A Christian Pilgrimage through Turkey & Greece

In the Steps of Paul
and the Early Disciples

6–18 September 2027 · 13 days

Smyrna / İzmir Colossae & Laodicea Hierapolis Ephesus Thessaloniki Philippi Berea Athens Corinth & Cenchrea

Led by David Eastwood and Mike Harris

Stand on the quay at ancient Neapolis, where Paul first set foot on European soil. Read Acts 16 among the ruins of Philippi. Take communion by the river where Lydia’s heart, and household, opened to the gospel.

The pilgrimage

The journey

This pilgrimage takes us into the world of Paul and the early disciples — from the early Christian communities of Asia Minor to Ephesus, and then across to Macedonia, Athens and Corinth. We will visit places associated with Paul’s journeys and with the churches of the New Testament. Scripture will be read where these events unfolded. History will be walked, not simply studied. Join us for the whole pilgrimage, or for either the Turkey or Greece section.

The route

One red thread across the Aegean

Nine stops, thirteen days: Asia Minor first, then across the Aegean into Macedonia and on to Athens and Corinth.

Day by day

Follow the thread

The journey traced stop by stop. Open each day for the full picture: what we visit, the theme we carry, and the Scripture we read where it happened.

Days 1–2 · Turkey

Smyrna / İzmir

Faithful under pressure

Konak Square in İzmir with its Ottoman clock tower, palm trees and pigeons wheeling over the paving

Day 1 · Monday 6 September Journey to İzmir: arriving in ancient Smyrna

Fly from the United Kingdom to İzmir, transfer to the hotel, settle in and gather for an introductory evening meal. Theme: called to set out. Reading: Acts 13:1–3; Psalm 84:5.

Day 2 · Tuesday 7 September Smyrna: faithful under pressure

A day exploring İzmir and ancient Smyrna: the Agora, the old market and Kemeraltı Bazaar, the Church of St Polycarp and the historic waterfront. Christianity was established here very early — Smyrna became one of the seven churches addressed in Revelation, and was later associated with Polycarp, bishop and martyr. Theme: “Be faithful, even to the point of death.” Readings: Revelation 2:8–11; Romans 8:35–39.

Day 3 · The Lycus Valley

Colossae & Laodicea

A faith that remains alive and wholehearted

The colonnaded main street of Laodicea, marble columns lining a Roman road with mountains beyond

Day 3 · Wednesday 8 September Colossae and Laodicea

Travel inland by private minibus to the Lycus Valley. At the mound of ancient Colossae, remember Epaphras, Philemon, Onesimus and Paul’s vision of Christ supreme over all creation. Continue to the extensive excavated city of Laodicea — streets, theatres, churches, and the water system behind the imagery of “lukewarm” water. Theme: a faith that remains alive and wholehearted. Readings: Colossians 1:15–20; 4:12–16; Revelation 3:14–22.

Day 4 · The Lycus Valley

Hierapolis

Working and praying for the growth of others

The white travertine terraces of Pamukkale, pools of pale blue water stepping down the hillside

Day 4 · Thursday 9 September Hierapolis, and the road to Ephesus

A morning at Hierapolis: the great theatre, the churches, the Martyrium traditionally associated with Philip, and the white thermal terraces of Pamukkale. One of the three Christian communities of the Lycus Valley for whom Epaphras “worked hard”. After lunch, travel west to Selçuk, beside ancient Ephesus, for a quieter evening. Theme: working and praying for the growth of others. Reading: Colossians 4:12–13.

Days 5–6 · Turkey

Ephesus

Gospel, opposition and revival

Day 5 · Friday 10 September Ephesus: gospel, opposition and revival

A full day in the magnificent ruins of Ephesus — Curetes Street, the Library of Celsus, the agoras, and the great theatre where the silversmiths’ riot unfolded. Paul spent over two years here, and his ministry touched the whole province of Asia. Time in the theatre to read Acts 19 and consider the power of the gospel to transform individuals and communities. Theme: road, riot and revival. Readings: Acts 19; Ephesians 3:14–21.

Day 6 · Saturday 11 September Ephesus, and the crossing into Europe

A morning among the sites beyond the main complex — the Basilica and traditional tomb of St John, and the Temple of Artemis, whose scale explains why Paul’s preaching was felt as such a threat. Then the group flies to Thessaloniki — our own crossing from Asia into Europe, the turn Paul’s vision demanded. The Turkey-only pilgrims fly home from İzmir. Theme: come over to Macedonia and help us. Reading: Acts 16:6–10.

The crossing, from Asia into Europe

“Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Acts 16:9–10

A vision that turned Paul west and carried the gospel from Asia into Europe. Our own journey will take us from the early Christian communities of Asia Minor across to Macedonia, where we pick up Paul’s footsteps at Thessaloniki, Philippi and Berea.

Day 7 · Macedonia

Thessaloniki

Receiving and sharing the word

Day 7 · Sunday 12 September Thessalonica: receiving and sharing the word

Sunday worship with a local church, then biblical Thessalonica: the Roman Agora, the Arch of Galerius, the Rotunda, the city walls, the Church of St Demetrios and the waterfront. Paul preached in the synagogue over three Sabbaths; some believed, and opposition followed. Theme: the word received with power and carried to others. Readings: Acts 17:1–9; 1 Thessalonians 1:2–10.

Day 8 · Macedonia

Philippi

Where Paul first stepped onto European soil

Day 8 · Monday 13 September Neapolis, Philippi and Berea

A full and deeply significant day. At Kavala — ancient Neapolis — pause beside the sea where Paul first stepped onto European soil. At Philippi: the theatre, the forum, the traditional prison of Paul and Silas, and the riverside place of prayer associated with Lydia, where a service of communion or renewal of baptismal promises may become one of the spiritual high points of the journey. Then on to Veria — ancient Berea — and the Bema of St Paul, remembering those who received the message eagerly and examined the Scriptures daily. Theme: open hearts, opened homes and attentive engagement with Scripture. Readings: Acts 16:9–40; 17:10–15; Philippians 2:5–11.

Days 8–9 · Macedonia to Attica

Berea

The gospel cannot be confined

The high slopes of Mount Olympus streaked with late snow above dark pine forest

Mount Olympus, above the road south from Berea.

Day 9 · Tuesday 14 September From Berea towards Athens

Follow Paul’s departure from Macedonia south along the Pierian coast: the route by which the believers sent him “to the coast” near ancient Pydna, then Dion beneath Mount Olympus — a window into the religious world Paul preached into — and a brief pause at Thermopylae, before arriving in Athens in the evening. Theme: the gospel cannot be confined. Reading: Acts 17:13–15.

Day 10 · Attica

Athens

The unknown God made known

Panorama of the Acropolis from the Areopagus, the Mars Hill viewpoint where Paul addressed the Athenians

Day 10 · Wednesday 15 September Athens: the unknown God made known

The Acropolis and the Parthenon, then the Areopagus — Mars Hill — to read Paul’s address to the Athenians where he gave it, and the Ancient Agora where he reasoned daily with whoever happened to be there. Time to reflect on how the gospel is communicated clearly and respectfully in a culture of many beliefs. Theme: finding language through which Christ can be proclaimed afresh. Reading: Acts 17:16–34.

Day 11 · The Peloponnese

Corinth & Cenchrea

Faith carried onward through friendship, hospitality and trust

The Doric columns of the Temple of Apollo at Ancient Corinth against a deep blue sky

The Corinth Canal, a turquoise channel cut between sheer limestone walls, seen from the old bridge

Day 11 · Thursday 16 September Corinth, the canal and Cenchrea

Cross to the Peloponnese, pausing at the Corinth Canal. In ancient Corinth: the Temple of Apollo, the forum, and the Bema where Paul was brought before Gallio — where reading 1 Corinthians 13 aloud may become another central act of worship. Then Cenchrea, Corinth’s eastern port, remembering Phoebe, deacon and benefactor, trusted to carry Paul’s letter to Rome. Theme: faith carried onward through friendship, hospitality and trust. Readings: Acts 18:1–18; 1 Corinthians 13; Romans 16:1–2.

Days 12–13 · Athens, and home

Gathering the journey, and the return

The road continues

Day 12 · Friday 17 September Athens: gathering the journey together

A gentler final day: a museum or a guided biblical walk in the morning, final group worship and reflection, and a free afternoon for Plaka, cafés, or returning to a favourite site. In the evening, a final meal and closing reflections: what have we received, where has God spoken, what will we carry home — and to whom are we now being sent? Theme: the road continues. Readings: Philippians 1:3–6; Romans 15:13.

Day 13 · Saturday 18 September Return home

Transfer to Athens Airport and fly back to the United Kingdom, with a closing prayer for the grace to return home as pilgrims who are renewed, attentive and ready to share the good news. Reading: Philippians 4:4–9.

On the road

What the days hold

Guided visits to Ephesus, Philippi, Athens and Corinth, alongside Colossae, Laodicea, Hierapolis, Berea and Cenchrea
Scripture read in the places it describes, with a pilgrimage theme for each day
Space for worship, communion, prayer and quiet reflection — built into the journey, not squeezed around it
Comfortable hotels, private minibus travel and a small group
Great company, wonderful local food, laughter and fun along the way
Led by David Eastwood and Mike Harris, drawing on their own experience of walking these routes

Fellow pilgrims

Who it’s for

Anyone wanting to encounter the New Testament as a place, not only a text
Those who want to discover more of Paul, the early disciples and the world of the first Christian communities
Those wanting space to listen to God and reflect on how he is at work in our own lives — forming us, preparing us and leading us onwards
Pilgrims new and experienced — no previous pilgrimage required, just a willingness to walk, listen, share and reflect

Three ways to join

Walk the whole thread, or one leg of it

Short on time? Walk one leg of the journey. Every stage stands complete in itself.

Turkey only

6–11 Sept · 6 days

Smyrna, Colossae, Laodicea, Hierapolis and Ephesus, flying home from İzmir as the rest of the group travels on to Greece.

Stops 1–4 on the route line

Full pilgrimage

6–18 Sept · 13 days

The whole journey through Turkey and Greece, continuing into Macedonia and on to Athens and Corinth.

All nine stops, the whole thread

Greece only

11–18 Sept · 8 days

Join in Thessaloniki for Philippi, Berea, Athens and Corinth, flying out separately to meet the group.

Stops 5–9 on the route line

Where things stand

An honest word on dates

We are planning for 6–18 September 2027, and the broad itinerary above is taking shape. Final dates depend on flight schedules, so the pilgrimage may need to move by a few days either way. Accommodation, costs and booking details will follow as arrangements are confirmed.

The itinerary is provisional and may be subject to some changes as flights and other arrangements are finalised. We will aim to keep any changes to a minimum while preserving the overall content and character of the pilgrimage.

Interested? Say so now.

Register your interest and we’ll send you the full itinerary and costs as soon as they’re confirmed. There is no commitment at this stage — just a place on the list.

Use the contact form and mention “Paul 2027” — we’ll do the rest.