Tuesday 24/6: Gathering at Larnaca airport and departure for Thessaloniki. Arrival at "Macedonia" airport and boarding the bus to Nea Michaniona. We worship at the Church of Panagia Faneromeni, stop for coffee with a view of the blue sea, but also the fish ladder which is one of the largest in Greece. Then we head to the Holy Monastery of Agios Ioannis to worship at the tomb of Agios Paisios of Mount Athos (if possible). Our next pilgrimage is the Hermitage of Agios Arsenios of Cappadocia in Halkidiki, which was established at the urging of Agios Paisios in 1986. Agios Arsenios, one of the holiest figures of recent centuries, was a sponsor of Agios Paisios. If possible, we will also visit the Hermitage of the Annunciation of Ormylia. After our pilgrimages, we follow the route Metamorphosis - Ouranoupoli with stops for food and coffee, as appropriate. Upon arriving at our destination, we will check into the hotel where we will spend the night. Usually, this is followed by afternoon coffee by the tower and the port of Ouranoupoli and a group dinner (optional).

 

Wednesday 25/6: After breakfast, we go to the Pilgrims' Office to receive our accommodation and tickets from the Athonite Lines. We board the FERRY at 0945 and depart for DAFNI. Arriving in Daphni by taxi bus, we head for a pilgrimage to the Holy Monastery of SIMONOPETRAS. The monastery is one of the most daring buildings of Byzantine engineering, as it is a seven-story tower building. The Catholicon of the monastery is dedicated to the Nativity of Christ. Our next pilgrimage is to the SKITE OF THE PROPHET ELIAS which is located in an amphitheatrical and sloping location. It was recognized as a coenobitic Skete in 1839. At the beginning of the 20th century, it numbered three hundred monks, mainly Russians. In the Kyriakos of the Skete, the miraculous icon of Panagia Dakryrrousa is kept. Finally, we go to the HOLY MONASTERY OF PANTOKRATOR, where we will spend the night. Its Catholicon is dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Savior. There, the full-length icon of Panagia Gerontissa is kept. The abbot of the Holy Monastery provides us with a room and informs us about the program we will follow. Arrangements are made for those who wish to confess. Usually, the following are in order: vespers, dinner, communion, veneration of the Holy relics, a gathering for a speech and a period of silence. In the afternoon, if possible, we can go on foot for a pilgrimage to the neighboring STAVRONIKITA MONASTERY, which holds the miraculous mosaic icon of Saint Nicholas of Streidas. It is the smallest monastery on Mount Athos, in the form of a castle with a rudimentary courtyard.

 

Thursday 26/6: After the Divine Liturgy and the table at the Holy Monastery of Pantokratoros, we board the taxi bus and go to the capital of Mount Athos, KARYES. In Karyes we have the opportunity to venerate the miraculous icon "WORTHY IS IT", the icon of the Virgin Mary "FOVERA PROTECTION" in the Holy Monastery of KOUTLOUMOUSIOU and the Holy Cara of the APOSTLE ANDREAS in the Holy Skete of the same name. After completing our pilgrimages, we will take the road to the Holy Monastery of VATOPAIDIO, where we will spend the night, following the program of the Monastery. The Holy Monastery of Vatopediou is the second in the hierarchical order of Mount Athos. Many Cypriot monks live here, under the abbot Elder Ephraim. We will have the opportunity to venerate, among other things, the holy caras of Saints Chrysostomos, Gregory and Eudokimos, the Holy Cross and the Holy Reed, miraculous icons of our Virgin Mary as well as Her Holy Belt.

 

Friday 27/6: After the Divine Liturgy and the table at the Monastery of Vatopaidi, we board the taxi bus and go to the Monastery of XENOPHONTOS, for the last night in the garden of our Virgin Mary. We follow the statutes of the Monastery. Here we have the opportunity to worship, among others, the Virgin Mary Hodegetria, Saint George to whom the monastery's catholicon is dedicated, and Saint Demetrius. From the Monastery of Xenophontos, we have the opportunity to go to the neighboring Monastery of DOCHIARIOU to worship the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary of GORGOUPIKOU.

 

Saturday 28/6: After the Divine Liturgy and the table, from the port of the Monastery of Xenophontos, we will take the speedboat to go to Ouranoupoli. After arranging our things, we board the bus and set off for Thessaloniki. In between, we stop for lunch or coffee. Upon arriving in the capital and at the hotel where we will spend the night, we are assigned to rooms. This is followed by a walk around the city, specifically to the Church of Agios Dimitrios, to Aristotelous Square, and dinner, usually at Ladadika (optional).

 

Sunday 29/6: After breakfast and check out from the hotel we will go to visit the Roupel Fort. This fort is a defensive complex along the Greek-Bulgarian border that was named the Metaxa Line, with a total development of shelters of 1,849 meters and a length of galleries of 4,251 meters. This is followed by a pilgrimage to the Hermitage of the Holy Forerunner in Akritochori. Then we will climb to Ano Poroia of Kerkini for coffee / food (optional). The village is located at the foot of Mount Belles, at 380 meters, overlooking the valley and Lake Kerkini. Sights include the cobblestone streets of the "mahalades", the aesthetic forest with plane trees and the painted chapels of Agios Georgios and Agios Dimitrios. Finally, we head to "Macedonia" airport for the return trip to Larnaca (if time permits, we stop for coffee), with our suitcases full of beautiful memories and blessings from our pilgrimage trip.