Pilgrimage to Turkey and Greece with Fr. Matthew O'Toole

In Turkey, the ancient Asia Minor, we visit the churches addressed by the risen Christ in the Book of Revelation, celebrate Mass at the House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus, and stand in the great theater where Paul’s preaching set a whole city in an uproar. Sailing the Aegean to Patmos, the island of the Apocalypse, we continue through Greece from Philippi, where Lydia became the first Christian convert in Europe, to Thessaloniki, Berea, Athens, and Corinth. Daily Mass, the Scriptures read where they were written and received, and the fellowship of fellow pilgrims make this a journey of faith, not simply a tour.

Spiritual & Sightseeing Highlights

• Celebrate daily Holy Mass led by Father Matthew O’Toole.
• Explore Byzantine Istanbul including Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome, Topkapı Palace, and the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua.
• Visit the seven Churches of Revelation in Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Smyrna, and Ephesus.
• Discover Ephesus and pray at Paul’s Great Theater, the Basilica of St. John, and the House of the Virgin Mary.
• Sail the Aegean Sea on a three-night cruise aboard the Celestyal Discovery to Patmos, Rhodes, Crete, and Santorini.
• Marvel at the monasteries of Meteora perched atop towering rock pillars.
• Follow the footsteps of St. Paul in Greece across Philippi, Thessaloniki, Berea, Athens, and Corinth.

Your Journey

What's Included

• Spiritual leadership and daily Holy Mass with Father Matthew O’Toole
• Accommodations for 9 nights in 4-star hotels across Istanbul, Izmir, Kuşadası, Kalambaka, Thessaloniki, and Athens
• Three nights aboard the Celestyal Discovery in an outside cabin, including port taxes, cruise gratuities, and a €100 drinks package
• Daily meals consisting of 12 breakfasts, 3 lunches aboard the ship, and 12 dinners
• Private motorcoach transportation and transfers throughout Turkey and Greece
• Services of an expert local guide and tour manager, a cruise tour director, and audio headsets
• Entrance fees for all sites in the itinerary, including the Patmos shore excursion and the Santorini cable car
• Luggage porterage at hotels
• Tips for drivers, guides, and tour director, as well as local city taxes
• A Travel Tyme Host with you every step of the way

Physical Requirements

This pilgrimage involves a moderate level of physical activity. On many days you can expect to walk 4–5 miles, often on uneven ground, cobblestones, hills and stairs, and sometimes in hot weather. Some holy sites can only be reached on foot, and coaches often have to park some distance away. The group travels together on a full daily schedule. If you have any mobility needs, please tell us on this form so we can talk with you about them before you travel.

Questions about this pilgrimage? Call us at 636.391.1000