St. Arsema in Armenia and St. Paul in Greece 2027
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Join Ethiopian Orthodox believers on a sacred pilgrimage to Armenia in honor of St. Arsema (St. Hripsime) and the steps of St. Paul in Greece, a journey of faith, history and healing. Be the first Ethiopian group to visit St. Arsema's resting place.
Organized by the St. John the Baptist and St. Arsema Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Monastery in California, and led by His Excellency Dr. Abune Teofilos.
Dates and price
4 - 13 October 2027 · 10 days, in Greece and Armenia
Arrival in Greece on 5 October 2027
Package price from the USA
$3,780 per person in Double room, with flights from Washington DC and Los Angeles included. Contact us for other departing cities.
Package price from Europe and Israel
$2,880 per person in Double room, without flights. Registration deposit: $500 per person.
Book the Europe and Israel package
Discount for children
- Age (0-2) sharing a bed with their parents: Free ($28 p/day for Child Bed)
- Age (2-12) sharing a bed with their parents: 15% Discount
- Age (12 +) sharing a room with their parents: Full Price
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- Participants board flights from their home countries.
- In-flight: rest and prepare mentally for the pilgrimage.
- Arrive in Athens, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel.
- Evening gathering: light refreshments and an orientation session to meet the team and fellow pilgrims.
Theme: The Church of Corinth, a call to holiness. Scripture focus: 1 Corinthians 13, the Love chapter
- 7:00 AM: Depart Athens for Ancient Corinth (1.5 hour drive).
- 9:00 AM: The Bema of St. Paul, the site of his trial. Read 2 Corinthians 11:9.
- 10:30 AM: Archaeological Museum, with the inscription of Erastus (Romans 16:23).
- 12:00 PM: Lunch near the Corinth Canal, and reflect on 1 Corinthians 12:26.
- 2:00 PM: Cenchreae Port, where St. Phoebe served (Romans 16:1).
- 4:00 PM: Return to Athens.
- 6:30 PM: Vespers at St. Panteleimon Church and veneration of his relics.
Overnight in Athens.
Theme: Faith that moves mountains. Scripture focus: Matthew 17:20
- 6:00 AM: Train to Kalambaka (4 hours).
- 10:30 AM: Arrive and visit the Great Meteoron Monastery, and venerate the skulls of the martyrs.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch, a monastic meal.
- 2:00 PM: Varlaam Monastery, with its 16th century frescoes of the Last Judgment.
- 4:30 PM: St. Stephen's Nunnery, and veneration of the relics of St. Charalambos.
- 6:30 PM: Sunset Akathist Hymn on a cliffside, led by a priest.
Overnight in Kalambaka.
Theme: The light of the Gentiles. Scripture focus: Isaiah 49:6
- 5:00 AM: Transfer to the airport and fly to Yerevan.
- 11:00 AM: Arrive and visit Etchmiadzin Cathedral, the place of St. Gregory's vision of Christ's descent.
- 2:00 PM: Lunch with Armenian lavash bread.
- 4:00 PM: Khor Virap, where we pray facing Mt. Ararat (Genesis 8:4).
- 7:00 PM: Evening prayer at St. Gayane Church and veneration of her relics.
Overnight in Yerevan.
Theme: Faithful unto death. Scripture focus: Revelation 2:10
- 8:00 AM: Divine Liturgy at St. Hripsime Church, built on the site of her martyrdom.
- 10:30 AM: Venerate her tomb, with a special intercessory prayer service.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch.
- 2:30 PM: Geghard Monastery, and veneration of the relic of the spear (John 19:34).
- 6:00 PM: Farewell dinner with Armenian choir hymns.
Overnight in Yerevan.
Theme: The Revelation of Christ. Scripture focus: Revelation 1:9
- 5:00 AM: Fly back to Athens.
- 10:00 AM: Visit the Chapel of St. John the Theologian, with the relics of St. Philothei.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch in Plaka.
- 2:30 PM: Free time for last prayers at the Church of Panagia Gorgoepikoos.
- 5:00 PM: Transfer to the airport.
- Closing prayer (Numbers 6:24 to 26).
Theme: The cloud of witnesses. Scripture focus: Hebrews 12:1
- 7:00 AM: Drive to Thessaloniki (3 hours).
- 10:00 AM: Church of St. Demetrios, and veneration of his myrrh streaming relics.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch near the Roman Forum.
- 2:00 PM: Hagia Sophia of Thessaloniki, with its 8th century mosaics.
- 4:00 PM: Vlatadon Monastery, where St. Paul preached (Acts 17:1 to 9).
- 6:30 PM: Vespers at St. Gregory Palamas Church.
Overnight in Thessaloniki.
Theme: Mary's garden, the Holy Mountain. Scripture focus: Luke 1:28
Men
- 6:00 AM: Boat along the Mount Athos coastline to see the monasteries from the sea.
- 12:00 PM: Return and visit the Chapel of St. John the Forerunner.
Women
- 9:00 AM: Ouranoupoli Tower, with its Byzantine history.
- 11:00 AM: Annunciation Church, to pray before the icon of the Theotokos.
- 3:00 PM: Joint return to Thessaloniki.
- 7:00 PM: Farewell dinner with local clergy.
Overnight in Thessaloniki.
- Return flight to your home country.
Closing prayer: go in peace, the Lord be with you (Ruth 2:4).
Home
Good to know
- Hotel check-in is available from 3:00 PM (15:00) on arrival day, 5 October 2027.
- Hotel rooms are double occupancy.
- A single room can be arranged for a supplement. Please ask us in advance.
- The dates shown include the travel days to and from your destination (next day arrival).
Important notes
- All rooms are standard. You can upgrade your room for a supplement charge upon request.
- In the event that the hotels listed are not available, a similar hotel from the same category will be booked.
- Reservations received less than 15 days in advance are subject to availability.
- If you arrive before or depart after the scheduled days of the tour, you can book additional hotel nights with us.
- In the event the client wants to book an extra night before the tour on his or her own accord, the transfer to the hotel will not be included.
- Airport transfers are included only when your airfare is purchased from AJET.
- The sequence of the tour, hotels used, and sites visited may be amended due to circumstances.
- Tours of holy sites require modest dress (should cover shoulders, no short sleeves, short skirts, or shorts).
- We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express and bank transfers.
- Rates are in USD.
- A 3rd adult sharing a double room receives a 5% discount from the double room rate.
- The program can be extended and tailor made for groups or private groups.
- Free WiFi is available at most hotels but cannot be guaranteed.
- For further details please see our Terms and Conditions.
Contact
Agent: Yudit Shlomo
Phone: +972 54 921 2030
WhatsApp: wa.me/972549212030
Email: contact@ajetisrael.com
Included- Hotel accommodation, double occupancy
- International flight from Washington DC and Los Angeles (USA package only; contact us for other departing cities)
- Breakfast and dinner
- Holy site visits in a modern motor coach
- The annual feast of St. Arsema, celebrated at the holy site
- Airport transfers, only if your airfare is purchased from AJET
- Site entrance fees
- An experienced guide
Not Included- Tips to the guide and the bus driver
- Private transport from the airport, for those who arrive on their own
- Lunches
- Travel insurance
- Visa fee, only for those who need an entry visa
- Additional drinks with meals
Pilgrims Who Walked This Road
Tour FAQ
Yes. Entry requirements for Ethiopian and Eritrean passport holders need more hands-on support, and AJET has long experience guiding travelers through exactly what their passport requires. We coordinate between our teams in Jerusalem and Addis Ababa at every step, so you are never left to work it out alone. Please start the process early, as some steps take time.
Citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia, and other visa-exempt countries do not require a consular sticker visa. However, all travelers from visa-exempt nations must obtain an approved ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) before boarding their flight to Israel.
The ETA-IL application is submitted online via the official Population and Immigration Authority portal, costs 25 NIS (approx. $7 USD), is valid for up to two years (or until your passport expires), and covers stays of up to 90 days. We strongly recommend submitting your ETA-IL at least 72 hours prior to departure. Your passport must have at least six months of validity remaining beyond your scheduled return date. For travelers requiring consular entry visas or group visas (including Ethiopian and Eritrean passport holders), AJET coordinates the manifest and official church invitation letters directly between Jerusalem and your home parish.
You stay in comfortable first class hotels in Jerusalem and on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias. A tourist class option is also available if your group prefers. All rooms are clean, well located, and include daily breakfast and dinner.
There is a fair amount of walking, some of it on old stone and uneven ground, and a few climbs such as Mount Tabor. Most people of reasonable health manage well. If anyone in your group has mobility needs, tell us in advance and we will plan around them.
A deposit of $300 or $400 per person (the amount shown on the tour page, or the stated deposit for your custom journey) is required to secure your booking. A reservation does not hold a seat until the deposit clears into AJET’s account. Final balance payments are strictly due 60 days prior to departure.
One exception: if you reserve a journey online without a fixed departure date and we cannot confirm dates that match your preferred dates, your deposit is returned in full.
If you must cancel your pilgrimage, written notice must be submitted to AJET. Cancellations incur the following tiered fees based on the departure date:
- 61 or more days prior: Full refund of all monies paid minus the non-refundable deposit.
- 60 to 46 days prior: 35% of total package cost is retained (65% refund of balance).
- 45 to 31 days prior: 60% of total package cost is retained (40% refund of balance).
- 30 to 15 days prior: 85% of total package cost is retained (15% refund of balance).
- 14 days or fewer prior / No-show: 100% of total package cost is retained (non-refundable).
Because unexpected medical or travel disruptions can occur, AJET strongly recommends that every pilgrim purchase comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation, medical care, and emergency repatriation.
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