St Paul

St Paul’s Last Journey. A pilgrimage to Malta, Sicily, Pozzuoli & Rome - For Group Leaders

last journey

Introduction

"After three months we set sail in a ship which had wintered in the island (Malta), a ship of Alexandria with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. Putting in at Syracuse we stayed there for three days. And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium (Reggio). After one day a south wind sprang up and on the second day we came to Puteoli (Pozzuoli, near Naples). There we found believers and were invited to stay with them there for seven days. And so we came to Rome" (Acts 28:11-14).

The itinerary of this pilgrimage "In the Footsteps of St Paul" is outlined exactly at the end of Acts of the Apostles. It follows the last part of St Paul's last journey, from Malta (uninterruptedly Christian since that time) to Rome and Martyrdom.

Basic Itinerary

DAY ONE

East Midlands - Malta

Daytime scheduled flight from East Midlands or regional airports to Malta. On arrival we transfer to our hotel, next to St Paul’s bay.

DAY TWO

Valetta - Mdina

This morning we attend the sung Eucharist at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in West Street Valetta, at 10:45am. Lunch is at choice, after which we drive to Rabat and Mdina. We visit St Paul’s Church, St Paul’s catacombs and the grotto where St Paul is said to have lived and preached after his shipwreck. Mdina is the Roman capital of Malta and predated Valetta by several centuries. Mdina is co-cathedral with St John’s in Valetta. It is believed to stand on the site of the Palace of Publius, who was Roman Governor at the time of St Paul’s visit, who subsequently became the first Bishop of Malta. We can have a superb view of the islands from the ramparts of Mdina. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

DAY THREE

In the Footsteps of St Paul

We start the day by driving to St Paul’s Bay, where the apostle came ashore after being shipwrecked. Nearby is Ghajin Razul (the Apostle’s Fountain), where St Paul struck a rock which is said to have miraculously brought forth water. We also visit the church of St Paul built over the spot where St Paul is said to have lit a fire and thrown the viper which had attacked him, onto it. This afternoon we visit Malta’s capital city, Valetta. We concentrate on visiting the churches. Firstly, St Paul’s Shipwreck Church, one of the oldest churches in Valetta. We may view the vault paintings of Attilio Palumbi, portraying episodes in the life of St Paul, as well as two important relics, an arm-bone of St Paul and a piece of the column on which he was beheaded. We will visit St John’s Cathedral, where Caravaggio’s masterpiece The Beheading of John the Baptist hangs in the Oratory.

DAY FOUR

Malta - Sicily

This morning, we travel by ferry crossing from Malta to Sicily. On arrival we transfer to our hotel in Syracuse for dinner and a two-night stay.

DAY FIVE

Syrause

The ship carrying St Paul called at the great port of Syracuse, staying there three days, and this morning we visit some of the city he would have seen including the cathedral which houses the original Greek temple and also catacombs. The afternoon is at leisure or an optional tour can be arranged for a small supplement to see the extensive archaeological site of the ancient Greek city.

DAY SIX

Sicily - Maratea

After breakfast we leave Sicily and like St Paul cross over the Strait of Messina to mainland Italy by boat. However, whereas Paul would have been taken to the grain ship transporting the prisoners up to Pozzuoli, north of Naples, we travel by road. In order to avoid long periods of driving, we will spread the journey over two days, stopping for the first night in the pretty seaside town of Maratea on the coast of the Italian province of Basilicata.

DAY SEVEN

Maratea - Sorrento area

Our stay on the second night will be in the Sorrento area. We visit the excavations at Herculaneum before reaching our hotel.

DAY EIGHT

Pozzuoli - Rome

Pozzuoli, not Naples, was an important port during the Roman Empire. The ship carrying St Paul, would have ended its voyage here. Paul would have been taken on to Rome by road. Pozzuoli is also of great interest because it is an active volcanic area and still has bubbling mud pools (The Phlegrean Fields of the ancient world). This morning we depart for Rome via Pozzuoli, continuing to Rome and our hotel for a two-night stay.

DAY NINE

Rome

We make our way on the last stage of St Paul's final journey with our guide, first to the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, where the tomb of the Saint lies. Then we visit the beautiful church of San Clemente with its splendid mosaics built over the remains of the temple of Mithras and ancient catacombs. After a break for lunch we pay a visit to St Peter's and the Vatican before returning to our hotel.

DAY TEN

Rome - UK

After breakfast we transfer to Rome Airport for our return flight home.

Ten days

OTHER PILGRIMAGES IN The Journeys of Saint Paul