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Familiarization Tours

Visit Ukraine and Greece

Duration: 11 Days

DAY 1. TOUR AROUND KIEV
Meet at the hotel lobby for a sightseeing bus tour around Kiev. See the 3 main historical districts of the capital – the Upper City, Podil, and Pechersk. During the tour, see the famous churches and monasteries – St. Andrew’s, St. Volodymyr’s cathedral, St. Catherine’s Greek monastery, several churches devoted to St. Nicholas, St. Michael’s Golden Domed monastery and 2 UNESCO sites – Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra (11 – 21ct) and Saint Sophia cathedral (1037). We will have the chance to see wonderful panoramic views of the Dnipro River, splendid Stalin style ensemble of the main street Khreschatyk, the government district with the Cabinet of Ministers, the Supreme Council, and Administration of the President.
There are a number of must see places on our sightseeing list: the oldest and the most prestigious Ukrainian universities – Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (1632) and National Taras Shevchenko University (1834), the highest non-religious statue in Europe – the Motherland statue (106m), the Holodomor memorial, the deepest metro station in the world, the Golden Gate monument, Kyiv’s Opera, the former Euromaidan camp site.
Lunch Walking tour “Charming Kiev” (2.5h) at the oldest and most picturesque part of Kyiv. We start at the oldest gates – the Golden Gate and walk to the Picturesque Alley. On the way, we will explore some hidden places and meet with their secret inhabitants. The Picturesque Alley is an amusing place in the city center where history is mixed with modern art and public activity. We will walk down St. Andrew’s street, which is called ‘Kyiv’s Montmartre’. This charming street is full of souvenir shops, delicious restaurants, and love stories. We will go up to Fortress Hill where the legendary founders of Kyiv settled in 1.5 thousand years ago and enjoy breathtaking views. Coffee break Walking tour “Legends of Podil” (2.5h) at the old trade district of Kyiv. We will see two squares: the Contract square – the unofficial city center and the Post square – Kyiv’s harbor. Podil is a district of stories, legends and gossips. You will hear stories about Kyiv’s witches and students of the oldest Ukrainian university, saints and criminals, the Catholic monastery next to the Orthodox convent, an Orthodox priest who saved a whole generation of Jews, ‘a lion that looks like a cat’. Dnipro cruise Free time
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DAY 2 WALKING TOUR & TOUR TO THE RESIDENCE OF THE EX-PRESIDENT V. YANUKOVYCH “MEZHYHIRYA”.
Enjoy a walking tour devoted to the Euromaidan revolution of 2014 and continue along the main street Khreschatyk. You will see the former camp site of protesters, medical offices, barricades, bullet traces, photos of the heroes who gave their life for human dignity. We will visit places that were under control of pro-president forces: Berkut riot police and paid supporters – ‘titushki’. We will pass the Administration of the President and the famous House with Chimaeras on our way. At Independence square (Maidan), you will get to know about two previous Ukrainian revolutions. We will walk along the main street Khreschatyk to the Bessarabska square. You will get to know Khreschatyk story and enjoy its unique Stalin style ensemble. The tour ends at the Bessarabka market where you can taste Ukrainian products of the best quality. Lunch Tour to the residence of the ex-president V. Yanukovych “Mezhyhirya”. Today it is a huge park (137 ha) with a former private zoo, a farm, stables, a harbor, several ponds, a golf course, 5-floored house ‘Honka’, a gym complex, a collection of retro cars, a helicopter, ‘Putin’s House’. It is hard to believe it all belonged to one man. After a guided tour, you will have free time to discover it for yourself. We recommend renting a bicycle or an electric car. There are a number of cafes where you can buy a snack. Unfortunately, there are no organized guided tours to the house of Yanukovich – ‘Honka’. Dinner and folk program at the family farm “Savki”
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DAY 3. RELIGION TOUR OF KYIV
This day is devoted to confessions and religions of Kyiv. You will start with a walking tour to Kiev-Pechersk Lavra – a must-see in Kyiv. There are beautiful golden-domed cathedrals in Ukrainian baroque style, amazing 18th century paintings, vestments and utensils used during liturgy. A large pilgrim attraction is the cave (or catacombs) that house preserved incorruptible relics of 122 Kyiv-Pechersk saints as well as several museums. We will invite you to the Micro-Miniature museum where you will see a flee with golden horseshoes, a 3.5 mm ship and other amusements made by Ukrainian artist M. Syadristy. The second museum on our way is devoted to the Ukrainian folk art – Ivan Honchar museum. The collection presents embroidered towels, national costumes, folk tools, and icons. Lunch Bus tour “Religions of Kiev”. During the tour you will get acquainted with Kyiv’s Christians, Muslims, and Jews. You will get to know their past and present, see their temples: St. Oleksandr Catholic cathedral, St. Catherine Lutheran church, Kiev’s synagogues, Ar-Rahma Mosque, Pirogoschi that is a part of the Ukrainian autocephalous church, the Annunciation – a part of the Kyiv Patriarchate Church. You will also visit the biggest cathedral of 11th century Europe – St. Sophia (1037). This cathedral is a real piece of Byzantine art and is famous for its mosaics, frescoes and graffiti. Transfer to airport for departure flight to Thessalonica, Greece Arrival at Thessalonica International Airport “Macedonia”. Meet, assist & transfer to your hotel in Thessalonica. Check-in. & overnight.
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DAY 4: AMPHIPOLIS - PHILIPPI - KAVALA – THESSALONICA
After having breakfast at the hotel, we drive to Philippi, where we make a quick stop for photos at the Lion statue of Amphipolis. We continue to Philippi, the site where Apostle Paul came to preach the word of God, establishing an early Christian church. Of the many churches Paul founded, none was so close and dear to him; he later dedicated his Philippian letter to this congregation (Acts 16:9-33). We will see the river where Lydia was baptized, the ruins of a Prison where Paul and Sylas were kept, the Agora, a 5th and 6th century Basilica, as well as a Theatre. After lunch at a local restaurant, we continue to Kavala, the ancient port of Neapolis (Acts 16:11). We return to Thessalonica for dinner and an overnight at the Hotel.
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DAY 5: PELLA - BEREA - VERGINA – THESSALONICA
After having breakfast at the hotel, we drive to ancient Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great. Here, we will visit the excavation site and museum, which displays sculptures, reliefs and mosaics of Classical and Hellenistic times. We continue to Vergina (the ancient Aigai) which was the first capital of Macedonia. Here, we will visit the tomb of King Philip II of Macedonia, father of Alexander the Great, which is one of most important tombs ever discovered (by archaeologist Manolis Andronikos).After lunch at a local restaurant, we have a stop in Berea, where Apostle Paul arrived according to his custom at the synagogue and to his pleasant surprise, he discovered that the Jews were “more noble” than those he had encountered in Thessalonica. There is a mosaic in the monument commemorating his preaching. According to the local tradition, it was at this place where he stood and delivered his sermons (Acts 17:10-11). We return to the hotel in Thessalonica for dinner and an overnight.
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DAY 6: THESSALONICA
After having breakfast at the hotel, we start our morning with a panoramic city tour of Thessalonica, including a drive to the upper part of the Old City Walls, which offers excellent views and photo opportunities. Continuing our tour, we visit St. Demetrius’ Church with its early Byzantine mosaics, along with St. Sophia, the first Christian church in the city. In Thessalonica, Paul immediately went to the synagogue where he explained the prophecies of the Old Testament to Jews and Greeks alike (Act 17:1) for three Saturdays. According to the book of the Acts, many Greeks and even many “Greek chief women” (Acts 17:1-4) believed the prophecies. After lunch, we will continue our travels further South, starting with Meteora, then Athens, Corinth and finally a one-day cruise. Upon arrival at Meteora, check in at the hotel for dinner and overnight.
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DAY 7: METEORA -ATHENS
After having breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the breathtaking Meteora and two of its monasteries built on the top of the towering vertical rocks. Perched above the town of Kalambaka, at heights up to 400 m (1200 ft.), several of the summits are nestled with historic monasteries. Listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, the six remaining monasteries (out of an estimated 24), were built by monks who were previously hermits and lived in individual caves in the area. Following this, we have lunch at a local restaurant and then continue our tour to Athens, the capital city of Greece. Dinner & overnight at the hotel in Glyfada, Athens.
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DAY 8: ATHENS
Today is a free day to visit the city of Athens. If you like to worship the lord we can arrangements to transfer your group a on English speaking local congregation of believers.
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DAY 9: ATHENS – ANCIENT CORINTH- ACROPOLIS
After breakfast at the hotel, our excursion takes us to the Saronic Gulf, where in 480 BC the small Greek fleet managed to defeat the enormous armada of the Persians in the naval battle of Salamis, changing the course of history. We cross the manmade Corinth Canal to arrive at Ancient Corinth (Acts 18:1-18). It was in this Ancient megalopolis that the apostle Paul established a thriving church, subsequently sending two of his epistles, now part of the New Testament. Here we see all the sites associated with his ministry: The Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the Bema and Gallio’s Seat. The small archaeological museum is an absolute must. We stop for lunch at a local restaurant, then visit the ruins of an early 5th century Christian basilica in Cenchrea. We then set off on our half-day sightseeing tour of Athens (Acts 17:15). This includes a trip to Mars' Hill (Areopagus) where the Apostle Paul delivered his well-known sermon (Acts 17:22). Then we climb up to the marble-capped Acropolis to see the famous Parthenon and the Erechteum. Our tour continues with the highlights of modern Athens: we pass by the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament House, the Presidential Palace, Panathenian Stadium, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Academy, the University and the National Library. We return to the Hotel to rest and have dinner & an overnight.
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DAY 10: ONE DAY CRUISE
After having breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a full day of island-hopping in the Saronic Gulf, visiting and getting to know the local beauties of Hydra, Poros and Aegina. We depart early in the morning for the cosmopolitan island of Hydra, with its picturesque architecture and unique absence of cars. On this serene island, you either walk, use a bicycle, donkey, or a sea-taxi.Our next destination is Poros, the island of peace, greatly known for its endless lemon groves and pine trees. Last but not least, our final stop is Aegina that is rich in history and where you can view many Ancient sites, such as the well-preserved temple of Aphaia (500 BC). The island is most famous for cultivating pistachio trees, which began in 1896. During the cruise, you can enjoy a lunch buffet on board, accompanied by traditional Greek music & dance. We arrive back in Athens late in the afternoon. Dinner & overnight at the hotel.
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DAY 11: DEPARTURE
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer on your own to Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” for your departure flight.
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Visit Ukraine and Greece