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The Prayer Book Society – In the Footsteps of St. Paul – From Thessaloniki to Athens with Fr Benjamin Drury

Prices from £3,050 pp

Single Supplement £630

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Tour leader: Fr Benjamin Drury

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 Walk where Paul walked — from the Roman port of Thessaloniki to the Areopagus of Athens — retracing the Apostle's mission to the heart of ancient Greece.

This pilgrimage follows the journey described in Acts 17 and 18 through the great cities of Macedonia and Achaia. We visit the very places Paul preached, baptised and debated — Philippi, where Lydia became the first Christian convert on European soil; Thessaloniki, where he was received in the house of Jason; and the Areopagus of Athens, where he proclaimed the Unknown God to the philosophers of his age. Along the way we encounter the soaring Meteora monasteries, the sacred sanctuary at Delphi, and the ancient city of Corinth where Paul spent two years founding the Church. Worship and reflection are woven through every day, led by Fr Benjamin Drury, Chaplain of St Paul's Anglican Church in Athens — the very congregation that bears Paul's name.

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Itinerary

  1. Travel to Thessaloniki

    Arrive in Thessaloniki, the city where Paul was received by Jason. Paul was preaching the Word of God here, until he was rushed out of the city. Our representative will meet you at the airport of Thessaloniki and transfer you to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

  2. Philippi & Kavala

    Follow the route of the Via Egnatia and visit, like Paul and his companion, the area of Amphipolis, to see the famous funerary Lion of Amphipolis, and the site of Philippi. There, you visit the Baptistery of Lydia near the river, where Paul baptized her. Lydia was the first convert of Paul on European soil and the conversion of the jailer followed. Here we renew our baptismal promises. We also visit the ruins of the Forum of Philippi, the Christian Basilicas, the “Prison of Paul” and the Theater (opportunity for prayers). Drive to Kavala (Neapolis), a picturesque port and view the Byzantine Castle and the Roman Aqueduct. Return to Thessaloniki for dinner and overnight.

  3. Thessaloniki

    In the morning, drive in Thessaloniki to see the landmark of the city, the White Tower, the Walls of the Byzantine Acropolis, the Roman Arch of Galerius and the Rotonda. Visit two of the city’s oldest and most admired Christian churches, the Basilicas of St. Demetrius and St. Sophia (Divine Wisdom). Today we also hope to call at the Armenian Church. Continue to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight.

  4. Meteora Monasteries

    This morning we drive to the region of Thessaly. Here you find scenery of unique and striking beauty:
    on top of huge granite pinnacles, you see the ageless Meteora Monasteries full of treasures of Christian art. Visit one of the amazing Byzantine monasteries of Meteora, perched on top of gigantic rock pinnacles. Afterwards travel to scenic Delphi, one of the most beautiful places on the face of the earth, which in antiquity was believed to be the “navel” (omphalos) of the world. Dinner and overnight in Delphi.

  5. Delphi

    This morning walk on the Sacred Way to see the Athenian Treasury, the Temple of Apollo, where the priestess Pythia uttered ambiguous prophecies, and the Theater. Also, visit the Museum with its splendid collection of ancient works of art, including the Sphinx of the Naxians, the Silver Bull, the Column of the Dancers, the “Omphalos” and the pride of the museum, the 5th c. B.C. bronze “Charioteer”. Today we also visit the Ossios Loukas monastery, one of the most impressive Christian sites in Greece. Continue to Athens for dinner and overnight. Time permitting, this afternoon we drive to St Paul’s Anglican Church for Evensong.

  6. Athens

    This morning we transfer to St Paul’s Anglican Church to join Sung Mass at 10am. In the afternoon, we admire the architectural miracles of ancient Athens, as we follow our guide to the world renown Acropolis, to see the Propylea, the Erechteum and the Parthenon. Visit Mars Hill, where Paul delivered his ingenious speech making known the “Unknown God”. View the Agora, the ancient center of the economic and public life of the city, where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. During the bus tour, we see Constitution Square with the House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium and the Neoclassical Buildings of Athens. Dinner and overnight in Athens.

  7. Corinth

    After breakfast, we drive to Corinth. Here under the shadow of the towering Acropolis, St. Paul
    preached and lived for two years. The vigorous and mostly Gentile Church he founded here in 50 AD
    caused him much grief and prompted him to write at least four letters to them. Visit the ruins of the
    ancient city     where St. Paul worked with Aquila and Priscilla. See the remains of first century shops, the agora where St. Paul's trial by Gallio took place, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo and the Bema. A short stop at the site of the ancient Port of Cenchreae, where St. Paul departed for Ephesus, then, to the great theatre of Epidaurus. Enjoy an included lunch at a local tavern! The rest of the day is free to relax in Athens. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

  8. Home

    After breakfast, we join our coach and transfer to the airport for our return flight to London

Essential Information

For booking received by 31 July 2026, we offer ADVANCE BOOKING PRICE of £3,050 per person sharing a double or twin room. This saves you £100 per person of the full price of £3,150.

A number of single rooms are available for a supplement from £630.

 

Included 

Two nights in Thessaloniki, are followed by one night in Kalambaka and one night in Delphi.  The final three nights are spent in Athens.  Hotels are of a good standard and locally graded three and four stars.

The tour includes daily breakfast, dinners and six lunches.

Touring is by air-conditioned coach and we will be accompanied by our tour guide who will look after the formalities of hotel check-ins, etc.

All entrance fees are included as well as gratuities; these will be disbursed locally to those who help us on our journey.

The tour price also includes return flights to Greece, flying from London. All airport and security charges are included.

Our team in Greece

This holiday includes a qualified local guide to bring the history of Greece, St. Pauls time in Greece, as well as the wonders of Ancient Greece, to life. They will be staying with you and escorting you throughout.

 

 

 

Practical information

Entry requirements

British Citizen and EU Citizen Passport holders can currently enter Greece freely with no restrictions or other documentation required. Stays within the EU can be up to 90 days (can be spread over multiple visits) within any 180-day period.

Please note your passport must be valid for six months after your return from Greece.

Full details of entry requirements and any required vaccinations will be detailed in your final paperwork 14 days before departure.

For the latest and most up to date travel advice including entry requirements please consult the Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office travel advice website.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

Health & wellbeing

For travel within the EU you should ensure that you have the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which is free of charge.  You can apply for the GHIC card by calling 0191 218 1999 or applying on line at…

www.nhs.uk/ghic

The level of cover offered by the GHIC card varies by country visited and is only applicable in state-run health facilities. In some countries coverage may just be a partial contribution.

Adequate insurance cover will be required for all hospital emergencies and doctors’ visits.

 

Clothing

Dress is cool and casual throughout your time in Greece. You may wish to take one or two smarter items for the evenings. Casual clothing is recommended in the day-time with evenings being smart/casual. As this tour requires a certain amount of gentle to intermediate walking, we suggest you take a pair of lined shoes or boots with decent grip. Sports shoes or trainers are fine as well as walking boots. It is advisable to bring just a couple of warmer items for the evenings as well as coastal walks where the wind may reduce the temperatures.

Mobility

There is a certain amount of walking, light undulations with just one or two steep sections but a number of stairs involved on a daily basis during your time in Greece so please make sure you pack comfy footwear for this so that you are prepared. Your Local Guide will keep you updated on a daily basis with what to expect the following day. If you are finding it difficult to keep up then please make sure you tell your Local Guide who can help you to find places to rest and relax and then you can re-join the group at a later stage.

Some streets in towns and villages that you will visit will be cobbled and ancient sites can have some uneven ground. We suggest you take a pair of comfortable shoes with good grips or trainers.  You must be prepared to be on your feet for up to 90 minutes without the necessity to sit down and walk up to a mile miles unaided. Hiking sticks are fine.

The McCabe Educational Trust

The McCabe Educational Trust is an independent registered charity with the aim of helping inspiring people we meet on some of our pilgrimages. As ‘the haves’ encounter the ‘have nots’ the Trust has become a practical tool for one to help the other.

McCabe Pilgrimages invite all travellers to become partners in this work. A £20 voluntary donation to the Trust’s work is added to every pilgrim’s invoice and all money raised in this way is given in full to the projects the Trust supports. This scheme is voluntary and confidential with nobody put under any pressure to participate.

Travel insurance

Ensuring that your holidays are appropriately protected is one of our main priorities. That’s why we have specifically chosen Holiday Extras as our *preferred travel insurance provider to ensure that you are protected before and whilst you are travelling. Holiday Extras offer McCabe Travel guests favourable rates for single trip, multi-trip and annual policies.

For more information or to obtain a quote click below for their website

https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-insurance

Or call them on 0800 083 3551 to speak to a friendly advisor.

Please quote AG628 upon calling to receive the best rates

Full financial security

All money paid to McCabe is fully secure. Holidays including flights are covered by our ATOL license from the Civil Aviation Authority, and holidays without flights are protected by our membership of the ABTOT bonding scheme. If a pilgrimage is cancelled, for instance through lack of numbers or for political considerations, McCabe will promptly refund all monies paid.

AITO Quality Statement

McCabe Pilgrimages is a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators. The Association represents Britain’s leading independent tour operators and encourages high standards of quality and service. McCabe abides by the Association’s Code of Conduct and adheres to the AITO Quality Charter.

You can read McCabe reviews on the AITO website here

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Dates

Our Programme Tour Leader Tour Dates Availability
In the Footsteps of St Paul with The Prayer Book Society In the Footsteps of St Paul with The Prayer Book Society Departing From London Gatwick Prices from £3050 pp Fr Benjamin Drury 11/05/2027 for 8 days Download brochure Book now Make an enquiry

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    The Prayer Book Society - In the Footsteps of St. Paul - From Thessaloniki to Athens with Fr Benjamin Drury

    Prices from £3,050 pp

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