PILGRIMAGE TO THE. Holy Land. February 29, 2020 through March 12, 2020

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1 PILGRIMAGE TO THE Holy Land February 29, 2020 through March 12, 2020

2 Dear friends, Susalee and I are honored to be leading another St. George s Pilgrimage to the Holy Land next winter in Lent. The dates for this pilgrimage are February 29 March 12, We welcome your interest in this rare opportunity to visit the most holy sites for Christians in the entire world. This will be my fifth St. George s journey to the Holy Land, and the overwhelming testimony of our past pilgrims is that the experience is truly unforgettable. This brochure lays out a carefully considered itinerary that includes holy sites in the Galilee, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, as well as a visit to Petra in Jordan. As with our highly impactful 2018 Holy Land pilgrimage, we are again working with Connoisseurs Tours who has extensive experience planning such pilgrimages. I assure you our accommodations will be comfortable and that our days thoughtfully planned. In fact, we have made some modest improvements to the itinerary of last fall that include a couple of newer hotels. We have secured the services of guide Yusef Eideh with whom we have led several pilgrimages in the past. He is warm-spirited, extremely knowledgeable, and a devout Christian. Good physical mobility is required as there will be much walking on some days. If you use a cane or walker to get around, this pilgrimage is not recommended. As space is limited, St. George s parishioners will receive first consideration in the registration process. It is our expectation that we may have a group of parishioners participate. You may note the intentional use of the term pilgrimage in this brochure. This trip is not merely a tour or sight-seeing excursion. A pilgrimage is about spiritual growth and discovery through a journey to sacred places. And the Holy Land is unlike any other place on the planet. As has been felt by pilgrims to Israel for centuries, and as we can testify from personal experience, it is impossible not to ask one s self over and over, did he walk here where I am standing? If you are able to go, we hope you will give this pilgrimage serious consideration. I am confident that the experience will enliven your faith, dramatically increase your knowledge of the Bible, and inspire you for greater ministry upon your return. It will also provide an unforgettable occasion to deepen relationships with fellow pilgrims from the parish. We will be active throughout each day but will have a lot of fun too! Again, there is a limited number of spaces. Please be in touch with Executive Assistant, Claudia Taylor, ( , Claudia.taylor@ stgeorgesnashville.org) soon to reserve your spot or to ask any questions. Or, you can directly access the registration link on our website at Again, Susalee and I are very excited and privileged to share this experience with you. Yours in Christ, Susalee and Leigh 2

3 DAY 1: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 - DEPART HOME Depart for Tel Aviv. Connoisseurs Tours Concierge Air Service can assist each traveler with securing airline tickets from their home city to and from Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast provided in air. Those who prefer to arrive one day early will depart on February 28th and will arrive in Tel Aviv the afternoon of February 29th. A Pre- Tour overnight stay at the Renaissance Tel Aviv* can be arranged by Connoisseurs Tours and includes meet and greet transfers from the Tel Aviv airport to the Renaissance Hotel, all taxes and breakfast. *Overnight accommodations at the Renaissance for the night of February 29th are at an additional cost and are not included in the tour price. DAY 2: SUNDAY, MARCH 1 - ARRIVE IN TEL AVIV, MEET-AND-GREET Upon arrival at Tel Aviv s Ben Gurion Airport, we will be met by our guide and transferred to the Renaissance Hotel in Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight. Our hotel is located on the Mediterranean with breathtaking views of the coastline. (Welcome Reception and Dinner) 3

4 DAY 3: MONDAY, MARCH 2 - CAESAREA MARITIMA/NAZARETH/CANA We will depart our hotel in the morning. Our first stop is Caesarea Maritima. This most amazing Roman ruin of a man-made harbor city of Roman times saw Paul argue his defense against Agrippa. When Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, the prefect of the province also traveled to Caesarea Maritima to ensure order was kept. His name was Pontius Pilate. Until recently, Pilate s existence was known only through literary sources, but a recently discovered stone bears the inscription Pontius Pilatus, of Judea, clearly demonstrating Pilate s position and administrative authority. Later, Caesarea became an important center of religious study and training. The great early Christian scholar and apologist, Origen, visited Caesarea in 231 CE and turned the city into a center of Christian learning. Origen built a huge library that became a magnet for scholarly study. When the Emperor Diocletian unleashed the Great Persecution ( CE), Caesarea became the site for the death of a number of Christian martyrs, whose fates are described in the work of Eusebius, On the Martyrs of Palestine. Time permitting, we will include a short visit to Mediggo. Next, we drive to Nazareth and Cana. We will have an opportunity to have a short renewal of marriage vows at the church in Cana the site of our Lord s changing of water into wine at the wedding feast. We will then proceed to the historic Scots Hotel in Tiberius for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) B = Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner 4

5 DAY 4: TUESDAY, MARCH 3 - TIBERIAS/MAGDALA/CAESAREA PHILIPPI/ CAPERNAUM/GOLAN HEIGHTS We will start the day at Magdala and walk up into wadi toward Nazareth that Jesus used for route to Sea of Galilee. The Wadi Hamam is almost certainly the path that Jesus walked between his hometown of Nazareth, in the mountainous Upper Galilee, and his adoptive Lower Galilean home in the village of Capernaum, where the fishermen Peter, Andrew, James and John lived, as well as the tax collector Levi or Matthew. We continue with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee and visit several gospel sites around Capernaum. Among these are the church built over St. Peter s home, and the remarkable sixth-century synagogue. Though there is no finite knowledge of the time this synagogue was built, archaeologists estimate that it dates back to the 1st century AD. The Roman officer who asked Jesus to heal his servant is credited with building the synagogue as a token of good faith and gratitude to Jesus for his miracle work. Liturgical documents indicate that Jesus held regular sermons in this synagogue, most notably the famed sermon on the Bread of Life (John 6: 35-59). Of this ancient synagogue, only the western wall remains intact. It was the foundation for a later synagogue built on the same grounds some three centuries later. From there, we drive to Caesarea Philippi, the source of the Jordan River whose modern name is Banias. This is the monumental site where Jesus asked, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? It was Simon, later called Peter, who was inspired to answer: You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. In reply, Jesus declared: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:13-20) Dinner and overnight in Tiberias at The Scots Hotel. (B,L,D) 5

6 DAY 5: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 - TIBERIAS/MOUNT OF BEATITUDES, TABGHA, PRIMACY OF PETER, BEIT SHEAN/ JORDAN We begin the day at Mt. Beatitudes where Jesus gave his most famous address, the Sermon on the Mount and Tabgha, (the place of Seven Springs ) the site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and Jesus Resurrection appearance (John 21). From there, we will visit the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter at Tabgha before driving to the wellpreserved archaeological site of Beit Shean. The colonnaded streets and temple remnants offering us the chance to have a peek into the lifestyle here under Roman rule. The setting, in a valley surrounded by gorgeous mountain scenery, is extremely dramatic. We then continue through the Jezreel Valley and crossing into Jordan through the Sheik Hussein border. Dinner and overnight at the Marriott at the Dead Sea. (B,L,D) 6

7 DAY 6: THURSDAY, MARCH 5 - MT. NEBO, TELL AL-KHARRAR Today, we climb Mt. Nebo where Yahweh told Moses to see the promised land before dying (Deut. 34:1-4). Mt. Nebo was the final stop in Moses historic flight from Egypt to the Holy Land with two million Hebrew slaves. It is here on Pisgah, as it is also called, that Moses spent his final days just before the people of Israel crossed to the promised land of Canaan. We continue to the Baptismal site at Tell Al-Kharrar, a site of natural beauty and a National Park, Christians have been worshiping here since the second century and that this was indeed the place where John baptized Jesus. Our group will also worship in this place. After returning to the hotel, you are welcome to have a float in the Dead Sea! Overnight at the Marriott Hotel at the Dead Sea. (B,L,D) 7

8 DAY 7: FRIDAY, MARCH 6 - PETRA We drive south to visit the beautiful Rose City of Petra one of the ancient wonders of the world. Walking or riding a horse or a carriage through a narrow wadi, we emerge facing the amazing Treasury building. Carved directly into vibrant red, white, and pink sandstone cliff faces, the prehistoric Jordanian city of Petra was lost to the Western world for hundreds of years. Located amid rugged desert canyons and mountains in what is now the southwestern corner of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Petra was once a thriving trading center and the capital of the Nabataean empire between 400 BC and AD 106. We will spend the greater part of the day seeing the Treasury, Amphitheatre, Necropolis, the Court and the Prison and climbing some of the amazing rock formations. Dinner and overnight at the Marriott Petra Hotel. (B,L,D) 8

9 DAY 8: SATURDAY, MARCH 7 - JERICHO/JERUSALEM Today, we cross the Allenby Bridge back into Israel and make our way to Jerusalem. On the way, we will visit the ancient city of Jericho. From over a century of excavations, archaeologists have unearthed and studied Jericho s Neolithic tower. This tower dates to BC. On the basis of this discovery, archaeologists have claimed that Jericho is the oldest city in the world. Just outside the Old City lies the road on which Jesus restored the blind beggar Bartimaeus sight (Mark 10:46-55). Within the Old City a sycamore tree still stands that is said to be the tree the tax collector Zacchaeus climbed to see Jesus amid a throng of followers. Zacchaeus later became a convert and gave one-half his fortune to the poor (Luke 19). We will see the new city and view Mt. Temptation. The mountain, with a gravitydefying monastery clinging to its sheer face, is traditionally regarded as the mountain on which Christ was tempted by the devil during his forty-day fast. Afterwards, we continue to Jerusalem for dinner and a relaxing overnight. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel David Citadel. (B,L,D) 9

10 DAY 9: SUNDAY, MARCH 8 - ISRAEL MUSEUM/EIN KAREM/BETHLEHEM We begin our day at the Israel Museum and drive to Ein Karem. Christian tradition places the birth of John the Baptist who announced the coming of Jesus Christ, his cousin in this picturesque village southwest of Jerusalem. Luke s gospel tells of the circumstances of John s birth (1:5-24, 39-66). From there, we continue to Shepherd s Field. In Bethlehem, we will visit several important sites including the Basilica of the Nativity, the Manger of the Chapel of St. Jerome, and the Crusader Cluster. The Basilica of the Nativity is the oldest complete church in the Christian world and was built by the Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. It replaced the original church of Constantine the Great, built over the cave venerated as Christ s birthplace, and dedicated in AD 339. Dinner and overnight at Hotel David Citadel in Jerusalem. (B,L,D) 10

11 DAY 10: MONDAY, MARCH 9 - JERUSALEM This morning we start with the 6:30 AM service at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The early start ensures we have a quiet, unobstructed visit in a shrine that is visited by thousands daily. After church, we will return to the hotel for breakfast and time to rest. We will then visit the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives has always been an important feature in Jerusalem s landscape. From the 3rd millennium BC. until the present, this hill has served as one of the main burial grounds for the city. On the Mount of Olives, we will experience the Church of the Holy Ascension. This church was taken by Saladin in 1187 and converted into a mosque and remains such today. Within contains what is considered to be the last footprint of Jesus on earth before he ascended into heaven. We will explore the Church of Paternoster, where Jesus taught the Lord s Prayer in the cave that forms the grotto under the church. When the Crusaders built a church here in the 12th century, they called it Pater Noster, Latin for Our Father. Halfway along the slope of Mount of Olives, we will see Dominus Flevit. This is the site where, looking down on the city, Jesus wept as he prophesied its future destruction (Luke 19:37-44). Within 40 years, in AD 70, Jesus prophecy was fulfilled. Roman legions besieged Jerusalem and burnt the Temple and leveled the city. The New Testament says nothing about the death and burial of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, but a strong Christian tradition places her tomb in a dimly-lit church at the foot of the Mount of Olives. We will visit what is now called the Virgin s Tomb as well as the Grotto of Jesus Arrest. We pause at the Garden and Church of Gethsemane. Early Christian pilgrims located the Garden of Gethsemane at the bottom of the slope of the Mount of Olives opposite the Temple Mount. Byzantine, Crusader, and a modern church were built successively on the site where it is believed that Jesus prayed to the Father hours before his crucifixion. We will also visit Mount Zion to experience St. Peter in Gallicantu, the Cenacle, and the Dormition Abbey. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel David Citadel. (B,L,D) 11

12 DAY 11: TUESDAY, MARCH 10 - JERUSALEM We will start the day with a walking tour of the Old City to explore the most iconic and pivotal sites of the holy city of Jerusalem. We will visit the Temple area, see the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock, Al Aqsa Mosque, St. Anne Church, and the Pool of Bethesda. After lunch, we will trace the final footsteps of Jesus and walk together the Via Dolorosa. From this moving experience, we will view the Church of the Flagellation, Ecce Homo Arch, and the Church of the Resurrection to complete our day in Old Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel David Citadel. (B,L,D) DAY 12: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 JERUSALEM AND EVENING FLIGHT HOME This morning you are free to explore Jerusalem. We depart Jerusalem in the afternoon and visit the site of Emmaus en route to our final dinner in Jaffa. Those traveling home on a night flight will be transferred to the Tel Aviv airport following dinner. (B,D) Those who prefer to fly the morning departure of March 12th will have the opportunity to reserve an overnight stay at the Renaissance Tel Aviv.* *Overnight accommodations at the Renaissance for the night of March 11th are at an additional cost and are not included in the tour price. Transfers from the Renaissance to the airport on March 12th are not included in the post tour price. DAY 13: THURSDAY, MARCH 12 ARRIVE HOME 12

13 ACCOMMODATIONS RENAISSANCE TEL AVIV MARRIOTT DEAD SEA Located in the city center, the Renaissance Tel Aviv is situated on the beach where you can sink into the warm white sand and Mediterranean Sea. Located on the sandy shores of the enthralling Dead Sea, The Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa welcomes travelers with five-star resort lodging. All of the spacious, stylishly appointed hotel rooms and suites provide sensational views of the Dead Sea. Your comfortable air-conditioned accommodation features a private balcony with fabulous views, well-lit work desk, wireless Internet, in-room safe and mini-bar. Before enjoying a hearty breakfast buffet, take a dip in the indoor swimming pool or rejuvenate yourself in the on-site fitness gym. SCOTS HOTEL The luxurious Scots hotel was established by the Church Of Scotland in 2004 in the historical compound MARRIOTT PETRA Embracing traditional hospitality and overlooking Jordan s timeless wonder, the Petra Marriott Hotel is a haven for comfort. Many of the rooms have views of the valley. HOTEL DAVID CITADEL of the Scottish Hospital, and uniquely combines the 19th century basalt buildings with a modern and up-todate hotel of international standards. When planning the hotel, great emphasis was placed on conserving the character of the compound by producing a synergy between new and old and creating an atmosphere of calmness and mystery. The interior decoration combines the historical character of the buildings with the comfort required from a 5-star hotel. Overlooking Jerusalem s old city walls, the David Citadel hotel enjoys a well placed location in central Jerusalem. The timeless alleyways of the Old City, the Western Wall and Tower of David, the bustling Machne Yehuda market, the Mamilla Avenue and an abundance of New City attractions are all within easy walking distance from this landmark hotel. 13

14 IMPORTANT INFORMATION, TERMS AND CONDITIONS (1 OF 3) Please read all of the terms and conditions in this section. Any payment made towards a tour booking shall constitute a confirmation by the Guest on behalf of themselves and all other persons named on their booking that he or she has read, understood, accepted and agreed to the Terms & Conditions of this tour, the terms of which will apply to the Guest and all other persons named on their booking. Concierge Airline Service: Connoisseurs Tours offers a Concierge Airline Service to help with your reservations. Connoisseurs Tours airline partners will assist you with coordinating flight schedules for each traveler in your party. Our airline concierge team will make managing your airline reservations effortless from the day we help you select the best flights through the day of your return. COST OF THE JOURNEY Tour: $ per person double occupancy, $5, single occupancy Deposit: $ per person deposit is required to confirm a reservation on a definite basis. Final payment is due December 1, All payments can be made by credit card or check. Last-Minute Changes: Any changes received 30 days or less from the departure date will incur a $ per person administrative change fee in addition to costs incurred with last minute changes. TRAVEL PROTECTION Connoisseurs Tours offers Cancellation/ Delay/Medical Protection. The cost of travel protection is $ per person based on double occupancy, $ for a single occupancy. Travel protection can be paid with your deposit or at the time of your final payment. Connoisseurs Tours strongly recommends that you purchase Cancellation/Delay/Medical Protection. Traveling is a big investment. It pays to protect yourself against unforeseen circumstances that can result in trip cancellation and additional expenses such as costs related to medical emergencies. The Travel Insured International Travel Protection Plan we offer is specifically designed to provide you with peace of mind knowing you are protected against the financial impact of unexpected events while on your trip. Additional insurance is available to include the cost of your airfare. Please contact Connoisseurs Tours if you would like to insure the cost of your airfare after you have purchased your airline tickets. INCLUSIVE PRICES Tour Prices: Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, special dinners, sightseeing, admissions, porterage, and the services of the local guides, drivers and the tour escort/ guide are included, as per individual details of the itinerary. Transfers: A group arrival transfer from the airport specified in the brochure to the tour s first hotel is included in the tour cost. Private arrival transfers are available at an additional cost. A group airport transfer from the tour s last hotel to the departure airport listed in the brochure is also included in the tour cost. Hotel Accommodations: The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. Our standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality of accommodations may differ slightly from one hotel to another, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are usually two bedded rooms plus a roll-away cot and are not recommended for comfort. Meals: Meals are included as specified in the itinerary. B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner Gratuities: All customary gratuities for hotel, restaurant staff, and local guides are included. NOT INCLUDED Air Transportation: Air transportation to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. While airfare is not included in the cost of the tour, we do offer a Concierge Airline Service to help with 14

15 IMPORTANT INFORMATION, TERMS AND CONDITIONS (2 OF 3) your reservations. Connoisseurs Tours airline partners will assist you with coordinating flight schedules for each traveler in your party. Our airline concierge team will make managing your airline reservations effortless from the day we help you select the best flights through the day of your return. Gratuities to your Guide/Escort and Drivers: Gratuities are not included to your overall guide/escort and coach driver, a recommended gratuity amount will be provided to you in your final tour documents. Connoisseurs Tours wishes to stress that this gratuity is optional and on a voluntary basis. Personal Expenses: Personal expenses such as phone calls, use of fitness center, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral water, soft drinks, laundry, airline service fees, airline excess baggage fees, and other optional incidental extras are not included in the tour price. Itinerary Change and Flexibility: Connoisseurs Tours pledges to make every effort to operate all tours as advertised. Connoisseurs Tours reserves the right to alter or curtail any aspect of the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels/ and or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any additional expense for these substitutions will be covered by Connoisseurs Tours. Health and Fitness: Connoisseurs Tours are moderate exertion journeys. Travelers must certify that they are in good health and can walk one to two miles a day. These journeys are not recommended for those who have mobility limitations such as walkers, wheelchairs and scooters. CANCELLATION TERMS AND CONDITIONS All cancellations must be in writing. Cancellation Schedule: From time of deposit to 120 days prior to departure: $ per person cancellation fee will apply 119 days to 90 days: Full deposit amount is non-refundable 89 days to 60 days: 50% of the total tour price is non-refundable 59 days to day of departure: 100% of the full tour price is non-refundable RESPONSIBILITY: Connoisseurs Tours acts only as an agent for the traveler with respect to transportation, accommodations and other services offered on the tour. Connoisseurs Tours and the agents assume no responsibility or liability for any act, error omission, or for any injury, loss, accident or delay or irregularity that may be caused by any defect in any aircraft, ship, train, bus or other carrier or through negligence or default of any subcontractor or other third party. The passage contract in use by the carriers when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the carriers and the traveler. Connoisseurs Tours and/or their agents will not be responsible for loss, injury, damages or expenses to person or property, due to illness, weather, strikes, local laws, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature or other causes in connection with the tour for anything beyond their reasonable control. Connoisseurs Tours is not responsible for transportation or other delays or changes to the tour program beyond their control, nor any additional expenses or loss of time that may be incurred by the traveler. It may be necessary or advisable for the wellbeing of all travelers to alter the itinerary at any time, without notice to the travelers, and such alterations will be made without penalty to Connoisseurs Tours. Connoisseurs Tours reserves the right to decline or not to retain any person as a member of any tour or to change or withdraw a tour as circumstances demand. All rates quoted are based on tariffs in effect at the time the tour was planned and are subject to change in the event of adjustment therein. Baggage is carried at the owner s risk and baggage insurance is recommended. Connoisseurs Tours reserves the right to substitute hotels of equal or superior quality. The proposals of this section are governed by Georgia law, and final payment by the traveler to Connoisseurs Tours shall be deemed to be consent to the above provisions. For this departure, Esther Bryan will assist you with coordinating flight schedules for each traveler in your party. She can be reached at the number: or via at esther@travelcts.com. Esther will manage your airline reservations from the time you begin selecting flights until the day you return. This will 15

16 IMPORTANT INFORMATION, TERMS AND CONDITIONS (3 OF 3) alleviate any of the unexpected headaches with schedule changes and flight cancellations. There is a fee associated with airline reservations; however, you will find that Esther is fantastic to work with and will spend extra effort to find just the right airline schedule to suit your needs. When you contact Esther, be ready to provide the following information: 1 - Full name as it appears on your passport 2 - Birthdate 3 - Frequent flyer information 4 - TSA or Global Entry numbers 5 - Cell phone numbers If you purchase flights independently, Connoisseurs Tours is legally prohibited from assisting you with schedule changes and flight cancellations. RECOMMENDED FLIGHT SCHEDULE Airlines make reservations available 331 days from the return date. Airline reservations will be available the first two weeks of April, Although airline prices change day to day, the current projected fares on Delta Airlines range from $ per person Economy to $ per person Business Class from Nashville. Recommended Flights: DL 3541 February 29, 2020 depart: 6:00PM 9:24PM DL 468 February 29, 2020 depart: 11:32PM 5:25PM (overnight flight, arrives March 1, 2020) Nashville to JFK JFK to Tel Aviv DL 469 March 11, 2020 depart: 11:35PM 5:20AM (arrives March 12, 2020) Tel Aviv to JFK DL 4148 March 12, 2020 depart: 8:08AM 9:57AM JFK to Nashville NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION? Call or Connoisseurs Tours for more information: 16