Program

Wednesday 30/4: 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 – Hermitage of Saint Arsenios Cappadocos in Halkidiki, which was established at the urging of Saint Paisios of Mount Athos in 1986. Saint Arsenios, one of the holiest figures of recent centuries, was a sponsor of Saint Paisios. After our pilgrimage we follow the Metamorphosis – Ouranoupoli route with stops for food and coffee, accordingly. Upon reaching 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).

Thursday 01/5: After breakfast, we will receive our accommodation and boat tickets, board the boat and depart for Daphne, the main port of Mount Athos, and finally arrive at the Holy Monasteries of Dionysios and Gregory, where we will spend the night in groups of six pilgrims, following the rituals of each Monastery. From the Monastery of Gregory, there is the possibility of visiting the Monastery of Saint Paul, which is honored in the Epiphany of the Lord, after hiking.

Friday 02/5: After the Divine Liturgy and the meal, there is a mutual replacement of pilgrims (every six) between the Holy Monasteries of Dionysios and Gregory and the ritual of the Monasteries is followed.

Saturday 03/5: After the Divine Liturgy and the meal, all pilgrims board the boat to the port of Daphne. From there, by taxi bus, we depart for Karyes, the capital of Mount Athos, where we will have the opportunity to worship the Holy Cara of the Apostle Andrew in the homonymous Skete, the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary “AXION ESTI” and the “FOVERA PROSTASIA” in the Monastery of Koutloumousiou, where we will spend the night following the program of the Holy Monastery.

Sunday 04/5: After the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of Koutloumousiou and the bank, we take the taxi bus to the Holy Monastery of Xenophon where we will worship the icons of Panagia Hodigitria, Saint George to whom the catholicon is dedicated, and Saint Demetrius, to whom according to tradition a small temple existed before the existing large temple was built. Then, from the port of the Holy Monastery, we board the speedboat for our exit from Mount Athos. Our bus will be waiting in Ouranoupoli. From there we set off for Porto Lagos with an intermediate stop at Stavros Halkidikis for coffee and via the Egnatia Motorway we reach our destination. There, in the lake of Vistonida, at the admirable floating Monastery of Saint Nicholas, we will worship both the homonymous Saint and the Virgin Mary Pantanassa. Enjoying this beautiful landscape, we move towards the nearby Fanari, which is the fishing village of the area, to eat seafood (optional). Then we go to our hotel in the city of Xanthi. If there is - in time - the possibility, we can go back to Porto Lagos for vespers, otherwise we will have the opportunity to tour the city of Xanthi.

Monday 05/5: After breakfast and check out from the hotel, we will go to the Monastery of the Ascension of the Savior - Sipsa to worship Saint George Karslidis, who was canonized relatively recently. In the monastery in question there is a large female brotherhood, including Cypriots. Passing through the city of Drama, we will stop at the Springs of Agia Varvara for a walk and coffee. We will visit another impressive landscape, a miracle of nature later. Less than half an hour from the city of Drama is the cave - sources of the Aggitis River. You will certainly be excited by what you will experience inside the mountain, going five hundred meters deep. We say goodbye to Drama and via the Egnatia Highway we will end up at Macedonia Airport. If time permits, we will make a short stop at the beautiful Asprovalta. Our pilgrimage tour ends with the return trip to Larnaca with our suitcases full of beautiful memories and blessings!!