Morning departure by scheduled flight from London (Heathrow or Gatwick) to Athens. On arrival transfer by coach to our hotel in Athens. In the afternoon we ascend the Acropolis and visit the Temple of Athena and the Parthenon. The highlight of our day is a visit to Mars Hill where St Paul preached to the Athenians. His sermon is inscribed on a rock at the foot of the hill. Dinner will be in our hotel tonight.

After breakfast, we drive to Piraeus, where we embark on our cruise ship for a three day cruise. We will be on a full-board basis whilst we are on the ship. We moor overnight off Mykonos.

Today there will be an optional excursion to Rhodes and Lindos (£39 per person). In the 1st Century AD the Apostle Paul introduced Christianity to the island of Rhodes. The city of Rhodes contains a medieval town which is one of the finest in the Mediterranean. The ancient harbour is said to be where the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, stood. Near to the Harbour is the Orthodox Church of the Annunciation. We enter the medieval town through the gate of Freedom, and make for the street of the Knights, which looks as if it has not changed since it was built 500 years ago. Afterwards we visit the beautiful village of Lindos, with many well-preserved 15th century buildings, including the Church of Our Lady. Return to our ship to continue the cruise in the late afternoon.

We sail to the island of Patmos where St John was exiled and where he wrote The Revelation. We visit the monastery of St John the Theologian, the cave of the Apocalypse and the Evangelismus Monastery during our visit to the island. In the afternoon we disembark in the Turkish Port of Kusadasi. We drive to visit the extensive remains of Ephesus with the Amphitheatre where St Paul caused a riot (described in Acts 19), and the ruined basilica of St Mary, where the council of Ephesus was held in 435, granting Our Lady the title of Theotokos or Mother of God. Before returning to Kusadasi to check into our hotel (for 2-nights), we visit the basilica of St John in Selcuk.

Today we visit Miletus, 30 miles south of Ephesus, which was a city visited by St Paul, before he returned to Jerusalem. Here he reminded the elders of Ephesus how he had "served the Lord in all humility". Visit the ruins of the theatre where St Paul spoke to the Elders. This afternoon we visit the nearby Franciscan-run Shrine of Meryam Ana, the Holy House of Mary, home of Our Lady in her last years and visited by both Paul VI and John Paul II. Mass will be celebrated here. Also nearby is the interesting Byzantine Shrine of the Seven Sleepers.

Depart Kusadasi, en route to Biblical Laodicea (Revelation 3: 14 –22, Colossians 2:11). Afternoon arrival in Pamukkale, biblical Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13), overnight stay in a hotel in Pamukkale.

Early morning departure for the long journey to Izmir. We visit the Biblical city of Philadelphia (Revelation 3: 7-13) to see the city walls, the Acropolis and the remains of the cathedral. Continue to Sardis (Revelation 2: 8-11) overnight stay in a hotel in Izmir.