Traveling into the New Testament Through Greece and Turkey With St. John s Episcopal Church Dallas Featuring Fr. David and Meg Houk June 11-20, 2015
Dear Friends, August 13, 2014 We would love to have you join us in June of 2015 on our tour of Greece, with a special stop in Turkey to see the amazing excavation in Ephesus, such an important city in the ancient Roman Empire. Together we will travel into the terrain of the New Testament and experience the rich history of these lands and how they connect with our faith, while of course having plenty of fun in the present. Those who have joined us on pilgrimages to the Holy Land know how a journey like this changes the way you read the Bible forever. In fact, it will change you, too. This is as an amazing opportunity to see a part of the world that is so central to our Christian heritage: the island of Crete, where St. Paul traveled with Titus, leaving him there to appoint presbyters in every town (Titus 1:5); Corinth, where St. Paul spent and extended time in ministry (Acts 18) and from which he wrote his mighty epistle to the Romans; and of course, Patmos, where St. John lived during his exile from Ephesus and where he received the Revelation, the unveiling of Jesus Christ as the goal and end of all creation (Revelation 1:9). These are to name just a few of the Biblical sites, and then there will also be the experience of getting to know classical Greece, places like Delphi, the site of the ancient oracle by which priestesses spoke in the name of the pagan deities. This was the world into which Christianity came, the old gods that gave way under the proclamation of the Gospel. What a unique opportunity to see the lands that were the first missionary territory for the early Church. Finally, we also look forward to experiencing the Greece of today: seeing the churches, monasteries, and icons of our Greek Orthodox brothers and sisters, eating some of the best food in the world, coming face to face with the brilliant beauty of the Aegean Sea. What a rich trip this will be. We hope you will join us. David & Meg
Day 1 - DEPARTURE FROM HOME, June 10 Depart your home city for Athens. Day 2 - ARRIVAL, June 11 We arrive in historic Athens, Greece s capital, social and economic center, named after the goddess Athena. We ll meet with our local representative and transfer to our hotel located on the south slopes of the Acropolis of Athens. We ll have a restful afternoon and enjoy a welcome dinner at the rooftop of the hotel viewing the eternal Parthenon. (D) ancient archaeological site of Ephesus, located near the modern town of Selcuk. Ephesus is considered to be the best-preserved classical city of the eastern Mediterranean. Paul spent nearly three years in the city during his third journey. We will walk the ancient main road of the city and reach the theater where Paul preached the new faith. We will see the Domitian temple, the Temple of Hadrian, Celsus Library, and a theater with a seating capacity for 24,000 people. We will also tour the ongoing excavations at the terrace houses where the rich and famous of Ephesus lived. In the afternoon we ll sail to the beautiful island of Patmos, the sacred island of the Aegean, and visit the cave where St. John the Evangelist received the Revelation. Visit the Grotto, which Day 3 - GREEK ISLES/MYKONOS, June 12 In the morning we ll transfer to the port of Piraeus for boarding the ship for our three day cruise to the Greek islands and the coast of Turkey. Before noon we sail to Mykonos, the cosmopolitan island of the Aegean famous for its architecture, its gorgeous beaches and incredible shopping. (B,L,D) Day 4 - EPHESUS/PATMOS, June 13 In the morning we ll arrive to the Turkish port of Kusadasi (Isle of Birds) and drive to the unique is a solemn Orthodox chapel today, located on the slopes of the hill of Chora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site facing north towards Ephesus. We complete the visit of the island by going in to the extremely interesting Monastery of St. John, possibly the most important monastery of the Aegean Sea, which crowns the old town of Patmos. Entering its courtyard we
step back in time. The complex of its medieval buildings creates an incredible religious ensemble and the main church of the 11th century is richly decorated with byzantine and post byzantine frescoes, valuable icons and other precious objects, and offerings of the rich ship-owners of the island. (B,L,D) Day 5 - HERAKLEION/CRETE/KNOSSOS/ SANTORINI, June 14 In the morning we arrive to the port of Herakleion, the main port of the biggest Greek island, to visit the island of Crete. Here we will experience the archaeological site of Knossos where the Palace of King Minos was, home of the well-known Minotaur! Knossos was undoubtedly the ceremonial caldera, rests in the middle of the indigo Aegean and will take your breath away with its snow drift of white Cycladic houses lining the cliff tops. You ll have the afternoon at leisure to explore the many authentic shops and lovely cafés of this island. When the sun sets, the reflection on the buildings and the glow of the orange and red in the cliffs can be truly spectacular! (B,L,D) Day 6 - DELPHI, June 15 We will disembark our cruise ship and take a 3 hour drive to Delphi with lunch on the way. We ll pass through the plains of Boeotia and up the slopes of Mt. Parnassus. The highest point we ll reach is the picturesque village of Arachova, a well-known winter resort. The views of the surrounding mountains are fantastic! We will reach and political center of the Minoan civilization and culture. It appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and storerooms close to a central square. In the afternoon the ship will approach the breathtaking volcanic island of Santorini, regarded as one of the most important geological curiosities in the eastern Mediterranean and home of one of the most important prehistoric settlements of the Aegean. Apart from its archaeological importance, the island with its multicolored volcanic cliffs hanging over 300m from a sea-drowned Delphi, the ancient sanctuary where the ancient Greeks worshipped Apollo, the god of the music, the arts, the oracle and the light! Delphi was the center of the ancient world and pilgrims were coming from all over the Greek world to consult the oracle about their future. We will first arrive at the hotel and rest, and then have an afternoon visit of the site where we will see the Treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the theater; all located in an incredible setting viewing the surrounding mountain peaks. The breathtaking views will make you feel like being at the top of the world! Overnight in Delphi and dinner at the hotel. (BLD) Day 7 - DELPHI/TRIKALA/KALAMBAKA, June 16 In the morning, we will complete our visit of Delphi with the Delphi Museum where some of the most important sculptures of the ancient Greek Art can be seen. We will then depart for Trikala.
On the way, we will detour for a picnic lunch at a hidden gem of central Greece: the byzantine church of Porta Panagia. Here we will enjoy an amazing setting and the nearby old stone bridge, an off the beaten track experience which will remain in your memory for a long time. We will then arrive at the hotel for rest and perhaps an evening stroll in Kalambaka. Dinner will be at the hotel. (BLD) surrounding mountains. After the visit, we will lunch in a local tavern in Kalambaka and then return to Athens for 3 continuous nights. Day 9 - CORINTH/ATHENS, June 18 In the morning we will board our bus and head for the ancient city of Corinth. The drive on the southwest coast of Athens will allow us to view the Saronic Gulf and its islands, a view that Paul had while sailing towards Corinth. Shortly we ll reach the famous and impressive Corinth canal which connects the two seas: the Aegean and the Ionian. We ll explore the nearby ancient site Day 8 - METEORA, June 17 There are not enough words to express the beauty of these geological formations known as Meteora, which in Greek means rocks suspended in the air. Amidst beautiful mountain slopes, deep gorges, lost in time villages, historical sites, and fertile plains, people trying to find refuge for themselves and their faith, climbed and built little hermitages. These gradually grew to the well-known monasteries we see today. This morning we shall visit two of the most important monasteries, treasuries of incredible pieces of the religious art of the Orthodox Church, by walking up the steps enjoying some of the most beautiful and stunning views of the of Corinth, where Paul spent 18 months on his first journey and created the biggest Christian community in Europe. We ll stroll amidst the ancient ruins of the city and enjoy the remains of one of the few archaic Greek temples still standing: the Temple of Apollo. We ll walk on the original ancient paved roads, or through the ruined galleries of shops and explore the remains of the ancient sacred springs of the city. We will also see the Agora and of course the Bema where Paul stood and preached to the ancient Corinthians. We will lunch on the way to Athens and then have a relaxing free afternoon in town. Dinner at the hotel roof top with gorgeous views of the Acropolis. (LD)
Day 10 - ATHENS, June 19 After breakfast we start our walking tour of Athens. We ll start with the Acropolis Museum, one of the most beautiful museums in the world! The museum is located by the southeastern slope of the Acropolis hill, on the ancient road that led up to the sacred rock in classical times. Its modern but symbolic structure will bring us back to the ancient times. We ll experience the ancient Athenian neighborhoods through the glass floors of the museum and also through the very interesting exhibits. The top floor will allow us an incredible view of the Acropolis itself! After the museum, we ll walk up to the Acropolis by stopping first at the Hill of Mars, or in Greek the Areopagus. This is where Paul the surrounding hills and monuments, as well as the views toward the enormous modern city of Athens. We will have lunch in Plaka the old quarter of Athens, and then the afternoon will be free to stroll and explore, do some shopping, or enjoy the beautiful open air cafes. We will have an early dinner at the hotel. (BLD) Day 11 - DEPART FOR HOME, June 20 We will depart early this morning and transfer from the hotel to the airport for our departure to the States. met the Athenian philosophers and preached to them. This is the hill from which Paul could view the incredible Acropolis and the ancient Agora. Afterwards we ll continue our climb to reach the top, where the imposing temple of the Parthenon still stands. We will take in the incredible views of the Agora, the market place,
GENERAL INFORMATION, TERMS & CONDITIONS PRICES Prices begin at $3995.00 per person double occupancy depending on the cabin selected. Single Supplement Cruise plus Tour is $795.00 per person. DEPOSIT & FINAL PAYMENT A Deposit of $400.00 per person is due to reserve a place on this tour. Deposits and payments can be paid by check or any major credit card. Final payment is due March 11, 2015. The Travel Insured Group Deluxe travel insurance protection plan is strongly recommended. The cost for this insurance is $289.00 per person. CONNOISSEURS TOURS PROTECTION PLAN PROVIDED BY TRAVEL INSURED Traveling is a big investment. It pays to protect yourself against unforeseen circumstances that can result in trip cancellation and additional expenses such as costs related to medical emergencies. This Travel Insured Protection Plan is specifically designed to provide you with peace of mind knowing you are protected against the financial impact of unexpected events while on your trip. The cost of the insurance is $289.00 per person. Additional insurance is available to include the cost of your airfare. Please contact Connoisseurs Tours if you would like to insure the cost of your airline tickets after your have purchased your airline tickets. See below for the Schedule of Coverage: Trip Cancellation* (not applicable if $0 trip cost) Trip Cost* Trip Interruption** ($500 return air only if $0 trip cost) 150% of Trip Cost* Cancel for Work Reasons Trip Cost* Trip Delay 6 hours $750 ($150/day) Baggage/Personal Effects $1,500 Baggage Delay 24 hours $400 Accident & Sickness Medical Expense $50,000 Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation $250,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment $25,000 Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services Included *Up to the lesser of the Trip Cost paid or the limit of Coverage for which benefits are requested and the appropriate plan cost has been paid. Maximum limit of $10,000 **150% of Trip Cost paid up to a maximum of $10,000 for the unused portion of Your Trip and the transportation cost to re-join the Trip or return home. Please see the attached: Group Deluxe Travel Protection Plan, General Limitations and Exclusions Document. CANCELLATIONS From the date of deposit up to 121 days prior to departure, $200.00 per person is non-refundable. From 120 to 91 days prior to departure $400.00 of the full program is non-refundable. From 90 to 46 days prior to departure 50% of the full program cost is non-refundable. From 45 to 0 days prior to departure 100% of the full program cost is non-refundable. All cancellations must be in writing. RESPONSIBILITY Connoisseurs Tours acts only as an agent for the traveler with respect to transportation, accommodations and other services offered on the tour. Connoisseurs Tours and their agents assume no responsibility or liability for any act, error or omis- sion, or for any injury, loss, accident or delay or irregularity that may be caused by any defect in any aircraft, ship, train, bus or other carrier or through neglect or default of any subcontractor or other third party. The passage contract in use by the carriers when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the carriers and the traveler. Connoisseurs Tours and/or their agents will not be responsible for loss, injury, damages or expenses to person or property, due to illness, weather, strikes, local laws, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature or other such causes in connection with the tour for anything beyond their reasonable control. Connoisseurs Tours is not responsible for transportation or other delays or changes in the tour program beyond their control, nor any additional expenses or loss of time that may be incurred by the traveler. It may be necessary or advisable for the well-being of all travelers to alter the itinerary at any time, without notice to the travelers, and such alterations will be made without penalty to Connoisseurs Tours. Connoisseurs Tours reserves the right to decline or not to retain any person as a member of any tour or to change or withdraw a tour as circumstances demand. All rates quoted are based on tariffs in effect at the time the tour was planned and are subject to change in the event of adjustment therein. Baggage is carried at the owner s risk and baggage insurance is recommended. Connoisseurs Tours reserves the right to substitute hotels of equal or superior quality. The proposals of this section are governed by Georgia law, and final payment by the traveler to Connoisseurs Tours shall be deemed to be consent to the above provisions. VALIDITY August 5, 2014 - December 2015
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