Faith and History Journey

Faith and History Journey

This thematic tour is an in-depth opportunity, for visitors who aim to delve deeper into the history and culture of Greece and explore aspects of what makes this little place so unique. Whether your choice is purely based on faith, historical interest, or a combination of both we can help craft the most suitable itinerary for you and your travel companions. In this tour, we follow the path of one of the most important figures of the early Christian era and add other stops and places of interest along the way.

Keep reading to discover more about the destinations we will visit.

Itinerary Description

Let’s explore the religious side of Greece together

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Thessaloniki

Our trip will begin in the capital of Northern Greece, Thessaloniki. Known as the second largest city in Greece, this picturesque place is one of the main points of the tour. It has been the commercial and cultural center of the Balkans and is home to many beautiful and well-preserved Byzantine monuments. It was here in Thessaloniki where Apostle Paul preached, founded a church, and wrote his two Thessalonian epistles.

Kavala & Phillipi

A short drive up to Kavala, built on the ancient city of Neapolis and one of the most picturesque harbor towns in Greece. Kavala was built amphitheatrically on the slopes of Mt. Symvolo and here we find the Holy Cathedral of Apostle Paul, one of the many churches founded by him.

We will continue onto Phillipi, known as the most important archaeological site of Eastern Macedonia. Phillipi was once an impressive Roman colony and is now known for its characteristic monuments of the Hellenistic, Roman, and Early Christian periods. One of the first ever Christian churches built in Europe can be found here which was also founded and established by Apostle Paul. By this, Phillipi became a metropolis of Christianity. The Saint spoke fondly of the Philippians as is expressed in his Philippians epistle which he wrote while imprisoned in Rome.

Veria & Vergina

Our next stop will be where Apostle Paul preached to the people of Veria, about the Gospel, faith, salvation and love. Because of his teachings and preaching the Verians and Jews in the town converted their belief to the new religion. After his firsty visit, Apostle Paul would return years later and be equally welcomed. His preaching had a great impact on the people of Veria which helped pave the way for the first steps of Christianity and the Christian faith in Greece. Today, in the area where Apostle Paul used to preach the Christian faith stands a religious monument called the “St. Paul Tribune” decorated with awe-inspiring mosaic murals.

We will then travel down to Vergina, a village in Imathia, Central Macedonia. Vergina is home to the most important archaeological discovery of the 20th century. The tombs of King Philip II and another tomb which is believed to belong to Alexander IV, the grandson of Philip II and son of Alexander the Great, can be seen here. The village is located on the foothills of Mt. Peria, the first ancient kingdom of Macedonia and was once called Aigia. We will also explore ruins of an ancient acropolis, a palace, theater, shrines and private buildings from the 3rd millennia BC. Apostle Paul did not step foot onto the grounds of this beautiful village but we will be because it is one of the most striking of places to visit in Greece.

Meteora

Home to one of the most peculiar and fascinating UNESCO Heritage sites, our next stop will be Meteora. Monasteries atop inaccessible rock formations have stunned all who visit the area since the 11th Century AD. Hermit monks are the ones to thank for creating such an unrealistic and jaw-dropping scenery. Out of the 30 monasteries, only 7 remain active today and are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The monasteries are accessible and open to visitors and we will be enjoying the view from the top of them.

Osios Loukas Monastery

Before continuing with the path of Apostle Paul we will stop at Osios Loukas, a majestic monastery found on the west slope of Mt. Helikon. This sublime monastery is enclosed by a wall and is composed of a bell tower at the south-western side and two adjoining churches. This monastery dates back to the 11th century BC and is absolutely worth a visit. A mountain sanctuary with nothing but birds and nature around that relaxes the eye and soothes the soul.

Athens

We will then spend some time in the capital and largest city of Greece, Athens. Apostle Paul spent some time here preaching to the locals in the synagogue. He landed in Athens by boat that anchored at Faliro a port located between the Kifissos riverbed and the church of Agios Georgios. After some time, his words were noticed and he was taken to the High Court to preach formally and in more detail. This action also gave way to the establishment and construction of Apostle Paul’s church located very close to the heart of Athens.

Patmos

Our last stop would be Patmos Island. Known to be the Island of the Apocalypse and the Jerusalem of the Aegean, Patmos Island is home to many beautiful and wondrous sights. It also has it’s own important religious history as St. John the Theologian wrote the book of the Apocalypses here. Due to this Patmos has been proclaimed a “Holy Island” by law of the national parliament. The monastery of St. John and the Cave of the Apocalypse are part of the World Heritage Monuments.

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Overview of this Private Trip

accommodation
All breakfasts
9 activities
Airport Transfers
All ground transportation to listed activities
All ferry tickets

Insurance
Visa
Tips to drivers & tour guidees
Services not mentioned
Alcohol
International Flights

Guest Reviews

    
 
 
        
   Genevieve Absey 
 2024-01-10
 
 
  I cannot say enough good things about Efi and the service she provides.

I had never used a travel agent before reaching out to Efi, and I immediately felt a kinship with her and knew we would be taken care of. She listened intently to the kind of trip we were hoping to have during our 10 days in Greece, and orchestrated an experience for us that was beyond anything we ever could have done on our own. She’s like the grand maestro of travel!

From planning private tours of the Acropolis and Delphi with the most knowledgeable and engaging tour guides, to day trips through side streets and cafes of smaller villages and lesser known historical sites, to seamlessly handling transfers to and from airports and hotels, to advising us on the best things to do and places to visit on our own. The list goes on and on. Everything that Efi had a hand in exceeded our hopes and expectations and had a personal touch that we could not have achieved otherwise. Not the mention the fact that I would go back to Greece just to spend time with Efi, she is gracious and curious and funny and incredibly sharp, but maybe that’s besides the point 😂

After having the great fortune of getting to work with Efi, I trust her implicitly, and urge anyone visiting Greece to hire her to make it a one-of-a-kind experience for you.
  
 
       
   hendrikje tromp 
 2023-12-28
 
 
  Visiting Greece this year was extra special to us, celebrating our 45th anniversary with family and friends!! Efi and her team made it even more magical. Thank you!!  ❤️🎶
  
 
       
   Gail Banzon 
 2023-11-28
 
 
  Vacation in Greece
I had a most wonderful holiday in Greece!
Efi was able to compress the essence of her beautiful country in stories, sightseeing and food in 12 days! All personal and delightful! Though we were a group twenty, my experience felt so personal and unhurried - thanks to Efi’s attentive, warm and generous spirit.    Each of our concern was important to her and did her utmost to be flexible to make us happy and satisfied. All our guides were knowledgeable and  well-versed!
People who love to eat are always the best and the happiest people and do the Greeks love their food. Me, too! Healthy yet flavorful! Green with lots of  exciting spices! I’m so missing those sumptuous meals we had! I want to do another Greek vacation soon! 💕
  
 
       
   Benjamin Williams 
 2023-09-30
 
 
  We had a wonderful time on our first trip to Greece/Hellas! Efi planned a beautifully relaxing trip with beaches, history, great food (try the grass!) and wonderful company alone the way. The trip guide, Rania, was so very accommodating to our every need and very flexibly with any changes we wanted to make during the trip. Our driver, George, was great as well - full of great energy, music and knowledge on the culture. All in all it was a trip we’ll never forget and will definitely be back to explore and reunite with new friends. Thank you so much Efi, Rania and Sir George! Until we meet again - Ben
  
 
       
   Tim L 
 2023-09-28
 
 
  Efi put together a customized trip that gave us a delightful introduction to Athens and Greece.  She first took the time to get to know my wife and I, and then shaped a trip that matched our interests. She enabled us to see and experience much more than I thought we’d have time for.

Efi provided excellent guides for the historical sites (Acropolis, Delphi)  — trained archeologists who could  convey the inspirational spirit of classical Greece.  She also personally took us to several small towns, where we enjoyed bakeries and tavernas that only the locals know about. The food was delicious. Definitely a highlight!

Efi loves Greece, and truly enjoys giving visitors a variety of experiences that go far beyond the typical tourist sites.  She is friendly, creative, warm and accommodating, and her enthusiasm is infectious.  She went above and beyond our expectations by making us feel like we were being shown around by a good friend. I highly recommend her.
  
 
       
   Tom M 
 2023-05-03
 
 
  What a wonderful few days in Athens and the mountains of the Peloponnese! Efi and her team worked extremely hard to make the holiday an extraordinary experience. Everything worked seamlessly from the transfers around the Peloponnes to the farewell lunch in Athens with Efi herself, not forgetting the brilliant guiding and dissemination of local history by George in the mountains and the warm welcome from Nelly in Kalamata. We were treated like royalty with warm friendship from everyone. We will be returning to explore more of this beautiful country very soon. Thank you!!
  
 
       
   Evelien Meyer 
 2023-03-19
 
 
  There are so many things to consider when curating your own travel adventure and it is super helpful to get that local insight. Her advise also helps prevent blunders I might've made if I had not known... Efi took our top destinations we wanted to hit along our 13 day journey and compiled all the information so I could narrow down the decisions a lot easier. Many of the accommodations she recommended were no brainers, chic and convenient for the price. With the structure of the trip complete, I have a pdf of links and info available at my fingertips to fill in the details. Very much looking forward to this upcoming adventure traveling with my mom. Thank you Efi for helping us make the most of our trip!
  
 
       
   Ashley Tanzosh 
 2022-10-14
 
 
  Definitely Greece put together our honeymoon trip. It surpassed our every expectation and created an experience for us that is difficult to fully convey in words. It was my husband's first time abroad and he was a bit nervous about going so far and needing to coordinate things from the States. Efi and her team took all of that worry from us and made it seamless. The attention they put into organizing our trip allowed us to visit so many places, see so much and soak in every second without stress.
Every tour and tour guide was awesome. Sharing tons of details and history for us history buffs, answering questions and making sure we got to see everything. All of our food accommodations were perfect. No tourist traps, every place we went was an immersive experience in Greece's incredible culture and peoples. Everyone was so friendly, it felt like we were with family. We tried new foods, drinks and just had the best time. All of our accommodations were beautiful, well located and allowed us to explore freely and come back for quick naps before heading out again.
We have recommended Definitely Greece to all of our loved ones and can't wait to get back next year to do another trip and see more of this beautiful country that feels like our second home. 5 stars!!!!
  
 
       
   Hilary Wendel 
 2022-09-28
 
 
  For my first trip to Greece i felt very overwhelmed with all the choices! Which islands, in which order, for how long and once there, where to stay? I decided to get the help of the consultants at Definitely Greece, and I am glad I did! I signed up for the “consulting session” where I had a zoom call with Efi.  I explained our timeline, and the kind of trip I was imagining.  It was easy to schedule our meeting, and very easy to communicate with her. She asked me some questions about our tastes etc to understand more about our travel style and budget, and then a few days later she sent me a suggested itinerary with a list by location of their personally recommended and researched hotels, restaurants and things to do with links to each suggestion. Although there were still many choices for me to make, and some work to be done on my own to make the actual reservations, having a custom list of recommendations greatly reduced my choices to make it more manageable, less time consuming, and less overwhelming! I was also able to shoot a few follow up questions along the way and she was quick to respond.  Thank you Efi and the team at Definitely Greece!
  
 
       
   Theo Seel Kent 
 2022-09-27
 
 
  Efi has really outdone herself, our holiday was truly unforgettable. Smooth sailing from start to finish. Great food enjoyed and beautiful sunsets watched. Can’t wait to come back and do it all again!