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“In
His Footsteps”
8
Days / 7 Nights
Day
1:
Arrival
Arrive to
the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv where you will be met and assistance
provided though customs formalities.
Transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv for Overnight
Day
2:
Jaffa – Caesarea – Haifa – Acre
This
morning we will visit the ancient port of Joppa (Jaffa), which has a
recorded history of 3500 years. Here Peter raised Dorcas to life, He had
his vision of the Great Sheet and Cornelius was converted. Here also was
the home of the Tanner. We will continue along the Coast to
Caesarea, Built by Herod the Great as the Capital of Palestine and Named
after his benefactor Augustus. Pontius Pilate occupied the governor’s
residence. In the House of Cornelius, the Centurion Peter preached to a
gentile congregation. St. Paul passed through Caesarea several times he
was sent here for trial by Felix. He was imprisoned here for 2 years
before making his defense to Festes and Agrippa. From here he was send in
Chains to Rome. After our visit we will return to the Coastal Highway to
drive on to the natural port of Haifa, we will hold Mass at the Carmelite
Monastery of St. Elijah on Mt. Carmel before we stop for a panoramic view
of the City and a visit of the Bahai Shrine. Later we will continue to the
Ancient port of Acre – (New Testament “Ptolemais”), first mentioned
by name in the annals of the Pharaoh Thutmoses III 3500 years ago. After
viewing this picturesque city with its famous underground excavations and
crypt of St. John we will proceed to a Kibbutz Guest house in the Galilee
for Dinner and Overnight
Day
3:
Caesarea Philippi – Tiberias – Capernaum – Tabgha – Mt. Beatitudes
This
morning we will drive to the Golan, Stopping at Caesarea Philippi (Banias),
one the sources of the Jordan river which Jesus visited shortly before his
crucifixion. Peter was rebuked nearby. We continue to Birkat Ram, a
natural lake in a non volcanic crater. Later we will return to the shores
of the Sea Of Galilee and drive directly to Tiberias for a Lunch of St.
Peter’s fish at a lakeside restaurant. After lunch we will sail across
the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, where Jesus made his home and Began
preaching in the Synagogue, also where healed the centurion’s servant.
Afterwards we will visit the Mt. of the Beatitudes, Site of Jesus’
“Sermon of The Mount”. We will celebrate Mass overlooking the Sea of
Galilee. This afternoon we continue on to Tabgha site of the Miracle Of
The Multiplication of the Loaves and The Fishes. Later we will return to
our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day
4:
CANA – Nazareth – Mt. Tabor – Beit Shean – Jericho – Jerusalem
This
morning we drive to the village of Cana, scene of the Jesus’ first
Miracle, turning water into wine at the marriage feast, we then continue
to Nazareth where Jesus spent his childhood and youth where he worked as a
carpenter. Nazareth was the residence of Mary and Joseph. From here they
journeyed 85 miles south to Bethlehem for the Roman enrollment. We will
visit the Church of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well. Later we drive to
Mt. Tabor, believed to be the site of the Transfiguration and the meeting
between Jesus, Elijah and Moses.
We will celebrate Mass at the Juncture of the territory of Issachar,
Zeblun and Naphtali.
After Mass we will drive south via Beit Shean and through the Jordan
Valley to Jericho (One the oldest cities in the world).
Here we will visit the Tel with its remains of the ancient city
wall and we will view the remains of the Caliph Hisham’s Palace. Lastly
we will continue on to Jerusalem for our overnight stay. On the way we
will see the Inn of the Good Samaritan the Home of Lazarus, Martha and
Mary where Jesus restored Lazarus to life. We will also visit the Tomb of
Lazarus before entering Jerusalem from the East.
Overnight Jerusalem
Day
5:
Hills of Jerusalem – Bethlehem – Ein Karem – New Jerusalem
We
begin our tour at the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem.
Then we visit the Chapel of Ascension and the Paternoster Church. Walk
through the Gardens of Gethsemane to the Basilica of Agony, where Jesus
prayed and sweated drops of blood as he waited to be betrayed to the
Romans. We then continue to Mary’s Tomb and drive through the Kidron
Valley to the House of Caiphas on Mt. Zion. This was the scene of Jesus’
first trial and here peter denied the Lord three times. Visit the Room of
the Last Supper, King David’s Tomb and the Dormition Abbey.
We
will then proceed to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity which
is built over the Grotto where Jesus was Born. On our way we will pas by
the shepherd’s Field, where
according to Gospel of Luke, the angel brought the shepherds ‘ tidings
of the birth of the Christ Child. After lunch we will visit Ein Karem,
birthplace of John the Baptist and see the church of St. Jh
and the Church of Visitation.
We now start our drive back through New Jerusalem, passing along the
Knesset, the Hebrew University, The Israel Museum and the Shrine of the
Book (This is where the Dead Sea scrolls are exhibited). We will also pass
the Monastery of the Cross- it is believed that the wood of the cross was
taken from here. Proceed to your hotel for Dinner and Overnight
Day
6:
Old City of Jerusalem
This
morning we enter the City for a walking tour of the holy sites. We Visit
the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus cured an invalid man, we then continue
to the prateorium, site of Jesus’ public trial and condemnation. We view
the ancient remains of the fortress of Antonia, seat of the Roman
procurator. We later proceed to the Temple Mount to view the Dome of The
Rock, and the Western Wall. We will walk along the Via Dolorosa, passing
the 14 stations of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, erected
on the site of the crucifixion, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus. We visit
the Christian quarters and other Holy sites.
We then wind down through the exotic oriental bazaar to Jaffa Gate. After
lunch the rest of the day is at leisure to roam the street of Jerusalem or
to shop
Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Jerusalem
Day
7:
Judean Wilderness – Qumran – Dead Sea – Ein Gedi – Massada
Today
we depart Jerusalem traveling across the Judean Wilderness East to the
Shores of the Dead Sea, (the lowest point in earth – 390 meter below sea
level). Here we visit the caves of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were
discovered in 1947. later drive past Ein Gedi, the green oasis in the
desert, to the ancient fortress of Massada, at this site 960 Jewish
zealots committed suicide rather than surrender to the Roman army. We will
ascend by Cable Car to view the remains of the Roman Wall, the water
system, the Roman baths storerooms, synagogues etc…
If time and weather permits we will go for a swim in the Dead Sea. Then
return to the hotel for dinner and Overnight
Day
8:
Departure
After
breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight home (B)
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