PILGRIMAGE 2026 - in the footsteps of St Paul
In September, October and November, Revd James Sawyer will be on extended study leave where he's on pilgrimage to many of the places associated with St Paul. While much has changed in 2,000 years, including place names, the landscape remains the same.
Revd James will be following the middle third of St Paul's second missionary journey, which took place in what is now modern greece, from Philippi to Corinth, via Athens. Seeing these places and the land in whic the sit and experiencing the distances travelled are central to Revd James' plans for his study. There are also some remarkable fragments of archaeology that Paul may have recognised, several of which are key moments in the development of the Christian church in the first century.
Revd James will be travelling with Lightline, a christian pilgrimage specialist company, who have led pilgrimages from this benefice in the past. On this occasion James is joining a party from a benefice on Dartmoor, near Exeter.
Later on a separate journey, Revd James plans to visit places associated with the last part of St Paul's life in Italy, his journey while under arrest from the bay of Naples to Rome, where it is believed Paul was executed.
Looking to the future, Revd James is thinking about a future pilgrimage that might take in Paul's travels in what is now Turkey. He'd be very interested to hear about anyone's experiences of pilgrimage, past visits to these locations and if anyone would like to join a future pilgrimage in 2027? If so you can email him, or better still, write a real letter and post it to:
Pilgrimage c/o
Revd James Sawyer
The Vicarage
Great Hormead
nr Buntingford
SG9 0NT
ITINERARY - GREECE:
Day 1, Monday, 14 Sep
London - Thessaloniki - Kavala
On arrival we will be met by our guide and then transfer to our hotel in Kavala. Kavala was previously the ancient port of Neapolis where Paul landed, arriving from Troas on his way to Philippi. Dinner and overnight stay at a waterfront hotel.
Day 2, Tuesday, 15 Sep
Philippi & Kavala
We visit Philippi - the Roman colony with Forum and possible prison where Paul spent the night with his companion Silas. A short distance to the west is the river bank where Paul met Lydia (Acts 16.14). Here we may hold a worship service. We then return to Kavala to visit the castle area before driving to Thessaloniki through Amphipolis and Apollonia (Acts 17:1). (See also Philippians)
Day 3, Wednesday, 16 Sep
Thessaloniki We visit the Basilicas of St Demetrius and the Agia Sophia, with its 10th century mosaics, before visiting the sea front with the famous White Tower and nearby Archaeological museum. In the afternoon we will visit the ramparts before the former Macedonian capital of Pella. (See also Thessalonians)
Day 4, Thursday, 17 Sep
Berea & Vergina We leave Thessaloniki and head west to Veroia (Berea of Acts 17). There are many ‘hidden churches’ dating back to the time of persecution under Moslem rule. We explore the old town and find some of these. After a break for a snack lunch we drive to nearby Vergina, the ancient Macedonian capital with its chamber tombs and museum. Then passing by Mt Olympus we drive on to stay at Kalambaka for two nights.
Day 6, Saturday, 19 Sep
Delphi (The Temple of Apollo) - Athens
Today we drive on to Delphi, built on the slopes of Mountain Parnassus which gives us a fine view of the Peloponnese. It was to Delphi that high and low alike came to consult the ‘oracle’. We shall see the City Treasuries, the Fountain and the Temple of Apollo as well as the Museum, which among many treasures houses the 5th century statue of the Charioteer. We continue to Athens for dinner and a four night stay. (Acts 17.15)
Day 7, Sunday, 20 Sep
Athens
This morning we take the opportunity for Sunday worship. Some may like to experience this at a Greek Orthodox Church, others may prefer an English service at St Paul’s Anglican or another church. After a break for a snack lunch we will visit the National Archaeological Museum (closes 3pm) and have an orientation tour of Athens.
Day 8, Monday, 21 Sep
Corinth - Cenchreae
This will be a full day with an early start as sites close early. (Acts 18) We drive along the Saronic Gulf, scene of the greatest sea battle of ancient times, and pass Eleusis and Megara. Our first stop will be at the bridge which crosses the Corinth canal. We will climb up to the top of the Acropolis of Corinth before visiting the city site below. The Agora is dominated by the columns of the Temple of Apollo; on the opposite side is the site of the tribunal before which Paul ‘was dragged' before GalIio (Acts 18:17). There is a good museum on site. From there we drive south in the Peloponnese to the remains of the city of Mycenae. (See also Corinthians 1 & 2)
We pass Argos, Tiryns and Nafplio - the former capital of new Greek state after it struggle for independence in 19th century and arrive in Epidauros. The healing centre here was the most famous in the ancient world. As we return to Athens we will have a short stop at Cenchreae, the port from which Paul sailed to Ephesus (Acts 18:18). (See also Ephesians)
Day 9, Tuesday, 22 Sep
The City of Athens
We will spend the day exploring this magnificent city and begin with Mars Hill. We climb up the Acropolis with its Propylaia (Gateway), Temple of Athena Nike (Victory), Parthenon and the Erechtheion. We visit the new Acropolis Museum. Our next visit is the Agora (Market Place) of Athens, where former philosophers had counselled and taught and Paul had a very mixed reception here. (Acts 17.21)
Day 10, Wednesday, 23 Sep
If time allows we may have time to visit a site in Athens. But then, it's our journey home. When Paul left Athens he headed back east, across the Agean to Ephesus, then a sea port. From there he went back to Palestine and Jerusalem.
PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY and ROME
In October we travel independently to Rome and the bay of Naples, where we plan to visit key locations in the life of St Paul, Roman sites he must have seen, as well as experience Vatican City.
Pauls final travels
Pauls Voyage to Italy: Arrested in Jerusalem and imprisoned in Caesarea, Paul exercised his right as a Roman citizen to appeal his case to Caesar. His transport ship hit a massive storm and wrecked on the island of Malta, where he spent three winter months.
Landing in Puteoli: In the spring, Paul sailed to Sicily and then docked at Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli) in the Bay of Naples, spending a week with local believers.
The March to Rome: He walked north toward the capital. Roman Christians met him along the road - the Appian Way – at the Appii Forum and Three Taverns, boosting his morale before entering the city. Appii Forum (Forum Appii) and the Three Taverns (Tres Tabernae) are two historic post stations along the ancient Appian Way in Italy, famous for their mention in the Bible where Roman Christians met the Apostle Paul (Acts 28:15).
First Imprisonment in Rome
House Arrest: Handed over to the imperial guard, Paul was permitted to live in his own rented lodging under light military custody rather than a dark dungeon.
Unhindered Preaching: For two full years (approx. 61–63 AD), he welcomed visitors and preached the kingdom of God openly without interference.
The Prison Epistles: During this initial confinement, he penned key New Testament letters, including Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. (Possible location: Basilica di Santa Maria in Via Lata)
Final Years and Martyrdom
Release and Further Travel: Early church tradition and pastoral epistles suggest Paul was eventually acquitted or released, enabling a possible brief fourth journey to places like Crete or Spain.
Second Imprisonment: Re-arrested during the escalating persecutions by Emperor Nero —who blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD — Paul was brought back to Rome and imprisoned under much harsher conditions (according to Christian tradition) in the underground Mamertine Prison (Carcer Tullianum).
Execution: Confined tightly and awaiting a fatal sentence, he wrote his final words in 2 Timothy. It is believed that because he held Roman citizenship, he was spared burning or crucifixion and was instead beheaded south of the Roman city at Aquae Salviae (Tre Fontane) around 67 AD.
Contact
The Vicarage
Great Hormead
Buntingford
Hertfordshire
SG9 0NT
01763 289258