Monday 29th September - Saturday 4th October 2025

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Patmos is an island touched by Heaven. The setting of a vision of Jesus by the Apostle John which led to the writing the book of Revelation, this tiny island in the Greek Aegean sea is a unique blend of natural beauty and the hum of ancient piety. Voted by Forbes as ‘Europe’s most idyllic place to live’, the story of Patmos will be brought to life by this pilgrimage. We will spend time in timeless monasteries and churches discovering the rituals, art and culture of the richly fascinating Greek Orthodox church. Reflections on scripture and contemplative prayer time in flower-filled courtyards overlooking turquoise waters will be a way of drawing near to God while Mass, led by the retreat priest, will take place daily in various locations, from the beach to the breathtaking highest point on the Island, Mount Elijah. Based at the charming Skala Hotel, with its seawater pool and harbour front location, the pilgrimage promises to be a fun, relaxing and enriching experience in this most special of places.

This is one of our favourite pilgrimages, Patmos is an island touched by Heaven! We will take you to the beautiful islands of Greece where you can explore timeless monasteries and churches. This trip promises to be a fun, relaxing and enriching experience in the most special of places.

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Spend a week staying on the 'Saronic Gulf' looking east towards Athens right by the southern entrance to the Corinth Canal. Just a few metres from here is Kenchraei harbour where St Paul would have sailed into from Athens on his way to stay with the believers in Corinth from 50 - 52AD. Deacon Phoebe (mentioned in Romans 16) may have helped him along the way. Many of the remains of the once very busy harbour of Kenchraei lie just beneath the gently lapping sea and columns lie strewn along the beach - it is a very atmospheric place where it would be beautiful to say a few prayers. Being able to spend time studying the writings of St Paul in this stunning setting steeped in classical history is a very special and unique experience. Isthmia, the site of the Games mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, is just a few miles away and little visited. Its small museum is charming and the site is impressive. The Isthmian Games was a 3 day festival of athletics and music which took place at Poseidon's sanctuary on the Isthmus of Corinth. St Paul would have seen them in AD49 and AD51. Epidavros was an ancient site where people would come for healing from the god Apollo and his son Asclepius. Around this a theatre, stadium and other entertainments grew up. The early Christians recognised its importance and the remains of a Christian church can be seen there. The archaeological site of ancient Corinth is the site where St Paul preached and where he stood trial and accusations by the jews. High on the huge rock stands AcroCorinth a fortress castle originally a temple to Aphrodite.

Carlo Acutis was born in London in 1991 where his father was working then soon moved with his parents to Milan. He died on October 12, 2006 at just 15 years old after a battle with leukemia. He was beatified on October 10, 2020 and will be canonised on 27th April 2025. He saw the Eucharist as the "highway to heaven". In the early days of the internet he built a website cataloguing all the Eucharistic miracles throughout history which became the centre of the exhibition which since his death has travelled all around the world. Learn about the impressively sincere unwavering faith and deep devotion of this young 'cool kid' who was a gamer and computer programmer. He was always there for his young friends , he encouraged the faith of his parents and he is a huge inspiration to Catholics both young and old. Blessed Carlo said "Jesus Christ speaks to us within and we should listen to Him and follow Him in everything". After his First Communion, aged 7, Carlo never missed daily Mass, the Rosary and a moment of Eucharistic adoration.