About the Pilgrimage

Ten Biblical Sites on the Cruise alone!  Many more with the Rome extension!

We developed this itinerary with Celestyal Cruises to share the story of the Bible with you.

St. Paul and the New Testament will come alive. I have chosen the specialized itinerary for our groups with our own guides and drivers.  I (Steve Ray) will be giving talks along the way and Fr. Dan and I will conduct a mini-seminar at sea on the ship.

Food and drinks? Just wait and taste. Turkey is a big surprise for people with the exotic culture, friendly people, modern cities and the most delicious food.

We only do this Mediterranean Cruise every two years.  We have done this cruise 12 times and it keeps getting better each time! Join us!

Check out what popular priest Fr. Larry Richards said about our cruise when he joined us.

Contact our Reservations Team at 866-557-2364, or write them at FootprintsOfGod@ctscentral.net.

The prices include airfare and the daily biblical excursions ashore and meals – and ALL tips!

For an interactive map, a full itinerary of the 10 biblical sites we will visit and a lot more, click HERE .

Remember that this is not just a pilgrimage and a cruise but also a “SEMINAR AT SEA.” We have several afternoons free on the ship. Steve will give his popular talk “The Life of St. Paul,” Fr. Good (one of my favorite homilists ever) will give talks as well. We have much to share on this voyage on the Seas of St. Paul! Steve will also be sharing at each of the biblical sites along the way.

Explore 10 Biblical Sites in Greece and Ephesus with Steve & Janet Ray on their Mediterranean pilgrimage cruise and “Seminar at Sea” in the Footsteps of St. Paul

 

 

 

Steve Ray Land & Sea Pilgrimage Itinerary (tentative and subject to change)

OPTIONAL ROME PRE-CRUISE EXTENSION

Day 1 | Sunday, October 6, 2024: Depart USA

Depart on overnight flights to Rome, Italy.

Day 2 | Monday, October 7, 2024: Arrival in Rome

Upon arrival in Rome, meet Steve and Janet Ray, along with your Catholic tour guides. Tour the Roman Forum, and the Coliseum (from the outside). See 1st Century Rome under San Clemente Church as well as the tomb of Apostolic Fathers Ignatius and Clement. Visit St. John Lateran, the first legally built Christian church in the world. Check-in to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 | Tuesday, October 8, 2024: Christian Rome

Begin your morning with Mass and a visit at St. Peter’s Basilica where Michelangelo’s “Pieta” will be just one of the highlights. Tour Tre Fontane Abbey, where Paul was beheaded. Visit St. Paul Outside the Walls, where his bones are today. Visit the Catacombs of St. Sebastian. Elegant Italian Dinner and overnight in Rome.

Day 4 | Wednesday, October 9, 2024: Lanciano/Manoppello

Attend the Papal Audience, his schedule permitting. In the afternoon, depart for Manoppello to view the Face Cloth of God. Credible evidence suggests that what was once thought to be Veronica’s veil is actually the face cloth of Jesus left behind in the tomb. Celebrate Mass in front of the Face Cloth of God. Continue on to Lanciano for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 | Thursday, October 10, 2024: Lanciano

Day 5: Mass at the site of the Eucharistic Miracle in Lanciano. Tour the site and understand what makes Lanciano a special stop on this pilgrimage. Depart for Ancona to embark on modern overnight ferry to Greece.

 

MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE PILGRIMAGE

Day 1 | Thursday, October 10, 2024: Cruise Only travelers depart USA

Depart on overnight flights to Athens.

Day 2 | Friday, October 11, 2024: Athens

This morning, Rome extension group disembarks ferry in Greece and departs for Athens hotel. Meanwhile, cruise only travelers arrive in Athens and depart for hotel. Once everyone is joined together at the hotel enjoy a Welcome Dinner. Overnight in Athens.

Day 3: Saturday, October 12, 2024: Athens

Brief panoramic city tour including the Parliament building with the marching guards. Celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of St. Dionysius. Guided tour of the Parthenon on the Acropolis. Climb Mars Hill where Paul spoke to the Athenians and hear Steve’s talk on Paul’s methods of evangelization (Acts 17:16-23). Enjoy lunch on your own along the treelined pedestrian street. Depart for cruise port to begin our 7-night cruise. Dinner aboard the ship.

Day 4: Sunday, October 13, 2024: Thessaloniki/Veria

Tour Thessaloniki (Acts 17:1-9), a city St. Paul addressed in two of his epistles. Visit the White Tower, Church of St. George, statue of Alexander the Great and the churchs of St. Demetrius (and St. Sophia time permitting). Celebrate Mass at the Thessaloniki Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and hear Steve’s brief talk on Paul’s two letters to the Thessalonians. Group lunch before the 1-hour drive to Berea where Paul preached and the Bereans “studied the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:10-15). Steve’s talk on “Sola Scripture”. Dinner on the ship.

Day 5: Monday, October 14, 2024: Philippi/Kavala (B, L, D)

Travel to Philippi, where Paul first preached the Gospel on European soil (Acts 16:12ff). Celebrate Mass outdoors on the river’s edge where Paul baptized Lydia, his first European convert. View the beautiful Orthodox Church of St. Lydia. Tour Ancient Philippi where Paul and Silas preached and see the prison where they were imprisoned. Sit in the Roman theatre for Steve’s talk “What Must I Do To Be Saved” (Acts 16:30-31). Stop to walk on the actual stones of the Egnatian Road, which Paul walked on. Late group lunch. Visit Kavala (Neapolis in Acts 16:11) where Paul, Silas, Luka and Timothy first set foot in Europe and see mosaic of Paul’s visit. Dinner and overnight on the ship.

Day 6: Tuesday, October 15, 2024: Istanbul (B, L, D)

Magnificent panoramic view as the ship arrives in Istanbul, one of the world’s greatest historical cities. Formerly Constantinople, the center of the Eastern Roman Empire and home to five of the Ecumenical Councils. Istanbul sits astride the continents of Europe and Asia and here East meets West. Visit St. Hagia Sofia, the largest church in Christendom for 1000 years (now a mosque). Visit the Church of St. Irene. Celebrate Mass at Holy Spirit Cathedral in Istanbul. Free time to visit the exotic spice market. Board ship for dinner and free time.

Day 7: Wednesday, October 16, 2024: Dikili/Pergamon (B, L, D)

Morning Mass aboard the ship and a seminar talk. Free time and lunch aboard ship. Depart for our tour from port city Dikili to Pergamon, one of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Visit the Acropolis and the Asklepion, one of the best-preserved ancient sites in Turkey. Hear Steve’s talk on Pergamum. Dinner and evening free aboard the ship.

Day 8: Thursday, October 17, 2024: Kusadasi/Ephesus (B, L, D)

Port in Kusadasi then drive to Ephesus (Acts 19). Visit the House of Mary and celebrate Mass there. Tour the ancient city of Ephesus including the 24,000 seat theatre for Steve’s talk on Paul in Ephesus. Group picture at Celsius Library. See the ancient toilets, the billboard and the temples. Visit ruins of St. Mary’s Church, home of the 3^rd Ecumenical Council for Steve’s talk on “Mary, Mother of God.” Visit the tomb of St. John the Apostle in the ruins of St. John’s Church. Return to the ship for Steve’s “Life and Teaching of St. Paul” talk and enjoy the beautiful sights of the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner aboard the ship.

Day 9: Friday, October 18, 2024: Island of Patmos (B, L, D)

Disembark on the Island of Patmos, a “Sacred Island” for Christians. St. John received his apocalyptic vision of Revelation while in exile on this island (Rev. 1:9). We will visit the cave and the monastery of St. John followed by outdoor Mass overlooking the bay. Back on the ship. Seminar talks this evening and dinner aboard the ship.

Day 10: Saturday, October 19, 2024: Athens/ Ancient Corinth (B, L, D)

Disembark from ship and board our private motorcoach. Drive along the beautiful coastal road to Corinth, home to Paul for 18 months (Acts 18: 1-22). Cross over the amazing Corinthian Canal dug between two seas. Guided tour of the streets of Ancient Corinth walked by St. Paul. Outdoor Mass at the Bema (Judgment Seat) where Paul was presented for judgment. See the amazing Erastus Stone (Rom. 16:23) and hear Steve’s talk “We Can Trust the Bible.” Shopping at Temple of Apollo Gift Shop. Lunch as a group. Return to Athens in the afternoon for free time and a Great Greek dinner. Overnight in Athens.

Day 11: Sunday, October 20, 2024: Return Home

Depart to the airport for your return flights.

 

Contact our Reservations Team at 866.557.2364 or FootprintsOfGod@ctscentral.net