Grand Tour 2022
Temple of Apollo in Delphi
The Temple of Apollo is an ancient temple located in Delphi filled with knowledge and history, that used to house the Oracle of Apollo. The people would give offerings to the gods there, and occasionally the priestess would perform rituals to tell a prophecy of someone. People would come from far and wide for the chance to learn what future lay in store for them. Inscribed on the temple is writing covering the entirety of the pillars and walls. Occasionally, slaves who were set free would inscribe their names on the wall to have the gods and the people as witnesses to their freedom. Now in ruins, though still a wonderful sight to behold, the grand pillars still stand as a testament to Greek architecture.
At the base of the hill where the temple stands is a museum filled with a wealth of history and artifacts. Our group toured the museum, starting with small artifacts that were recovered from the temple and culminating with beautiful statues from the height of Greco-Roman architecture. We were then led through the ruins of the temple and given time to explore and take pictures of the standing remains of the Temple of Apollo.
Visit to Mount Olympus
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken, but endures forever. As a mountain surrounded Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.
Psalms 125:1-2
There is no doubt in saying that the mountains are a special place of connection between God and his people in Scripture. They are thought to represent divine inspiration, pilgrimage, or spiritual elevation. We see this in the journey of the pilgrims in the psalms of ascent or when Jesus was transfigured on Mount Tabor before the disciples. Today we were able to visit and climb the famous Mount Olympus! Not only were we able to learn about its incredible aspects such as its grand height at 2918 m (Mytikas peak), but also the biblical symbolism and personal stories that the site holds. As elementary and secondary students, we have learned the significance and importance of the great gods and their dwelling place, Mount Olympus, where are the mortals of the world were able to reflect on their gods from down below. So, it was amazing to see, as believers, how the ancients were able to worship and meet with their gods and how we are able to meet our Lord and Savior on the mountaintops of Greece. This experience really allowed us to create a picture of and make various connections to all that we had learned in previous years. Mount Olympus is simply one of the most breathtaking places to ever experience as a senior class!
Visit to Thessaloniki
Today we stayed in Thessaloniki, it was one of the first places where Paul the Apostle preached. First we went to the Church of Saint Dimitrios. This church is a five-isled basilica. He is the patron Saint of Thessaloniki. He has a unique life story. He secretly became a Christian at a young age; this was not allowed because at the time they worshipped idolatry gods. The emperor tried to send St. Dimitrios to chase and kill all of the Christians, but St. Dimitrios did not. He stood firm in his faith and refused his emperor. The emperor, furious, threw him into prison where he continued to preach the word of God. Nestoras, a follower of St. Dimitrios, went down to prison and asked St. Dimitrios if he could fight for him in the gladiatorial games. He was going to face the emperor's athletic giant. St. Dimitrios agreed and Nestoras won! However, the emperor was enraged and had them both killed. The church is built over St. Dimitrios' body, and contains hidden remains. It is extremely beautiful, and encapsulates the beauty and glory of God. The main colors are mahogany and gold. They have a relic in which the bones of St. Dimitrios have been for hundreds of years. There were also many beautiful illustrations of mosaics and murals depicting important saints within the Church.
Later we went to the White Tower. This place has great historical value. It was built by the Ottoman Empire, and it was used as a prison. There were many people tortured and executed there. In fact, there was so much bloodshed there that the walls were stained from the blood of the people who were kept prisoners there. As time went on, the "bloody" tower was whitewashed to change the reputation of it. 
Snowball Fight in Berea
Snow! Something people from Hawaii do not see often. Well today we got to see a ton of it. The first thing we did was that we all grabbed coffee in Berea. Then from there we visited the statue of the Apostle Paul. It was interesting to finally put a face on this legendary icon. The final place we visited was Philip's tomb. The coolest part was seeing his original armor from battle. The highlight was the snowball fight at the end of the museum tour. It was a great bonding experience with the other class traveling with us (especially the boys). All of the boys had an all out, long-ranged war with snow balls. The rest of the day everyone had free time and was exhausted from the eventful day in paradise!