brochure (Includes dates and prices)

GREECE
IN
ST PAUL’S STEPS
2-10 October 2017
with the Revd Deborah Snowball
A nine-day pilgrimage including visits to
Philippi, Thessalonika, Delphi, Athens & Corinth
Paul and the expansion of the early Christian Church
and particularly its transition westwards from Asia to
Europe. St Paul was the first to bring Christianity to
Europe and this pilgrimage will bring to life the early
churches Paul founded and corresponded with. Places
so familiar from the New Testament, such as
Thessalonika, Philippi and Corinth, will be visited.
A PILGRIMAGE TO GREECE
with the Revd Deborah Snowball
2-10 October in 2017
At the beginning of the third millennium it is good to
look back to the first century missionary journeys of St
TOUR
INFORMATION
The cost of this tour is £1,625 sharing a
twin-bedded room with private
facilities. Hotels are of a good standard
and locally graded three and four
stars. Accommodation is on a half
board basis with breakfast and table
d'hôte dinner included daily.
Our journey through Greece will be in
our own air-conditioned coach with a
local guide and all visits with entrance
fees are incorporated in the tour
price. Flights are on scheduled services
of easyJet. We depart from London
Gatwick Airport flying to Thessalonika
and return from Athens back to
Gatwick. All current British and Greek
travel taxes are included.
Our pilgrimage is a journey covering the length of
Greece. We begin in Kavala, then travel through rural
Greece to Thessalonika and on to the fantastic
Meteora monasteries and the ancient oracle at Delphi.
Our destination, like Paul, is Athens. Here he preached
his famous sermon introducing the Athenians to the
“unknown God”. Visits during our three night stay in
Athens include the Areopagus where Paul preached
and the incomparable Parthenon adorning the
Acropolis. We will be worshipping each day and will
celebrate the Eucharist together on a couple of
occasions.
screening required). It is essential you
take out insurance cover but you may
already have a suitable policy in place.
You should also budget on an amount
of €45 for a group gratuity fund which
we will collect and disburse locally to
those who help us on our journey.
Some single rooms are available at a
charge of £295. Please, however, see
our note ‘Travelling Alone’ printed
overleaf. Any special requests (e.g.
special diets) should be printed on the
booking form.
A deposit is payable now with the
balance due eight weeks prior to
departure.
Final
flight
and
accommodation details will be
confirmed in your travel wallet two
weeks prior to departure.
There will be a fair amount of walking
involved. If you are worried about this
aspect, please speak to the tour
leader.
Please note: the itinerary may be subject
to change due to local conditions.
The only extra that will be added to
your invoice is the insurance premium
of £39 (no age limit and no medical
TO MAKE A RESERVATION
To reserve your place on this tour please complete the
enclosed booking form and send it with a deposit of
£200 plus the insurance premium of £39, to the
pilgrimage administrator. Please make cheques
payable to ‘McCabe Pilgrimages’.
The Revd Deborah Snowball
The Vicarage
Bury Lane
Rickmansworth WD3 1ED
Tel: (01923) 772627
E-mail: [email protected]
DAILY PROGRAMME
Monday 2 October | JOURNEY TO GREECE
Tuesday | PHILIPPI
encouragement (Acts 17), where the people
were more open to the Gospel than they
had been in Thessalonika. After reflecting on
this through a visit to the main square in
Berea, we continue our day at Vergina and
the stunning tomb of Philip II of Macedon,
the father of Alexander the Great. After a
break for lunch we continue to Kalambaka
for a two night stay at the Divani Hotel
beside the Meteora monasteries.
Friday | METEORA MONASTERIES
This morning we visit Philippi, the first city in
Europe visited by Paul and the city where he
and Silas were imprisoned. The church of
Philippi was perhaps the most supportive of
all to Paul (Philippians 4). We also visit the
stream by the village of Lydia, where Lydia of
Thyatira was baptised, the first recorded
baptism in Europe. We break for lunch. The
rest of the day is free in Kavala to wander
around its picturesque harbour.
This morning we visit the extraordinary
Meteora Monasteries perched high on
gigantic rocks. The monastic history of
Meteora dates back to the 11th century and
the monasteries themselves date back to the
14th. We will visit two of the monasteries
including either Varlaam with its superb
frescoes of the Last Judgement or the more
easily accessible convent of Agios Stephanos.
Afternoon free in this spectacular setting.
Wednesday | THESSALONIKA
Saturday | DELPHI
We drive along the coast to Thessalonika.
Our afternoon visits include St Demetrius
Basilica, the largest church in Greece, and
Agia Sophia, reminiscent of Hagia Sophia in
Istanbul, with its 10th century mosaics. We
will also see the White Tower and drive to the
highest point to view the city. We drive along
the coast line to Berea, where St Paul went
after his escape from Thessalonica, (Acts 17,
vv 10-14). We then overnight at the
Makedonia Hotel in Veria (Berea).
We drive to Delphi, clinging to the lower
slopes of Mount Parnassos. Deeply engraved
on the record of Greek history, it was a place
of incalculable religious and political
importance which attracted pilgrims from all
over the Hellenic world. Here, the Oracle was
consulted by both states and individuals; it
highlights the religious background to Paul’s
preaching of the gospel. Our visit includes the
excellent museum as well as the excavations
and ruins of the site. We continue to Athens
for a three night stay at the three star
superior Hotel Acropolis Select.
easyJet flight EZY5091 departs London
Gatwick at 05:55 and arrives in Thessaloniki at
11:10. We then make the two and a half hour
transfer to Kavala (previously the ancient
port of Neapolis) where Paul landed arriving
from Troas on his way to Philippi. Two night
stay on the waterfront at the three star
Galaxy Hotel.
Thursday | A MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE
We spend time in Berea, a place of
Sunday | ATHENS
A full day tour of Athens. Athens for many is
the cradle of civilization and democracy,
although there are few remains of the former
glories of the 5th Century BC. We visit the
Acropolis, the foremost site of Classical
Greece, with the Parthenon. We walk down
to the site of St Paul's sermon on Mars Hill
(Areopagus). Paul had a very mixed reception
here in making known the ‘Unknown God'
(Acts 17). We then visit the Agora, the centre
of public life in Athens at the time of St Paul
and include time for shopping in the “Plaka”.
Monday | CORINTH
Today we drive to Corinth along the coastal
road, crossing the Corinth canal which
connects the Aegean and Ionian seas.
Corinth is always remembered through Paul's
letters to a lively church in the midst of
immorality and paganism. The excavated
Roman Corinth reveals a vivid backdrop
within which to celebrate the Eucharist. We
continue to Cenchreae, the port of Corinth
and Paul’s departure point for Ephesus (Acts
18). After a break for lunch we return to
Athens mid-afternoon.
Tuesday 10 October | HOMEWARD BOUND
We have a leisurely breakfast before
departing Athens for the airport. easyJet
flight EZY5082 departs Athens at 12:05 and
arrives into London Gatwick Airport at 13:55.
OUR PILGRIMAGE
Your Invitation
Arrangements are being made by McCabe Pilgrimages who have been
organising pilgrimages for British churches for more than thirty years.
This pilgrimage is a journey from the top to the bottom of Greece with
accommodation stops en route. There will be a fair amount of walking
involved. This said, we are planning this pilgrimage to be accessible to all
reasonably able-bodied travellers. If you are worried about the fitness
element, have a word with the tour organiser or call the McCabe office.
TRAVELLING ALONE
Many of our passengers travel alone and object to expensive single
room supplements. McCabe Pilgrimages will accept individual bookings
on a 'guaranteed share' basis. We charge the basic price and
accommodate you with a person of the same sex also requesting shared
accommodation. If we do not find someone to share with you, you will
be accommodated in a single room at only 50% of the usual single room
supplement. For single travellers who do require single accommodation
this should be requested when booking and, if available, the normal
supplement will be payable.
PASSPORTS, VISAS AND HEALTH
Check that your passport is valid beyond the return date of this tour. If you need a new passport apply early as there can be
considerable backlogs at the passport offices. There are minimal formalities for British passport holders entering Greece. If you are
holding a non-British passport, or require further advice, please consult the McCabe office. No inoculations are required. We do,
however, advise you to consult your doctor regarding your own personal requirements.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
A unique feature of the McCabe recommended policy is that you will not need to call a medical help line to
discuss health issues. Most pre-existing health conditions are covered as long as your doctor agrees that
you are fit to travel.
Travel insurance is arranged by Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd for McCabe Travel Ltd who are an Appointed Representative
of Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Our status can be checked on
the FCA Register by visiting www.fca.org.uk or by contacting the FCA on 0845 606 9966. This Insurance is underwritten by ERV.
ERV is authorised by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BAFIN – www.bafin.de) and the Prudential Regulation
Authority and subject to limited regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.
It has been specifically designed so that it covers all McCabe holidays; protecting you in full if you have to cancel and providing you
with the very best and most effective protection if you are unfortunate enough to require medical attention whilst away.
Standard exclusions apply and are listed on the summary document. Please check that you are not affected by the Main Health
Exclusions. You will not be covered for any ongoing tests or treatment of an undiagnosed condition, or for any terminal illness, or if
you claim as a result of a condition arising within the past twelve months.
Note that you will pay an excess of £1,000 on any claim that results directly from a pre-existing medical condition. In our experience
a very few claims result from pre-existing medical conditions. With this policy you are covered with no declaration of health
required.
A full policy wording will be sent to you with confirmation of your booking, or ask us and we will send you a copy now. Full details
are also on our website. If you would like more information or are unsure of any details, please call Global Travel Insurance Services
Ltd for further advice on 01903 229 380. This insurance is only available to persons who are permanently resident in the UK.
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 which can be viewed on www.aito.co.uk. Visit the
website to find out more about the Association or call 020 8744 9280.
This pilgrimage is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The McCabe ATOL number is 2920.
11 Hillgate Place Balham Hill London SW12 9ER
Telephone 020 8675 6828 Fax 020 8673 1204
Email [email protected]
McCabe Pilgrimages