EXETER (SNR) – Father Brendan Kelly, pastor of St. Stephen Parish in Exeter, will lead a pilgrimage to Greece May 25-June 2, 2022.
The trip, “Greece: The Footsteps of Paul the Apostle” is a spiritual and historical pilgrimage through Greece for up to 30 travelers.
“Come see how this cradle of civilization from which so much of our own philosophical and theological tradition arises has become a land of prayer and mystery,” Father Kelly said.
The trip will include ancient sites like the Parthenon, Acropolis, and Meteora, as well as a multitude of biblical cities, and to various UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ) locations.
Those who wish to further their adventure, may partake in an additional, three-day cruise extension to the Greek Islands of Patmos, Crete, and Santorini.
St. Paul, an aggressive persecutor of Christians in the years following Christ’s death and resurrection, experienced a dramatic conversion to Christianity on the road to Damascus, as reported in the Acts of the Apostles.
“St. Paul responded to the invitation of a man who appeared to him in a dream to come to Greece and preach the Gospel,” Father Kelly said. “His acceptance of this invitation, and subsequently, his conversion to Christianity, changed the course of Western history.”
Paul is generally considered to be the most influential of the apostles in his teachings. Of the 27 books in the New Testament, 13 or 14 are attributed to Paul.
St. Paul traveled throughout Greece and beyond establishing churches and planting the seeds of the faith wherever he went.
“In doing so,” Father Kelly said, “like the sower in the parable, he spread the Word of God into the rocky soil of the mountains and seacoasts, the lush valleys, and green hillsides and even to the heart of ancient learning and trade – Athens and Corinth.
Father Kelly pointed out that St. Paul responded to the invitation that came to him, and in so doing he changed the course of his life, and the world.
“The question now is, will you respond to this invitation to this Greek pilgrimage and allow it to change you also?”
For more information or to request a brochure for this pilgrimage, “Greece: Footsteps of Apostle Paul,” contact Barb Wallingford at 402-430-5811, or contact Beth at Executive Travel Group Department, 402-858-0033.
An electronic version of the full brochures can also be found online at https://executivetravel.com/eti-home/vacation/escorted-tours/.
