8 Days Tour - Mytilene & Chios

Day 1: Arrival at Athens airport – Athens – Peiraeus - Mytilene

We will meet you at the airport of Athens. We will have a look at Athens, named in honor of their patron saint - the favorite daughter of Zeus, goddess of wisdom Athena. City tour by bus, where our guide will show you the Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Presidential Palace and Kallimarmaro Stadium (Panathinaikon Stadium), where the first modern Olympic Games took place. Visit the fabulous Acropolis New Museum from where you can have a magnificent view of the Parthenon and Erectheum before viewing Athens a top Mars Hill where St. Paul stood and preached the truth to the Gentile nation. Visit also the Acropolis Parthenon and the Agora (ancient market place and centre of Athenian public life). A short walk through the narrow streets of the Old city, the famous Plaka with a multitude of shops and cafes. We will visit the Metropolis Cathedral, where the holy relics of Gregory V the Constantinople Patriarch are, and the small Kapnikarea church. In the afternoon we take the ship from the port of Piraeus, settling in cabins and sailing to Mytilene.


Day 2: Mytilene

Arrive early morning in Mytilene. Transfer and check in at hotel. Pilgrimage to the convent of Saint Raphael located above the town. Then we will visit the Monastery of the Archangel in Mandamados, known for the miraculous image. Afternoon visit to Petra, the village with its golden sands. Pilgrimage to the Temple of Virgin Mary, which is on the center of the village, built on a rock of 40 m. Inside there is a remarkable graffiti carved iconostasis carved wood throne and rare Byzantine icons. Afternoon arrival in our hotel, dinner and overnight.


Day 3: Mytilene

Breakfast and departure for pilgrimage to the Monastery jewel of the island. The Monastery of St. Ignatius, known as the Monastery Limonos because of the meadow (pasture) which is built complements soon five centuries of continuous operation. Then we will visit the monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, which was devastated in recent years. The monastery is built in the style of a wooden-roofed basilica, compact with remarkable frescoes dating from the 16th century. Afternoon visit to Eresos village of Sappho. Arrival at our hotel, dinner and overnight.


Day 4: Mytilene - Chios

Breakfast and departure for Agiaso, upland conservation village with great tradition in woodwork and pottery. Pilgrimage to the Church of the Virgin, a miraculous icon of the Virgin and Child. The Church "The Assumption", better known as Lady of Ayiasos is one of the most important shrines of the island with a rich history, starting from the period of iconoclasm. Back to Mytilene and visit some of the most important temples of the city. The Church of St. Therapon is the largest building that dominates the imposing volume of the town of Mytilene.The cathedral of Mytilene is located in the city center and is dedicated to Saint Athanasios.The church of St. Theodore was founded in 1795 AD. History belongs to the post-Byzantine period, exterior has been closed from everywhere patio that hosts the monument, and shows the cramped space of the Medieval Mytilene. We will also visit the Byzantine and Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Theophilos. Transfer to the port and departure by ferry to Chios. Check in at our hotel in Chios, dinner and overnight.


Day 5: Chios

Breakfast and pilgrimage to the monastery of St. Constantine and St. Helen Fragkovouni. The monastery is located near Cape St. Helens, 5 km from the city of Chios. We continue to the Monastery of St. Minas, known from the holocaust of 1822. Our next stop is the Holy Archangels in Nenita. The monastery is built on top of a hill overlooking the plain of Neniton at an altitude of about seventy meters from the sea. Then we pass Armolia and reach the tower. Pilgrimage to the Church of the Assumption, which dominates the main square of the village. Continuing, we visit the village of Mesta's church of the Grand Commander. The church is dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Locals usually call the temple named "Great Commander" to distinguish it from the older church of the Archangels now called "Old Commander." In the afternoon return to our hotel, dinner and overnight.


Day 6: Chios

Breakfast and departure for the convent of Our Lady Help. Built in the hill region Fragomahalas with views across the island country in a lot of effort, sweat and longing of the late elder St. Anthimos for completion of the convent of Our Lady Help. We continue to the most important Byzantine monument of the island, Nea Moni. The monastic complex of Nea Moni, the most prominent monument of medieval times in Chios, was founded in the mid 11th century with imperial sponsorship. We continue to the medieval village of Avgonyma. On the way back, stop at the Monastery perch is dedicated to the Life Giving Fountain. The monastery was built by Dominican monks in the period of domination of the Franks. It is a church with luxurious interiors and the monk's fit around the monastery. Back to Chios town to walk and then to our hotel for dinner and overnight.


Day 7: Chios - Piraeus

Breakfast and departure for the Church of St. Isidore. The small church of St. Isidore is located in the city of Chios, in Letsena. The church is built on the ruins of an early Christian church and has no horizontal concrete ceilings. Then we go through Daskalopetra, where it is said that there he taught ancient times the poet Homer in his students. Continuing we arrive at the Monastery of Panagia Myrtidiotissa (or Myrsinidi or Mersinidi). Built on the edge of the cliff, looking towards the narrow strip of the Aegean Sea to the coast of Asia Minor, seems to rest upon the waves. Then we will worship at the Monastery of the miraculous Chiopolitidas, Agia Markella. In the village of Volissos a picturesque beach lies the complex of sacred pilgrimage Chiopolitidas Agia Markella. We continue to Moundon Monastery, which was the most important monastery after New Monastery. The Monastery Moundon, in Diefcha is dedicated to St. John the Baptist and is now abandoned. Then transfer to the port, settling in cabins and sailing to the port of Piraeus. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 8: Piraeus port – Athens airport - Departure

This morning after our arrival in Piraeus port we transfer to Athens airport. Departure flight back home.