed being a member of a Christian family away from home. 5

5 Itinerary DAY 10 Thursday 5 May 2016 Canakkale Once an Ottoman fortress and famous for its pottery and ancient history dating back 4000 years, Australians will be attracted to it for emotive reasons. Located across from the Gallipoli Peninsular, on the southern side of the famous Dardenelles, it witnessed the horror of the landings at Gallipolli by Anzacs in In fact, in Turkey, the Dardenelles campaign is referred to as the Battle of Canakkale. The wooden horse from the 2004 movie Troy is located on the waterfront. Your tour itinerary includes the tour of the Gallipoli Cove and the sites from where the legend of ANZAC was born. We will then pass through the Dardnelles, arriving into Istanbul on the following day. DAY 11 Friday 6 May 2016 Istanbul Today we will explore Istanbul, one of the world s greatest historic cities. Formerly Byzantium, the centre of the Eastern Roman Empire, this city is built on seven green hills and sits astride two continents. East meets West here in every way: it s a blend of cultures and societies. We ll visit the Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque with its six minarets, and St Sofia which was converted to a mosque from a Christian basilica after the fall of Constantinople in DAY 12 Saturday 7 May 2016 Kavala Philippi Located on a bay, and built on the ancient city of Neopolis, Kavala is the second largest city in northern Greece. Paul landed here on his first voyage to Europe. It s one of the most attractive Greek cities, rising like an amphitheatre from the beautiful harbour up to a huge Byzantine fortress. In a moving and special time while visiting Philippi, we will remember the baptism of Lydia, the first baptism on European soil, and remember Paul s imprisonment and the conversion of the Philippian gaoler. (Acts 16:11-15; 16-34) DAY 13 Sunday 8 May 2016 Thessaloniki We arrive in Thessaloniki where we visit Veria (ancient Berea) and the memorial commemorating Paul s preaching to the local Jews in around 50AD (Acts 17) as well as nearby Vergina where the site of the burial place of King Philip II can be found. DAY 14 Monday 9 May 2016 Volos Volos is a coastal port city in Thessaly, midway on the Greek mainland. Capital of the Magnesia regional unit, Volos is the only outlet to the sea from Thessaly, the country s largest agricultural region. With a population of 144,449 (2011), it is an important industrial centre, while its port provides a bridge between Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Today we will travel by road to see the famous Byzantine monasteries built on sandstone towers at Meteora, before returning to the ship for an early evening departure for Skiathos. DAY 15 Tuesday 10 May 2016 Skiathos The island of Skiathos is another delightful Greek Island, one of many in the Aegean sea, and we call here to take in some of the almost untouched flavour and culture of this old civilisation. 6 Fantastic! was my reply when asked about the tour.

6 Itinerary DAY 16 Wednesday 11 May 2016 Athens B After disembarking this morning, we will enjoy a city tour as we drive towards the airport for our flight to Dubai. Overnight: Dubai DAY 17 Thursday 12 May 2016 Dubai B D At leisure in Dubai this morning, you may elect to take an extra tour (own cost) or visit the Dubai Mall, the largest in the world, which features an amazing aquarium. In the early afternoon we depart into the desert for an unforgettable adventure. After a short demonstration of falconry, we drive through the sand dunes, stopping along the way to take in the sunset before arriving at a desert camp. Here we will enjoy a feast of barbecued meats, fresh salads and delectable Arabic sweets before returning to our hotel. Overnight: Dubai DAY 18 Friday 13 May 2016 Dubai Australia Meals on flight Transfer to Dubai airport for final leg home to capital cities served by Emirates. Overnight: On flight DAY 19 Saturday 14 May 2016 Arrive Australia Morning arrival into Australia. Fares Tour Code SOP1640CFT DEPARTING SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, BRISBANE, PERTH.* CAT. DESCRIPTION DECK SINGLE TWIN PP A Owners Suite Lido $19,800 $14,320 B Junior Suite Lido $18,600 $13,660 C Deluxe Balcony Lido/Bridge N/A $12,875 D Deluxe Balcony Belvedere $16,640 $12,340 E Deluxe Outside Bridge/Belvedere N/A $11,995 F Deluxe Outside Bridge/Belvedere $14,100 $11,750 G Superior Outside Bridge N/A $11,390 H Superior Outside Belvedere/Columbus N/A $11,100 I Superior Outside Bridge N/A $10,800 J Standard Outside Columbus N/A $10,530 K Superior Inside Belvedere/Columbus $11,190 $10,235 L Superior Inside Belvedere $12,260 $11,200 M Standard Inside Columbus N/A $9,700 CC Single Balcony Lido $13,645 N/A EE Single Deluxe Balcony Belvedere $12,800 N/A GG Single Premium Outside Bridge $12,300 N/A HH Single Premium Outside Bridge/Belvedere/ $12,100 N/A Columbus II Single Premium Outside Bridge $11,800 N/A JJ Single Standard Outside Columbus $11,500 N/A MM Single Standard Inside Columbus $10,800 N/A *Other cities on application. See Deck Plan on page 9. Triple and Quad prices on request. Flights Escort departs from and returns to Sydney. SYDNEY Departs: 9.45pm Sydney International Airport Tuesday 26 April 2016 Returns: 7.00am Sydney International Airport Saturday 14 May 2016 MELBOURNE Departs: 10.25pm Melbourne International Airport Tuesday 26 April 2016 Returns: 6.35am Melbourne International Airport Saturday 14 May 2016 BRISBANE Departs: 8.45pm Brisbane International Airport Tuesday 26 April 2016 Returns: 6.40am Brisbane International Airport Saturday 14 May 2016 PERTH Departs: 10.10pm Perth International Airport Tuesday 26 April 2016 Returns: 12.45am Perth International Airport Saturday 14 May 2016 The fellowship with other Christians and the care and special times we shared. 7

7 Aegean Odyssey Classically elegant, but far from stuffy and formal, premium class MV Aegean Odyssey offers passengers every comfort at sea, with a relaxed, congenial atmosphere and the highest calibre of personal service. Carrying an average of 350 passengers, Aegean Odyssey s ideal size is perfectly suited for coastal cruising to the small inlets of the Mediterranean that larger ships cannot reach. With tastefully understated interiors, Aegean Odyssey combines the best of traditional elegance with all the modern conveniences of a first-class ship. Your cabin comforts Your on-board comfort is one of our prime concerns. All cabins feature flat-screen television, safe, hairdryer and plush bedding and most outside cabins have windows rather than portholes. A complete refurbishment in 2010 allowed us to create a feeling of luxury in all our accommodations. 8 The Bible has come alive having seen where Paul travelled and preached.

8 Deck Plan Thoroughly enjoyed myself! 9