My name is Theofilos Russos. I grew up not far from Mount Athos and have been privileged to visit there over 110 times.
Each year, I take groups on a pilgrimage to Mount Athos, Meteora and many other places. I invite you to join me on an unforgettable journey. We’ll bring blessings home to our families. We’ll be able to absorb the wonder and beauty of the monasteries, some of which are over a thousand years old.
This year, our trip begins on:
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 - Departing from Los Angeles, we will fly to Munich, Germany, where we will stop for a short time to change planes and go directly to Thessaloniki.
Wednesday,May 2 - Upon arrival in Thesaloniki, at Macedonia Airport, our bus will take us to our excellent hotel for an overnight stay. Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece.
Thursday, May 3 - In the morning, after a delicious buffet breakfast, our bus will pick us up and take us on a tour of Thessaloniki, complete with an English/Greek speaking guide. Thessaloniki has many interesting sites to visit. Among the finest, though, is the church of Saint Demetrios which also has his relics which we will be able to venerate. We'll go under the Altar of the Church to the catacombs of St.Demetrios the Miroblyte. You will see Holy Water trickling there. We'll visit the Holy Monastery Vlatadon, the St. Sophia Church, the Church of St.Gregory Palamas, a Catholic Church, to Kamara and to the White Pirgo. After our tour of Thessaloniki, we arrive in Ouranoupolis where we will stay overnight. After we reach our rooms and rest a bit, at 7 PM we'll meet in the lobby of the hotel, to go to dinner at a very good restaurant .
Friday, May 4 - At 9:45 AM we leave to board the ship for Mount Athos, the first monastery we'll visit is the Holy Monastery Xenophontos, which is located on the east side of the Peninsula, right beside the sea. The Monastery celebrates on April 23. It was built at the end of the 10th century by St. Xenophonta. We will venerate Holy Relics of Saint Marina, Saint George, Saint John and other saints, as well as icons of Saint George, Saint Demetrios and many others.
Saturday, May 5 - After we board the ship this morning on the way to Daphne, we will pass the Holy Monasteries of Dochiariou, Saint Panteleimon and then to Daphne. Daphne is the central port of Mount Athos, having a harbor master, a police force, post office, restaurants, and many shops. From Daphne, we'll take another boat to Agios Pavlos Monastery, pass by the Monastery of Simonas Petras, Gregoriou Monastery and Dionisiou Monastery. When we reach the Monastery of Agios Pavlos, we will spend the night there. This monastery was built in the 10th century. Here we can venerate the gifts of the Magi (Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh) given to the Christ Child, and venerate many relics.
Sunday, May 6 - Today we will go to the Holy Monastery of Megisti Lavra. This is the first and largest monastery on Mount Athos. It was built in 963 AD by Saint Athanasios the Athonite. We'll be able to venerate a great many icons and relics. We'll spend the night here.
Monday, May 7 - We are going to Karies, which is the capitol of Mount Athos. We'll go to venerate the miraculous icon Axion Esti, which is in the Protaton, the church that all the representatives attend. Then we will go to the Holy Monastery Iviron and stay overnight. We will venerate the icon Panaghia Portaitissa and many others.
Tuesday, May 8 - Today we will go to the Holy Monastery Vatopaidi, with the large treasure of icons and holy relics. The Monastery was built in 972 AD. Here we can venerate the Holy Sash of the Holy Virgin, many, many icons and relics. We will spend the night here.
Wednesday, May 9 - We will go to the Holy Monastery Filotheo, built in the 10th Century. Here we will find the miraculous icon of Glykofiloussa, as well as the relics of St. John Chrysostom, and other relics. We will overnight here.
Besides the monasteries where we will overnight, we'll visit many other monasteries and sketes. This ends our Pilgrimage to Mount Athos. We will now go back to Daphne to take the boat back to Ouranoupolis and take our bus which will be waiting to take us back to Thessaloniki and our hotel., where we will enjoy a delicious dinner and stay the night.
Thursday, May 10 - In the morning, we will visit Vergina, Veria, the Footsteps of Saint Paul, the Holy Monastery Panagia Dovra, and the Monastery Panagia Soumela.
Friday, May 11 - We will visit the City of Naoussa, St. Nicholas Springs, the museum and Kopanos and Edessa. We will return to Thessaloniki for the night.
Saturday, May 12 - Our bus will take us to Kalambaka, a visit the Monasteries at Meteora, a visit to the Metropolis of Kalambaka. We will return to Thessaloniki for dinner and back to our hotel.
Sunday, May 13 - In the morning we will attend Liturgy at St. Demetrios church. The day is free to relax, shop, sleep. No host lunch, but dinner in the evening.
Monday, May 14 - A day tour to the Monastery Saint Iakovos Adelphotheos outside of Thessaloniki, then a visit to the Holy Monastery of St. Nikodemos at Paiko Kilkis. We return to Thessaloniki for our farewell dinner.
Tuesday, May 15 - Early morning bus ride to the airport for our trip back to our homes.
My friends, you who come on this pilgrimage to Mount Athos will surely find it such an unforgettable experience you’ll want to return again and again.
