9 DAY
Retreat Pilgrimage with St Paul
14th -22nd May 2025
Led by Fr Matt Blake, OCD and Fr Kelvin Ekhoegbe, OCD
FOR ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST
Come wander with us through the Land of the Pauline Gospel in the company of St Paul, the great apostle of the Gentiles. We will travel to many of the places where he lived and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Our deepest hope is that we can catch a glimpse of the divine encounter that turned him around from Saul to Paul, an experience that burned in his heart and about which he cried out, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loves and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20-21).
Wednesday 14th May 2025
Day 1: Thessaloniki
From Sight to faith
“Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians, 5:7).
Our exciting adventure with St Paul begins from our meeting point at London Gatwick
Airport where the group leader and other pilgrims meet to journey as a community of friends in Christ. As if on eagle wings, we will be “transported” to Thessaloniki where we will be greeted by our expert guide and conveyed in an air-conditioned coach to our accommodation centre. Our retreat pilgrimage with St Paul will start officially with the Eucharist after a well deserved rest.
Evening: Dinner at the accommodation centre
Thursday 15th May 2025
Day 2: Philippi-Kavala
STRENGTHENED BY CHRIST
“Whatever I have, wherever I am,
I can make it through anything
in the One who makes me who I am.” (Philippians, 4:13).
In 49 AD St Paul came to preach to the inhabitants of Philippi and ended up in prison. It was Saturday when he reached the place for the first time and many women were gathered in the area. Among them was Lydia, a noble woman from Thyateira of Asia Minor. In Philippi, Paul and Silas were accused of provoking abnormalities in the city and for having habits unusual for the Romans. The two men were caned and imprisoned but a massive earthquake spread panic in the city. The prison’s doors opened and the guard tried to commit suicide. The two Apostles prevent him from harming himself. He then believes in God, he and his family got baptized and the two Apostles were accommodated in his house. Apostle Paul will keep close relationships with the people from Philippi as he would visit them several times.
Evening: Dinner at the accommoda on centre
Friday 16th May 2025
Day 3: Thessaloniki
BEYOND THE BOUNDS: REJOICE ALWAYS
“Always be joyful, pray constantly, giving thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians, 5:16-17).
Celebrating the Holy Eucharist at the Cathedral Church will launch the day. The prolific words from Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians will play through our minds as we are led through the very places where he lived, preached, and wrote about and to where he sent his first and second letters to the Thessalonians.
Evening: Dinner at the accommoda on centre
Saturday 17th May 2025
Day 4: Veria
RESCUED FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT
“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of his Holy people, who live in the light (Colossians, 1:12).
The Acts of the Apostles 17:10 describes how the Apostle Paul left Thessaloniki and visited the nearby town of Berea (Veria).
The town of Veroia has built a small park and altar to mark the traditional location the Apostle Paul spoke from during his visit. When Saint Paul visited this town in AD50, he came across a more “noble” Jewish community where he preached and created an important Church. This is where Paul met Sopatros (or Sosipatros), who would later become a valuable comrade who followed him on his return journey to Asia. We will visit the ancient synagogue
where we will see the Byzantine mosaic in the monument commemorating his preaching.
Evening: Dinner at the accommoda on centre
Sunday 18th May 2025
Day 5: Meteora – Kalambaka
CHOSEN IN CHRIST BEFORE TIME
“He chose us in him before the foundation of the World, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his children” (Ephesians, 1:4-5).
Visiting the spectacular Meteora with its thousand-year-old Byzantine monasteries perched precariously on huge finger-like rocks, where we enjoy a wonderful view. It will afford us a time to praying with arts, a form of visio-divina. The monastic history of Meteora dates back to the 11th century and the monasteries themselves date back to the 14th century. We shall visit at least three of these unique locations.
Evening: Dinner at the accommoda on centre
Monday 19th May 2025
Day 6: Kalambaka-Athens
IN HIM WE LIVE AND HAVE OUR BEING
“…that they should seek God, and perhaps
feel their way toward him and find him.
Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’. (Acts of the Apostles 17:27-28)
Depart from Kalambaka for the drive to Athens stopping first at the Hosios Loukas Monastery meaning “Esteemed Saint Luke”, not built in honour of Luke the Evangelist, but was established by the Greek monk Loukas. He was buried in the crypt of the monastery when he died in AD 953. Attached to the abbey is a large church, Katholikon, which in its turn is attached to a smaller temple, or Theotokos, erected between 997 and 1011 to honour the
Virgin Mary. The temples are beautifully decorated with numerous frescoes and mosaics, all perfectly preserved.
Evening: Dinner at the accommodation centre
Tuesday 20th May 2025
Day 7: Athens
An Offering pleasing to God
“…by the mercies of God, to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God…be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is acceptable and what is perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)
We walk down to the site of St. Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill (Aeropagus) where Paul had a mixed reception in making known the ‘Unknown God’. We then visit Agora the centre of public life in Athens at the time of Paul.
Evening: Dinner at the accommodation centre
Wednesday 21st May 2025
Day 8: Corinth
STRENGHT IN WEAKNESS
“My grace is all you need for my strength
is made perfect in weakness. So now I am glad to boast of my weaknesses,
so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians, 12:9).
After Athens, St. Paul went to Corinth. At the foothills of the Corinthian Acropolis, he lived, worked as a tent maker and taught the word of God for 18 months. Visiting the ruins of the ancient city, walking in the same paths that he walked thousands of years before while being guided into a deeper understand of Paul’s message today. we drive along the picturesque Corinthian Gulf to Corinth, where the Apostle Paul lived and from where he sent his first and second letters to the Corinthians. We visit the marketplace where Paul preached to the
Corinthians.
Thursday 22nd May 2025
Day 9: Athens
CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
“I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me – the crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy, 4:7-8).
In gra tude for the experience of friendship and deeper understanding of God’s love
through the teachings of St Paul, we gather together offering our prayer of praise and
sharing with another the fruits of the retreat pilgrimage in a prayerful space. At Midday, we conclude the retreat pilgrimage with the Eucharist before depar ng for the airport.
What is Included
- Return Flight from London Heathrow
- 4 Nights in Thessaloniki
- 1 Night in Kalambaka
- 3 Nights in Athens
- Half Board (Breakfast and dinner only)
- Transfers between airport and accommodation
- Executive coach for touring
- Hymn and Prayer Booklet
- Pilgrim Kit
- Daily Masses arranged at Various places in Greece
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
- Check-in luggage 23kg. (strictly one suitcase only)
- Tips & Gratuities
Not Included
- Lunches and inflight meals
- Travel Insurance
- VISA if required
- Personal Travel Expenses
Pilgrimage information
You will be accompanied by friars leading the pilgrimage and travelling is done by air
conditioned private coach. Days usually begin at 8am, and generally returning between 7pm,
with dinner served afterwards. Each day features morning and afternoon sessions with prayer
times, with an organised lunch stop to break up the day.
Airline
British Airways flight from London Gatwick to Thessaloniki and return flight from Athens
to London Heathrow. The flight includes a 23 kgs baggage allowance and allocated seat.
For Flight times please contact the administrator (pilgrimage@carmelite.org.uk).
Flights Inclusive
This option offers the opportunity to join others on the booked flight from London Gatwick
to Thessaloniki. Each person is advised to arrive at the airport 2.5 hours prior to departure
time. As stated above, baggage allowance is 23kg.
Flights Exclusive
The option of excluding flights offers the opportunity for those joining the Pilgrimage from
different countries to arrange their flights and other logistics from the airport to the
accommodation centre. However, should anyone wish to join the coach from the airport to
the accommodation centre, prior arrangement is to be made and flights arranged to align with
the “official” pilgrimage time of arrival as the coach leaves immediately.
Accommodation
As the Retreat Pilgrimage entails a substantial time in Thessaloniki and Athens, we will be
staying at different accommodation centres in Thessaloniki and Athens with a night stopover
at Kalambaka.
Single Occupancy
Single Occupancy offers an accommodation for one person in a room.
Double Occupancy
Double occupancy is open to couples, family and friends who desire to share a room with
twin beds. However, individuals who wish to share a room with someone else who may want
that option should contact the administrator to check availability. (admin@carmelite.org.uk).
Dates and How to book
| Our programme | Leaders | Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| A retreat-Pilgrimage 9 Days of Prayer encounter with St Paul | Fr Matt Blake | 14th – 22nd May 2025 | Download poster: |
| | Fr Kelvin Ekhoegbe | | BOOK NOW – See options below |
| | | | Make an enquiry |
How to book
1. Click on the “Purchase Now” button and pay £150 non-refundable deposit to secure your participation.
2. Flexible payment available, however, final balance to be paid by March 1st 2025. Contact us for details.
3. You can choose to pay the full payment.
Retreat Pilgrimage with St Paul
(Excluding Flights)
£150 (non-refundable deposit) (part of the total amount)
£1468 (double occupancy full payment)
£1773 (single occupancy full payment)
Retreat Pilgrimage with St Paul
(Including Flights)
£150 (non-refundable deposit) (part of the total amount)
£1822 (double occupancy full payment)
£2123 (single occupancy full payment)