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Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Day 1 - USA / Tel Aviv
Our pilgrimage begins today as we depart on our overnight flight to the Holy Land. Meals and drinks served aloft.
Day 2 - Tel Aviv/ Jerusalem
After arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, we will be met by our local guide who will arrange the schedules of our visits and make the scripture come alive as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Drive to our hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 3 - Jerusalem
This morning, drive to the top of the Mt. of Olives for a spectacular view of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of Pater Noster, the Chapel of Ascension, and then walk the "Palm Sunday Road" to Dominus Flevit, where Our Lord wept over Jerusalem. Continue to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations for Mass on the Rock of Agony. This afternoon, enter the Old City of Jerusalem through St. Stephen's Gate. Visit the Church of St. Anne, the Pool of Bethesda, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and Arch of the "Ecce Homo". Follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Visit Golgotha and the Tomb of the Risen Savior.
Day 4 - Jerusalem
Drive to Bethlehem for Mass. Above the traditional Grotto of Jesus' birth, visit the Nativity Church, built by the Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. Also tour the Manger, Grotto of St. Jerome, the Church of St. Catherine, and the Shepherd's Fields. This afternoon, drive to Mt. Zion to visit the Cenacle or Upper Room. Then survey the Dormition Abbey and St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Jesus three times.
Day 5 - Jerusalem
After Mass, visit the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Temple Area, the Dome of the Rock, el Aqsa Mosque, and the Wailing Wall. Enter the restored Jewish Quarter and walk along the excavated Cardo, once a main street of ancient Jerusalem. Enjoy touring the Herodian Mansions, a complex of villas from 2000 years ago before returning to our hotel. In the afternoon, drive through the New City of Jerusalem to Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist, to see the Visitation Church where Mary proclaimed her famous "Magnificat". The remainder of the afternoon will be free.
Day 6 - Jerusalem
After an early Mass at the Tomb of Our Lord, return to our hotel for breakfast. Following breakfast, proceed to Bethany to visit the site of the House of Mary, Martha & Lazarus and the Tomb of Lazarus. Continue through the Judean Wilderness and along the Dead Sea to Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Return to Jerusalem. The remainder of the afternoon will be free to enjoy Jerusalem on our own. This evening a special "Farewell Jerusalem" dinner will be arranged in our honor at a typical Middle Eastern restaurant.
Day 7 - Jerusalem / Tiberias
Leave Jerusalem for Tiberias. En route visit Jericho, the oldest known city in the Western world. From the top of the ancient "tel", we'll have an excellent view of Elisha's Fountain, the Qarantal and the Mount of Temptation. Drive through the Jordan Valley and along the shores of the Sea of Galilee to visit the Baptismal site at the River Jordan. Next, enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry. After visiting the Synagogue where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Drive up to the Mt. of the Beatitudes for Mass at the site of the Sermon on the Mount. Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 8 - Tiberias
Following breakfast, drive to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed the first miracle - changing water into wine at the wedding feast. Here, we'll invite couples to renew their wedding vows. Following Mass in Nazareth, visit Joseph's Workshop and the Cave of the Annunciation. There is ample time to walk in the streets of Our Lord's boyhood town. An afternoon excursion takes us to the summit of Mt. Tabor to see the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus.
Day 9 - Tiberias / Netanya
Leave Tiberias for Netanya. On the way tour the sparkling port city of Haifa. Ascend Mount Carmel, home of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, for Mass. Afterwards, continue along the Mediterranean coast to ancient Caesarea. Here, St. Peter preached and St. Paul was imprisoned for two years. Visit the Roman Theater, Crusader's Moat and the Byzantine Churches. Our drive continues through the Valley of Sharon to Netanya where our last night in the Holy Land will be spent at this lovely beach resort on the Mediterranean.
Day 10 - Netanya / Tel Aviv / USA
Today our Holy Land pilgrimage comes to an end. Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv for our return flight home.
The above itinerary is only a small taste of what we have to offer. Customized itineraries and competitive quotations will be furnished upon request.
Additional itineraries are available at our Information Center.
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