Visit to the Greek Island of Patmos

A view from St. John's Monastery of Patmos.

Frescos of St. John's Monastery. 

One of the many cats of Greece. 

At the holy site of the Cave of the Apocolypse, where St. John the Evangelist write Revelations. 

Students enjoy a Greek Toga Dance party on the ship. 

We Learn about the Turkish Art of Rug Weaving

St. Ben's Pilgrims in Ephesus

Today we explored the ancient ruins of Ephesus where Paul preached and converted many. 

Our guide, Fame, tells us of ancient Ephesus. 

Legend has it if you walk through this pass way and touch the columns your wish will come true. Here's wishing for more pligrimage experiences! 

Marble road where Paul walked. Still intact today! 

We pose in front of the theatre where Paul preached. 

Ms. Deletioglu Stays Behind in Turkey to Visit Family

Thanks to Father Jason's great idea, Ms. D was able to switch her return flight from Istanbul to a later date so she can visit her father's family in Turkey. She met up with them and us being treated like royalty! We can't wait to hear about her adventures! 

And one last goodbye photo with our driver Dmitri and our tour guide Emmie. 

Travel to Mykonos: First Greek Island

Getting ready for our safety drill. 

The whole group poses for nice picture! 

Father Jason and Liz are looking for souvenir rocks. 

Ms. Deletioglu poses in front of the famous windmills. 

Mass at Mary's House: Merymana

I'm On this morning we landed at Kusadasi and boarded a lovely bus with Fame' our tour guide whom we loved.

Tradition has it that this where St. John took Mary after Jesus died. It is now a small shrine. There is also a small Catholic Church there with a specific order nuns dedicated to Mary and John. 

It was a beautiful mass where the mothers of the group were invited to share a reflection on motherhood to those gathered. 

Afterward we tied ribbons with our prayer  intentions on the fence. 

Mary's House. 

Mothers reflect on being a Mom.

Full Moon in Athens

Our first night in Athens, we checked into the hotel and had dinner there.  Afterward we decided to take a moonlit stroll through the financial district toward the Athens Parliament building. We found a lot if interesting buildings along the way, as well as a busy placa and a McDonalds with wifi. It was one of their favorite discoveries. 

That is the full moon in the sky! 

The Art of Iconography

We stopped in Kalambaka to see the workshop of a Greek Orthodox priest who creates Icons in the traditional method. Check out his work below. 

St. Paul and Ancient Corinth

O.Walked in the footsteps of St. Paul today in ancient Corinth. Remember the reading you hear at all the weddings? Love is patient, love is kind...it's kind of neat to imagine the people to whom he wrote this well known letter.

Father Jason said our last mass of our pilgrimage on this ancient site. Today's homily was based on how our lives should be like St. Paul or St. John, and that we are to bring the light of Christ to others in all that we do.