Footsteps of Paul

May 20 - June 4, 2021

Come with Georgian & Winnie Cóco Banov and Dr. Brian & Candice Simmons on this EPIC journey following the Footsteps of Paul. We will start our adventure in Sofia, Bulgaria, ministering to our beloved Gypsies and then travel via bliss bus to Thessoloniki, Greece, visiting Philippi before taking a flight to Athens and taking time to see Corinth. From Athens we will take a boat to Ismer, Turkey visiting the ruins of Ephesus on our way to Istanbul. A short flight will take us to our final destination of Rome, Italy - which, for the first time ever is being added to this triumphant journey of Paul. Pioneer with us on the expedition of a lifetime.

YOUR MINISTRY LEADERS

Georgian and Winnie Banov

(Bible teachers and Co-Founders, Global Celebration)

SPECIAL GUESTS
Dr. Brian and Candice Simmons

(Bible teachers and the author of The Passion Translation)

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Details

See Daily Trip Itinerary

Details

Enjoy 2 full weeks - that's 14 days, of deep teaching from Georgian and Winnie Banov and Dr. Brian and Candice Simmons
Literally walk in the footsteps of Paul, visiting places he did - Philippi, Corinth, Ephesus and Rome.
Learn about those who received the Good News of Jesus with joy and boldness during an incredible time in history and how their legacy has become yours as well
Engage in moments that will change you forever in places such as:
- Sofia, Bulgaria - learn the amazing history of Bulgaria and it’s deep Christian heritage
- The ruins of Philippi
- Worship in Corinth
- Athens
  - Mars Field/Acropolis - where Paul preached the gospel
- Smyrna - hear the story of Polycarp, a martyr for Christ, from Dr. Brian Simmons
- Ephesus
  - School of Tyrannus - where Paul taught
  - The Ephesus Great Theatre (Colosseum) on Panayir Hill
- Rome
  - The Field of Martyrs (The Hippodrome) - where you will walk the “red carpet” laid out just for you, after a beautiful teaching from Winnie ‘Coco’ Banov
  - The Mamertine Prison where Paul, Peter and many other believers were imprisoned
  - See St. Paul’s Basilica and the Abbey of the Three Fountains
  - View the infamous Roman Colosseum and hear redemptive stories of what God did through those sacrificed there
  - Stroll through the Roman Forum
  - Enjoy a tour of The Vatican, The Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica and Square
- Visit the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
- During some free time in Rome visit:
  - Trevi Fountain
  - The Spanish Steps
  - Piazza Navona
- AND SO MUCH MORE!

Cost - $4995*

Trip Tuition Includes:

Round Trip Airfare from NYC or DC
Accommodations in 4-5 Star Luxury Hotels (Double Occupancy)
Transportation from the moment we arrive to Sofia, Bulgaria until we depart Rome, Italy. Including: 3 short flights in Europe - Thessaloniki to Athens, Izmir to Istanbul and Istanbul to Rome, boat/ferry cost - Greece to Turkey, and public transportation pass in Rome.
Generous Breakfasts and Dinners
Worship and Teaching Sessions with The Banovs and Simmons
Tourism Site Entrance Fees and Tour Guide
Taxes
Tips
A copy of Winnie Banov's books Love Notes & The Proposal for you to read and study before the trip. (US participants will receive them beforehand - they will be given on site at arrival to International Participants)
Daily portion of bottled water, where needed.

Additional Costs Not Included:

Roundtrip transportation from your home city to the group flight and then back to your home city
Lunches and snacks
Personal money for shopping (as schedule allows)
Passport/Visa Fees

Your valid passport (expiring on or after November 20, 2021) is not required to reserve your spot, but a copy of your passport must be mailed, faxed or emailed to the Global Celebration mission’s office no later than one month before the trip departure.

If you are applying for or renewing your passport, it is highly recommended that you begin this process as soon as possible.

*cost is estimated based on current flight expenses. This may decrease/increase based on flight costs at time of application/payment.

**we do offer a ground transportation option that does not include the roundtrip airfare cost. This is primarily for International travelers or if you have other plans before/after the trip. Please speak with one of our team members if you need more information.

How to Apply

Complete Full-Length Global Celebration Missions Application, Apply [HERE]

Once your full-length application has been received, you will be contacted within 7 business days by a missions department team member for an interview. Once your application is approved, a non-refundable deposit of $500 will be required.

**Due to overwhelming response and interest in this trip, we recommend that you reserve your spot as soon as possible. The application process is first come – first serve.

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FAQs

What are the physical requirements for this trip?

This trip will include lots of walking, including up and down stairs. We do recommend that you be physically prepared and able to walk a minimum of 3 miles per day and comfortably climb numerous stairs.

When are payments due?

A $500 non-refundable deposit is required upon acceptance to the trip. The remaining payments are due according to the schedule, which you will receive in your Welcome Letter.

What is not included in the trip cost?

While we have tried to make this trip close to all-inclusive, there are a few expenses not included in the tour cost, including:

lunches ($10-$15 suggested per day) and snacks
your personal spending money for shopping and incidentals
Trip Cancellation/Travel Insurance - MANDATORY
Transportation or airfare to get to the airport (JFK or IAD) for our group flight
Transportation to Sofia, Bulgaria and from Rome, Italy for those outside of the USA.

I live outside the U.S., or, I am making arrangements for other travel around this trip - what options are available?

If you live outside the U.S. or plan to extend your stay in Europe or travel elsewhere before or after the trip we have a ground package option. The cost for the ground package is $3995. You will be responsible for purchasing your own airfare to Sofia, Bulgaria and from Rome, Italy. It is important that you arrive before or at the same time as the team arriving from the U.S. and to avoid extra costs, booking your departure near the same time as the team as well. You will need to meet the team at the airport in Sofia, Bulgaria. We will provide more details should you go this route.

I am arriving before the team or departing after the team and need an extra hotel night. How do I do that?

We cannot book extra nights for you. If you are arriving early or staying later, we recommend finding a hotel that is conveniently located for you. You will be responsible for getting to and from those hotels. Should you arrive early, you will need to come to the airport to meet up with the team on the day of our arrival.

Why do I need to purchase Trip Cancellation/Travel Insurance?

We have found it imperative that you purchase trip cancellation insurance. The cost is reasonable and provides you with two primary benefits:

It will cover you in the event that you must cancel your trip (make sure you review the allowable cancellation reasons).
It will provide you with medical and accident coverage while traveling (many U.S. health plans do not cover you while traveling overseas. please check with your health plan)

The company we recommend is TravelSafe. They have a good record paying claims and their costs are reasonable. However, please feel free to research options before you make a decision.

You can use this link for a quote or to purchase: https://www.travelsafe.com/#/quote

What is your refund / cancellation policy?

You can view our policy [HERE]

How much money should I bring with me?

The trip is all inclusive except for your personal spending money and daily lunches. We recommend that you bring $500/person to cover these personal expenses. Many places do accept credit cards and that can be a good option at times. However, we do recommend that even if you plan to use your credit card that you bring some cash as there may be times when you cannot use a credit card. Plus, it is always good to have some cash just in case.

What currency is accepted in the locations we will be going and will we be able to exchange money?

There will be multiple forms of currency required for our trip. The euro is used in Greece and Italy, the Bulgarian lev in Bulgaria and the Turkish lira in Turkey. We will provide more information about this once you apply and are accepted for the trip.

What are the passport and visa requirements?

You must have a valid passport from your country to enter all of the countries on our itinerary. It is very important that your passport expires at least 6 months after the date of your departure from Rome.

Tourist visas are required for U.S. Citizens entering Turkey. We will send you more information about this once you are a part of the team. Currently the cost of a visa to Turkey for US citizens is $50 USD. Participants will be responsible for applying for their own visas. To check visa requirements for other countries, click [HERE]

Are there any shots required? Covid restrictions?

There are no special shots required. It is always good to check with your doctor for any recommendations when traveling international. We are keeping and eye on what may be required for travel as things develop with Covid-19 and will update participants as we are made aware.

Do we need adapters/converters for electrical devices?

All of the countries we are going to use type C and F adapters. One or the other should be fine.

What about room assignments?

The cost of the trip is based on double occupancy. Husband/wives will obviously share a room. Those traveling as singles will be paired with another person traveling as a single for rooms. If you would like to be paired with someone specific, please let us know. Single occupancy is available for a surcharge. Please inquire about that if you are wanting to have your own room. The amount of single rooms will be limited.

What kind of clothes should I pack?

The weather will be warm. It will be spring in all 4 countries we will visit. There will be a few sites that require men and women to have their legs and shoulders covered, such as The Vatican. Comfortable walking shoes are a necessity!

Is it safe to drink the water?

Drinking water in many of the countries we will go to is safe as the quality of their water is good. We will provide bottled water for you in Bulgaria and Turkey

Cancellation Policy

In the event that YOU have to cancel your trip:

Before January 5 - $500 deposit is non-refundable
Before April 5 - $500 deposit is non-refundable as well as any payments that have already been made to vendors/airlines that are not refundable as we are required to make non-refundable deposits on your behalf to secure hotels, buses, guides and airfare.
After April 5 - all payments will be non-refundable

In the event that GLOBAL CELEBRATION cancels the tour**:

This is very unlikely to happen. However, if the tour must be cancelled because the US Government and the Israeli Government issue travel restrictions, below is the cancellation and refund policy:

Before January 5 - Full Refund (less $100 admin fee)
Before February 5 - Full Refund of Land Portion (less $250 admin fee) + airline credit for flight portion (if applicable)
Before March 5 - We will work to get Full Refund of Land Portion (subject to hotel cancellation policies + $250 fee) + airline credit for flight portion (subject to $275 cancellation fee)
After April 5 - We will do our best to get as large a refund as possible, but we cannot guarantee the amount as we must negotiate with hotels and ground providers as their official policies do not allow for refunds Purchasing Trip Cancellation Insurance may help cover you for any loss in this scenario as well, depending on the circumstance.

**We will also try to reschedule if at all possible.

Have more questions?

Email us: [email protected]
Or call the Global Celebration Missions Department directly at 717-395-9710 Ext 5.

DAY 1
Thursday, May 20

Our USA group will depart for Europe.

DAY 2
Friday, May 21

We will all meet up in Sofia, Bulgaria - the homeland of Georgian Banov. We will tour some of the city and learn about this beautiful country’s connection to Paul and its rich Christian heritage.

DAY 3
Saturday, May 22

It’s time to party with our beloved Gypsy family. We will start with a visit to Stara Zagora and then head to Kazanlak where we will receive hugs galore, play with the children and be a part of a service where you will see many healed and set free in Jesus!

DAY 4
Sunday, May 23

We will cut up more watermelon and bread than you have ever seen before as we go throughout the Kazanlak Gypsy community giving them some of their favorite food - including fat sheep stew!

DAY 5
Monday, May 24

The Bliss bus will take us to Kavalah where we will stay near the area that Paul landed his ship in Greece. Your hearts will be filled with revelation as The Banov’s and Simmons will teach and encourage us the entire bus ride.

DAY 6
Tuesday, May 25

We will start at a local location in Philippi for a time of teaching and then head to ThessalonikI with time to explore the city a bit.

DAY 7
Wednesday, May 26

We will visit the Museum of the Apostle Paul in Thessaloniki and have a time of teaching with Brian before catching a short flight to Athens where we will see Mars Hill, the Acropolis and take some time to see more amazing sites.

DAY 8
Thursday, May 27

Our day will start with a drive to Corinth and then back to Athens to catch an evening, overnight boat ride across the same waters Paul crossed to preach the gospel.

DAY 9
Friday, May 28

We will continue our journey to Ismer, Turkey and take in the sites, sounds and smells of these ancient cities.

DAY 10
Saturday, May 29

Visiting the sites of Ephesus we will see the School of Tyrannus, Where Paul taught in ancient Ephesus as well as the Great Theatre (Colosseum) where many saints lost their lives for the glory of Jesus.

DAY 11
Sunday, May 30

A short flight will take us to Istanbul where a day of beautiful experiences is being planned. It will also be a good day to catch up on some rest if needed.

DAY 12
Monday, May 31

Shopping at the Grand Bazaar? Check that off your bucket list! Enjoy another day of rest and fun in Istanbul.

DAY 13
Tuesday, June 1

A short early morning flight to Rome will start this very full day. We will visit Rome’s famous Colosseum, walk through The Forum and possibly take a peak inside the Mamertine Prison, where Paul was held when he was in Rome.

DAY 14
Wednesday, June 2

Today we will visit the Hippodrome (Martyrs Field), St. Paul’s Basilica and the Fountain of the Three Abbey’s. Learning more about Paul’s time in Rome and finding out via a special teaching from Winnie Coco Banov the importance of the Red Carpet.

DAY 15
Thursday, June 3

One more full day in Rome visiting the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, St. Peters Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. Your afternoon and evening will give you some free time to explore any other sites you may wish to see on your own.

DAY 16
Friday, June 4

Time to depart for home. What an incredible journey you will have experienced by this time. You will go home encouraged, refreshed and seeing so many things from a new perspective in the Lord.

We can’t wait to meet you! Join us this May 2021!

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