Journey of Faith. Hosted by Fr Christopher Metropulos & Fr. Steven Zorzos

Transcription

1 Journey of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land 2014 Hosted by Fr Christopher Metropulos & Fr. Steven Zorzos

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3 Journey of Faith A PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND

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5 Contents A Word from Fr. Christopher Itinerary Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Day Trip Appendix The Holy Land at the Time of Jesus Christ Taking a Journey in the Holy Land Through Holy Scripture

6 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Welcome, fellow pilgrims, to our journey. Dear Fellow Pilgrim, On behalf of Orthodox Christian Network (OCN) and your fellow pilgrims, parishioners of Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Washington, DC, as well as others, Father Steve and I welcome you to our pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a spiritual journey which promises to be life changing. We are exceedingly humbled, and grateful, you have chosen to join us. We pray we live up to the full measure of your trust in us as your group leaders, and this pilgrimage forever remains the most unforgettable experience of your religious life. This book has been prepared for your reading and study before we leave for the Holy Land on March 5, Please read it with an eager mind, but most especially, with heartfelt desire. We are also preparing a CD of the sacred hymns of our Church, chanted by Master Chanter George Theodorides of the Saint Sophia Cathedral, Washington, DC, which are pertinent to the specific pilgrimage sites we plan to visit. Truly, in the hymnology of the Church, a specific, sacred place on earth intersects infinity, while a specific, sacred moment in time intersects eternity. Several orientation meetings are planned to be held before we set out on our journey, both to better prepare you and to prompt any questions you may have. You will be hearing from us about these meetings very shortly. Please remember we journey on sacred pilgrimage to the Holy Land during the Great Lent of Pascha. We ask you then to pray, fast, and seek Confession prior to our trip, in order to acquire a state of spiritual preparedness, so that together, as brother and sister pilgrims, we with one mind confess, and put away all worldly care, so that we may receive the King of All. May God grant us all a wondrously illuminating pilgrimage. Fathers Chris & Steve 4

7 ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN NETWORKTM JOIN OCN FOR... A JOURNEY OF FAITH a pilgrimage to the holy land Led by Reverend Dr. Christopher T. Metropulos, Protopresbyter & Presiding Priest of Saint Demetrios Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Executive Director of O.C.N., and Reverend Dr. Steven P. Zorzos, Protopresbyter & Presiding Priest of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Washington D.C. 10 Days/8 nights * March 5-14, 2014 YOUR TOUR WILL INCLUDE: Round trip transatlantic international air from D.C. Dulles or Ft. Lauderdale to Israel via Newark First class hotel accommodations: two nights in Tiberias & six nights in Jerusalem including all taxes and service fees Daily breakfast & dinner 7 days of sightseeing in air-conditioned motor coach with English speaking guide specializing in Orthodox sites & entrance fees. Private audience with the His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem (subject to confirmation) Midnight Divine Liturgy at Church of the Holy Sepulcher (subject to confrimation) All private arrival and departure transfers with English-speaking guide * Itinerary, hotels and/or flights subject to change Newtown Avenue, Long Island City, N.Y Tel: Toll Free: Fax: info@cloudtours.com 5

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9 Day 1 TEL AVIV Day 1 Today, depart for an unforgettable and fulfilling spiritual odyssey! Depart either from Ft. Lauderdale or Washington Dulles airport on United Airlines via Newark to Tel Aviv 7

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12 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Day 2 Tel Aviv Tiberias Arrive in Tel Aviv. Welcome to the Holy Land! After clearing Immigration, a Cloud Tours representative will meet and assist with our baggage and through Customs. Transfer to your motor coach and drive to Tiberias, a drive of approximately two hours. Upon arrival in Tiberias, check in to your hotel. Your hotel is located by the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias at your hotel. Dinner and overnight at the Gai Beach Hotel (B,D) (Attire: Casual) 10

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14 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Day 3 TIBERIAS CAPERNAUM RIVER JORDAN TIBERIAS After breakfast, drive to the Mountain of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount and where the Lord s Prayer was said for the first time. Follow in the actions of the Lord with a Gospel reading of the Sermon on the Mount. Then, on to Tabgha (Greek for Seven Springs) and the Church of the Multiplication of Fishes and Loaves. It is here that the miracle of the loaves and fish took place. Over 5,000 men, women and children were fed from the miraculous multiplication of the five loaves of bread and two fish. 12

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17 Day 3 Day 3 Capernaum Then continue to Capernaum. In the times of Christ, the city of Capernaum was the headquarters of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. It is here in Capernaum that our Lord and Savior chose and called forth His Apostles, and where He preached and performed miracles such as the healing of the paralytic, the mother-in-law of Apostle Peter, the servant of the centurion and many others. Walk in the same village Jesus did. See the remains of the House of St Peter, one of the very few exact sites we know Jesus visited. A Franciscan Church has been built over the ruins of the house. See the ruins of the synagogue where Our Lord preached. You will also visit St. Peter s Greek Orthodox Church. The church was built in the early 20th Century and commemorates the teachings and miracles of Christ at Capernaum using traditional Orthodox-style frescoes to recount the New Testament stories. 15

18 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Continue with a visit to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles. Enjoy the peaceful setting of this beautiful church with its red domes. 16

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20 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Enjoy an optional lunch of St. Peter s Fish before taking a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus met Simon, Peter, James and John, his first disciples, here and performed many miracles. He stilled the raging storm on the Sea of Galilee that was about to flood their boat and walked on the stormy sea to His Apostles. 18

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22 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Our last stop will be a stop at the Yardenit on the river Jordan, the Baptismal site for Spiritual Baptism and Agiasmos. Experience an affirmation of your baptism in the same river that our Lord was baptized by Saint John the Baptist, 2000 years ago. (You may purchase or rent a white robe to wear into the Jordan River for your Spiritual Baptism. A bathing suit can be worn below the robe. Lockers are available to change.) Dinner and overnight in Tiberias at the Gai Beach Hotel. (B, D) (Attire: Casual but appropriate for Holy Sights. Bring your bathing suit and flip flops.) 20

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27 Tiberias Mt. Tabor Cana Nazareth Jerusalem Day 4 After breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive to Mt. Tabor and the Church of the Transfiguration. At the foot of Mt. Tabor is the little village of Nain where Jesus raised the only son of the poor widow from the dead. Take a taxi to the top of Mt. Tabor. There, see an utterly commanding view of all of lower Galilee, and the Valley of the Armageddon. It was here that Jesus revealed the wonderful power of presence in communion with prophets of the past (Moses and Elijah). This also became immediate evidence of Communion with His Father. Visit the site of the Transfiguration where the Transfiguration of our Lord took place. Enter the Church of Transfiguration and pray. 25

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30 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land After descending down by taxis, we board our bus and drive to Cana and the Greek Orthodox Church where our Lord performed his first public miracle. He turned water into wine to spare the bridegroom the embarrassment of running out of wine at his wedding party 28

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35 Day 4 Day 4 Nazareth Then, drive to Nazareth, one of the holiest towns in Christendom. This city was the home of Mary, Joseph and Jesus until the beginning of His ministry. Jesus spent some years of His youth here after returning to Israel from Egypt and until His public ministry began. Visit the Virgin Mary s Well, where the Angel Gabriel told Mary she would give birth to our Lord, Jesus Christ. The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation is built over this site. 33

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44 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Time permitting, on our way to Jerusalem, we will drive down the Roman road of Wadi Kelt for an overview or visit of St. George of Cosiba Monastery built deep in the Wadi Kelt Gorge. Walk down to visit this beautiful Monastery. Visit Holy Mary s cave where the Prophet Elias was fed by the crows. THE MONASTERY OF ST GEORGE KOZIBAH AT WADI KELT This Greek Orthodox Monastery, built on the side of the Wadi Kelt, is the site of many caves and hermitages that have been inhabited by many saintly monks since the 4th century. We learn from the "Protoevangelion of St. James" (late 1st century) that Joachim, the father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, tended his flock of sheep here. He prayed to have a child and it was revealed to him that, when he would return to his home, his wife Anna would conceive in her old age. St. George the Kosivite was from Cyprus and became monk at this monastery, which was dedicated to the Holy Theotokos. He died on January 8th, 614 AD, right before the devastating Persian invasion, when many monks were martyred and many churches destroyed. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem at the Dan Boutique Hotel. (B, D) (Attire: Casual but appropriate for Holy Sights.) 42

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46 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Day 5 Jerusalem After breakfast this morning, we visit to the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and private audience with His Beatitude Theophilos III (subject to confirmation). Afterwards, visit the Church of St. Anne (birthplace of the Theotokos) and within its grounds are the Pools of Bethesda. These are the pools located near the sheep gate where the Lord cured the paralytic. Archeologists have uncovered all of the pools and the 5 porticoes as was reported by St. John in the Gospel. We will walk along the Way of the Cross. 44

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51 Day 5 Proceed to visit the Prison of Christ (Praetorian). Venerate at the same cell the Lord was held prisoner before His crucifixion. It is located deep in a dungeon. There is a slab of stone with two holes through which His legs were passed and ankles shackled together. The cells of Barabas and the two thieves, who were crucified with Him, are here. In the church is a large wooden cross (275 years old) which is taken out of the church on Good Friday and is walked down the streets, as Christ himself did, ending at the Holy Sepulcher. 49

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67 Day 5 Continue your walk to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site of His death and resurrection. This is the most important church for Christians. We climb the stairs to reach Golgotha, the place of the crucifixion. Over the site, a main altar has been built and is under the care of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. You may reach through a case and touch the place that held the Holy Cross. To the right of the altar is a split in the rock floor where the Lord finally took His last breath. Take a moment to reflect in this Holy Place and to feel the spirit engulf you and appreciate all that Our Lord has given you and your loved ones. At the bottom of the stairs, as you leave the Chapel of the Golgotha, is the site where the body of Christ was placed after he was taken down from the cross. It is covered by a slab of stone where you can venerate. A tradition is to bless pictures of family and loved ones, as well as any religious items purchased, on the slab by making the sign of the cross. Then, we are led to the site of the Tomb, the place of the Lord s resurrection. A small chapel has been built over the sacred place under the watch of Greek Orthodox monks. In the first small room is the great stone that sealed the tomb. It was here that the Angel of the Lord sat proclaiming the resurrection of the Christ from the dead. The next small room contained the slab of stone on which the dead body of the Lord was placed entombed and resurrected. A truly incredible experience to be in this church! Visit the Tomb of Nicodemos and time permitting a visit will also be made to the Western Wall (Wailing Wall), Judaism's holiest site. Some free time for shopping at the Christian quarters before returning to the hotel. (Attire: Casual but appropriate for visiting His Beatitude Theophilos III and holy sites. Wear very comfortable shoes as you will be walking through the old city all day. ) Dinner and overnight at the Dan Boutique Hotel in Jerusalem. (B, D) 65

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78 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Attend midnight Liturgy at the Holy Sepulcher for a truly unforgettable and spiritually fulfilling Evening (subject to confirmation) This is also the best time to visit Golgotha, the place of the crucifixion, and the Tomb of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. You will be visiting these sites again another day but tonight, there will be no tourists and it will be quiet and solemn. (For midnight Liturgy, casual church attire and flat /comfortable shoes.) 76

79 Day 6 Jerusalem Bethlehem Jerusalem Day 6 After breakfast, depart the hotel and drive southwest to the village of Ein Karem, the birth place of St. John the Baptist. Continue for Bethlehem, the birthplace of our Lord and Savior Ein Karem 77

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81 Day 6 Day 6 Bethlehem Continue to the cradle of biblical history, Bethlehem, which is located five and half miles from Jerusalem. No town in the world has such a glorious history as Bethlehem. Visit the Shepherd s field and the Church of the Nativity. A Greek Orthodox Church has been built over the birthplace of Our Lord by the Emperor Justinian and is over 1, 500 years old. It is the second oldest Orthodox Church in existence. It was not destroyed by the Persians, as they saw a mosaic of the Magi dressed in Persian wear over the front door. Venerate and touch the actual ground where Jesus was born. A few feet away are the Holy Manger. See the Cave of St. Jerome. Bethlehem: photo taken by By Hans Mast 79

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90 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land On the way back to Jerusalem, visit the Monastery and Church of the Prophet Elias and the Church and Tomb of St. Symeon, the Just. In addition, visit the Monastery of the Holy Cross. Return to Jerusalem and our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem at the Dan Boutique. (Attire: Casual but appropriate for visiting holy sites. (B, D) 88

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92 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Day 7 Jerusalem After breakfast, begin your tour of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives to enjoy a breathtaking view of the Holy City. Jerusalem, a 4,000 year old city, is the center of the three main monotheistic faiths and the place where our Lord sacrificed Himself for our salvation. Drive to the Chapel of Ascension, the site our Lord ascended from the earth to heaven. According to our religion, it is here where the second coming will take place and both the living and dead will be raised before Him for judgment. 90

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96 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Continue to Gethsemane to visit the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Agony. Only the Apostles knew He often went to the Garden of Agony to pray in solitude. Here, Judas led the authorities to Him. In the Garden, our Lord prayed to God, the Father, before He was betrayed, arrested and crucified. In the church, there is a stone slab for pilgrims to venerate. It is here our Lord prayed with great passion before He was to endure the selfless sacrifice to come. 94

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99 Day 7 Continue with a visit to the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. It is from this site that the holy body of the Virgin Mother was taken into heaven by her Son and God. Descend across the Kidron Valley to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu where the Apostle denied Christ three times. 97

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103 Day 7 Continue to Martha and Lazarus Tomb in Bethany where Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus after 4 days in the tomb. The Lord wanted to establish His power over death and waited until Lazarus was confirmed dead before raising him from the dead. Dinner and overnight at the Dan Boutique Hotel in Jerusalem. (Attire: Casual but appropriate for visiting holy sites.) 101

104 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Day 8 Jerusalem Jericho Jerusalem This morning, we will drive south through the Jordan Valley heading towards Jericho. Drive around Jericho to visit the Monastery of St. Gerasimos Iordanitis, one of the oldest monasteries of the world, built by Abbot Gerasimos in 455. It was originally a cave. According to tradition, it was here that the Virgin Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus rested for one night during their long journey to Egypt. 102

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106 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Day 8 Jericho We then drive to Jericho and the Mount of Temptation. The bare, rough and rocky landscape of the Mount of Temptation stands above the oasis of Jericho. Take a cable car up to the Mount (Sarantarion Oros). The monastery was built during the second half of the last century on the site of an ancient church. It was on this mountain where the Lord was tempted by the devil and fasted for forty days and forty nights. There is an altar built over the same slab of stone where Jesus prayed and fasted. There is only one elderly monk who takes care of it. He is truly inspirational. 104

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108 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Day 8 Jericho Stop for lunch and an opportunity to purchase products from the Dead Sea. View the nearby Spring of Prophet Elisha. Continue to the Church of St. Elisseos and Zacchaeus Tree. This is the tree upon which Zacchaeus climbed in order to see the Lord walk by. 106

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111 Day 8 Day 8 Dead Sea Continue by driving south to the Dead Sea to float in its famous salty waters! Return to the beautiful city of Jerusalem where we will enjoy dinner and overnight at the Dan Boutique Hotel. (Attire: Casual but appropriate for visiting holy sites.) (B, D) 109

112 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Day 9 The Monasteries of St Theodosius & St Saba After breakfast, depart for Theodosius Monastery, founded in 476. There, the founder of the Monastery, Saint Theodosius, a monk from Cappadocia, is buried. Tradition has it that Saint Theodosius was led by God to seek out a cave where the three Wise Men rested after paying homage to the Infant Jesus, and after the angel had warned them to return to their country via another road. From there, drive deeper in the Judean Wilderness to the Monastery of Mar Saba founded in 5th Century by monk Saba overlooking the Kidron Valley. It is considered to be one of the oldest inhabited monasteries in the world, and still maintains many of its ancient traditions. One in particular is the restriction on women entering the main compound. The only building that women can enter is the Women's Tower, near the main entrance. There will be a request to the monks to bring the relics of St.Sava to the women to venerate. (Attire: Casual but appropriate for visiting religious sites.)dinner and overnight at the Dan Boutique Jerusalem (B,D) 110

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115 Day 9 PRAYER AT THE END OF THE PILGRIMAGE Father, we give thanks to You for this pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and for our fellow travelers on this journey. We have walked in the land where Your Son, Jesus Christ, walked. We have touched the soil and rocks where the seed fell. We have seen the lilies of the field and have heard the birds of the air. We have been warmed by the sun that warmed Him and cooled by the breezes that touched His Face. We have been to the Sea where He walked and to the river where He was baptized. We have felt the Presence of the Holy Spirit where He first sent It. We have anguished at the place where He gave Himself for us. We have rejoiced at the emptiness of His Tomb and the fullness of His Love in our hearts. Hear our prayers for the reconciliation of our Beloved Church, East and West, which has been estranged too long. Let our petitions to the Holy Virgin Mary and to the Holy Apostles Peter and Andrew, as well as to the Holy James, first Bishop of Your Holy City of Jerusalem, come pleasingly to Your ears. Be with us as we continue on our earthly pilgrimage to the New Jerusalem where every tear will be wiped away and we will be with You, Your Son and Your Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen. 113

116 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land Day 10 Jerusalem Tel Aviv USA Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the USA on United airlines nonstop to Newark with connections to either Ft. Lauderdale or Washington Dulles (Attire: Casual)(B) 114

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120 Journey Of Faith A Pilgrimage To The Holy Land The Holy Land at the Time of Jesus Christ For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Deuteronomy 8:

121 Taking a Journey in the Holy Land Through Holy Scripture 119

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126 ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN NETWORKTM Photo by: Fr Maxim Massalitin