PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND

 

DAY 1 – Departure.

DAY 2 – Arrive at Tel Aviv Airport.
Meet your local guide who will escort you to  our  hotel in Netania.

DAY 3 – THE SHARON PLAIN AND GALILEE
Our pilgrimage will begin where the baptism of Gentiles began and where the Romans held Paul prisoner: at Caesarea Maritima. We then drive to Muhraka (”burnt offering”) on Mt. Carmel, with the panorama of the Plain of Jezreel. Here we focus on the confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. In Haifa, visit Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery with the Madonna of Mt Carmel where we celebrate Mass.  Drive through the Carmel Mountains heading for the Galilee for dinner and overnight.

DAY 4 – THE LOWER GALILEE
Drive to Cana, the village of Jesus' first miracle of changing water into wine; here couples may renew their wedding vows. Continue to the Basilica of Annunciation in Nazareth where we will celebrate Mass and visit Mary's Well and the Church of the Angel Gabriel. Continue on to Mt Tabor. Ascend Mt. Tabor with taxis for a visit at the Church of Transfiguration.  Dinner and overnight in the Galilee.

DAY 5 – SEA OF GALILEE
Begin the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Continue to Capernaum, center of Jesus’ Ministry. Located here are the ruins of an ancient synagogue and the site of Peter’s house.  Proceed to Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fish, visit the 5th century Byzantine basilica. Ascend the Mount of Beatitudes—where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount. Here, we celebrate Mass. Before returning to your hotel stop at Yardenit on the shores of the Jordan River to renew Baptismal promises. Overnight Galilee.

DAY 6 – JUDEA
Drive to Judean desert, on route view the Inn of the Good Samaritan. Short stop at sea-level and continue to Jericho – the oldest city in the world. Stop at Zacheus Sycamore, the oldest Sycamore tree which Zacheus climbed in order to see Jesus walking by. We will visit the Mound of Ancient Jericho where 25 ancient cities were uncovered. Jericho was founded at 8000 B.E.C and famous from the biblical story in which spies where hosted there. Jericho is also the oldest Jewish settlement, captured by Joshua and Israel in 1200 B.E.C. Stop for overview of Mt. Temptation where the Satan tried to tempt Jesus and overview on the oasis of Jericho and Elisha’s spring. Overnight in the Dead Sea area.

DAY 7 – DEAD SEA- DAY AT LEISURE
Drive via Ein Gedi and Qumran, overview the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. In the afternoon relax and float in the mineral-rich Dead Sea – at 400m. below sea level, the lowest place on earth. Take a mud-bath! And benefit from the therapeutic qualities of the natural Dead Sea mud. Overnight in the Dead Sea area.

DAY 8 –  MASADA-JERUSALEM
Visit Massada  the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D.  Ascend Mt. Massada by cable car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system and Herod’s Palace. Descend by cable car. Transfer to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

DAY 9 – JERUSALEM
First view is from the Mount of Olives where we will be introduced to the Holy City of Jerusalem. We then descend the Palm Sunday Road, stopping at the Church of Dominus Flevit where Jesus wept as he viewed Jerusalem and prophesized its destruction. On  to The Garden of Gethsemane with its ancient olive trees recalling the agony of Jesus’ last night. We visit the Church of All Nations where celebrate Mass. Continue to The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu which is built over the home of Caiphas the High Priest. Visit the traditional dungeon and climb the 2,000 year-old steps on which Jesus surely walked several times on the last days of his life.  We conclude on Mount Zion at King David’s Tomb and The Upper Room, where traditionally the Last Supper took place. Back to our hotel for dinner and overnight

DAY 10 – EIN KAREM & BETHLEHEM
Full day  excursion to  Ein Karem and the Church of Visitation connected  with  the  Blessed Virgin Mary , St  Elizabeth and St  John  the Baptist.  Proceed to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity where we  celebrate Mass. Continue on  to the Shepard’s  Fields. Overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 11 – JERUSALEM
 Today we visit the Old City of Jerusalem. We enter through Flowers Gate and walk to the Bethesda Pools where Jesus cured the palsied man, and St. Anne’s Church.. Travel to Mount Zion and  visit the Dormition Abbey, marking one of the traditional sites of Mary’s eternal rest. We then walk via the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall—Judaism’s most-sacred site. Back to our hotel for dinner and overnight

DAY 12 – JERUSALEM- VIA DOLOROSA
In the very early morning take up our cross and walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher—traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial, where we celebrate  Mass. Return to our hotel for breakfast.
Day at leisure at Jerusalem. Farewell dinner and Airport transfer to Tel Aviv.


YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
• Round trip flights
• accommodation as per the itinerary:
  1 O/N  Netania,  3 O/N Galilee, 2 O/N Dead Sea, 5 O/N Jerusalem
• Breakfast and dinner daily
• All transfers by private motor coach
• All entrance fees
• Guide and tour escort
• Catholic Priest and Mass daily


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