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NORTH GREECE
Christian Faith Religious Tour
6 Days Road Trip
Day 1: Arriving at Thessaloniki Airport. We will meet you at the airport of Greece’s “Northern Capital” – Thessaloniki. On the way to the hotel and during the tour we will visit the church of St. Dimitrios, the patron of the city, where we worship his holy relics. We can organize Divine Liturgy there upon your request. Right after we will get to know the most important Orthodox Temples of Thessaloniki, starting with the church of St. Sophia which is one of the oldest in the city with its unique mosaics. We continue with the Rotonda – St. George, the catacomb church of St. John the Baptist, the church of St. Grigorios Palamas and before we end up to our hotel we will visit the White Tower – the symbol of the city – built by the Turks in the 15th century. Arrival at the hotel, check-in, rooms settle and free time to relax. Dinner at the hotel and overnight.
Day 2: From Thessaloniki to Meterora, Igoumenitsa and Corfu. Today, after our breakfast we farewell Thessaloniki to continue our pilgrimage trip visiting the unique and breathtaking Meteora. Here you will see the world famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on summits of grey rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the cliffside caves then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, later transformed into monasteries. We will have the opportunity to visit the monasteries of St. Barbara, St. Stephen and St. Nicholas. Then we leave Meteora and head to the port of Igoumenitsa. Departure by boat to the island of Corfu. Arrival to Corfu and check in to the hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Corfu. After breakfast we start our pilgrimage around this beautiful Ionian island. In the old town of Corfu we visit the church of St. Spyridon who is the patron of the island. Saint Spyridon the Keeper of the city for the miracle of expelling the plague from the island and the saving it at the second great siege of Corfu of 1716. We will visit the monument of St. Theodore Ushakov (the Admiral) inside the fortress of Corfu. We continue to the church of St. Theodora, the church of St. John the Baptist where is the burial of the Russian soldier, the church of Panagia of foreigners, the church of St. Apostles Jason & Sosipatros where their holy relics are. Returning back to the town of Corfu and the southernmost peninsula of Kanoni, there is a small monastery dedicated to Virgin May of Vlachernes, where the miraculous image of Virgin Mary is kept. Being on a small village linked to mainland by a narrow path seems as if the little whitewashed monastery springs out of the sea. Following the winding road 25 km from Corfu town, we reach the monastery of Panagia Paleokastritsa founded in 1225, today also includes a museum with Byzantine icons, books and other relics. Next will be the monastery of Agia Triada in the Northern part of the island, a symbol of faith since 1400. The monastery is famous for its murals, dating back to XVII century and icons of 1850. Afternoon free to walk around the narrow streets of the old town. Dinner and overnight in Corfu.
Day 4: From Corfu to Kastoria. After having breakfast and take a last walk in the beautiful city of Corfu we depart to Igoumenitsa port and then we arrive in the beautiful city of Kastoria. This picturesque city in northern Greece in the region of Wes Macedonia. It is situated on a promontory on the western shore of Lake Orestiada, in a valley surrounded by limestone mountains. The town is known for its many Byzantine churches, Ottoman-era domestic architecture, fur clothing industry, and trout. We will visit the church of Mary Mavriotisy. Dinner and overnight in Kastoria.
Day 5: From Kastoria to Veria and Thessaloniki. After breakfast we will have the opportunity to visit the Fur shops of Kastoria for shopping and then we will leave for the city of Thessaloniki. On the way we will visit the temple, which houses the miraculous icon of the Virgin Sumela, according to legend one of the 70 icons painted by the Apostle Luke. A visit to the monastery of St. John the Baptist monastery of Mount Athos monastery Simonos. It contains the head of the St. Clement of Ohrid, a disciple of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, and part of the arm of St. John the Baptist. Here, near the monastery cells are great ascetics: Gregory Palamas (where he had worked 5 years) and the Olympic Dionysius. Arrival in Thessaloniki. Dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Departure Day. This morning after our breakfast we will transfer to the airport of Thessaloniki. Departure flight back home.
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