Heartland Presbytery Continuing Education Opportunity 2027
Footsteps of Paul in Greece
Continuing Education International Trip for Pastoral Leaders
Important Details
When: October 31 (late afternoon) – Nov 12, 2027
Where: Greece & Turkey, including Istanbul
Who: This trip is designed for Pastoral Leaders and traveling companions
Cost: APPROXIMATELY $6,800 (assuming 16 participants, the cost goes down if we have 20 people join us). This is all inclusive – including airfare.
Scholarships: 5 - $1,000 scholarships (approximate)
To Know: Registration will open later this fall. If you would like to begin paying for your trip now, FOLLOW THIS LINK, and the Presbytery will track your payment and send it to Progressive Pilgrimage when registration opens.
Greece has often been called the birthplace of democracy and the cradle of Western Civilization. It, together with Turkey, is also the earliest home of Christianity outside of Palestine/Israel. Join us as we embark on a 13-day tour of Greece and Turkey. Our journey will take us to the well-preserved ruins of Athens, Corinth, Philippi, and Thessaloniki in Greece. Along the way, you’ll marvel at the byzantine monasteries perched on the cliffs of Meteora.
In Turkey, we’ll visit Pergamum, one of the churches to which Revelation was written, to encourage them during troubled times. We will also visit Ephesus, where Paul is believed to have lived for 2 years, and where tradition suggests that Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived the last years of her life. The goddess Artemis was venerated in the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We will visit the Basilica of St. John, the traditional site of his burial.
Our trip concludes in Istanbul, a city of wonders. We will receive a rich overview of Istanbul’s key historic and religious sites, including the Hagia Sophia, the Sultan Ahmed (Blue) Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace. We will have time to explore the Grand Bazaar and the city's famed Spice Market.