2019 Southern Diocese of the United States Pilgrimage Trip
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Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
St. Augustine
"THE WORLD IS A BOOK, AND THOSE WHO DO NOT TRAVEL READ ONLY A PAGE"
Dinner
Monday, September 23 - Milan, Italy
Arrival to Milan. Transfer to the hotel. For early arrivals, half day tour of Milan, inclusive of chapel of St. Maurice. Overnight in Milan.
Breakfast
Lunch or Dinner
Tuesday, September 24- Turin, Italy
Transfer to Turin. Tour of Turin. Veneration of the Shroud, Museum of the Shroud. Tour of the city. Some free time. Option: visit the Egyptian Museum – one of the best collections of the Egyptian artifacts outside of Egypt. Overnight in Turin.
Breakfast
Lunch or Dinner
Wednesday, September 25 - St. Moritz, Switzerland
Transfer to St. Moritz (St. Maurice) in Switzerland via the Aosta Valley. Along the way site-seeing: visit the ancient city of Aosta, known as the gate keeper of the Alps, tour of the city may include Ancient Roman ruins, Megalithic Area of Corléans, covering 5000 years of human activity in the area, see Ottonian frescoes from the 11th century at the Cathedral or in Church of St. Orso and visit one of the local castles. Continue via spectacular St. Bernard pass into Switzerland. Overnight at St. Maurice.
Breakfast
Lunch or Dinner
Thursday, September 26 - St. Moritz/Sion Switzerland
Visit the Abbey, tour of the historical/archeological Abbey of the Area, prayers over the relics, treasury, walk to pray at the chapel built over the place of the execution. Continue on the steps of the martyrs of the Theban legion – visit townships of Sion (Sts. Amatus, Theodul and Matheus) and continue to Annecy. Overnight: Annecy/area.
Friday, September 27 - Annecy, France
Breakfast
Lunch or Dinner
Annecy, lovely medieval township known as the Venice of the Alps. Just over an hour west from here there is a charming city of Vienne known for its many Roman sites and Christian monuments. The oldest surviving church of France from the 5th century and dedicated to St. Peter along with her younger counterpart – cathedral of St. Maurice are among the most famous monuments of the city. Overnight in the area of Lyon.
Breakfast
Lunch or Dinner
Saturday, September 28 - Lyon, France
Full day tour of Lyon, third largest city of France. City is filled with monuments from different period of history. For Christian pilgrims of particular interest is the Roman Amphitheatre where number of Christians have perished during the great Christian persecution in the area in 177AD. Overnight in the area of Lyon.
Brunch
Dinner
Sunday, September 29 - Geneva, Switzerland
Divine Liturgy in Geneva and tour of the city. Overnight: Geneva/area.
Breakfast
Lunch or Dinner
Monday, September 30 - Montreaux/Gruyere, Switzerland
Visit Château de Chillon in the vicinity of Montreaux and continue your day with something sweet: visit to the chocolate experience at Maison Cailler, continue to visit cheese factory and restaurant La Maison du Gruyère, later - transfer to Bern. Overnight: Bern/area.
Breakfast
Lunch or Dinner
Tuesday, October 1 - Bern, Switzerland
Tour of Bern. Near the city there is St. Verena Hermitage, tucked in the gorge that also bears the name of St. Verena. Continue to Solothurn, visit Cathedral of St. Ursus and St. Victor, martyrs of Theban legion and patrons of the city. Visit Bad Zurzach, visit St. Verena Minster, built over a grave of a saint on a site of a former Roman cemetery. Continue to Konstanz for overnight. Overnight: Konstanz/area.
Breakfast
Lunch or Dinner
Wednesday, October 2 - Konstanz, Germany
Day tour of Konstanz. Overnight: Konstanz/area.
Breakfast
Lunch or Dinner
Thursday, October 3 - St. Gallen, Switzerland
In the morning, HD Day trip to St. Gallen, one of the most important pilgrim centers in Switzerland. Monastery was established by St. Gallen, an Irish monk and companion to St. Columba in his missionary journey through Europe. Transfer to Zurich, one of the most engaging Swiss cities. Tour of the city. Overnight in Zurich/area.
Breakfast
Lunch or Dinner
Friday, October 4 - Lucerne/ Zurich, Switzerland
Day trip to Lucern. Tour of Lucerne, boat ride on the lake, return to Zurich. Overnight in Zurich/area.
Breakfast
Saturday, October 5 - Zurich International Airport
Breakfast and Departure back home. Safe travels!