FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS Deacon Steve and Mary Anne Greco Group Nov 3 12 2011 10 DAYS HOLYLAND PILGRIMAGE ITINERARY Including Daily Mass at Holy Sites + RED SEA PETRA EXTENSION NOV 11-15 DAY ONE Nov 3 LAX / TEL AVIV We start our Journey of a lifetime as we depart from LAX and fly to the Holyland. DAY TWO Nov 4 TEL AVIV / SEA OF GLILEE / TIBERIAS Welcome to Israel! We arrive at Tel Aviv Int l airport, meet our expert guide, and ride up north in our new deluxe motorcoach, through the Sharon Valley, to our deluxe location hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight. DAY THREE MT. TABOR / MT. OF TRANSFIGURATION/ MT. CARMEL ARMAGEDDON/ NAZARETH / CANA / TIBERIAS Good Morning Sea of Galilee! After a hearty Israeli Buffet breakfast start our holy sightseeing. We dedicate our day to the Lord with Holy mass at the Church of the Transfiguration atop Mt. Tabor, at the place of the Transfiguration. Then we drive through the Valley of Jezreel and by Megiddo (the Valley of Armageddon, Rev 16:16). We arrive at the top of Mt. Carmel, the famous Duel-place, where Elijah defeated the false prophets of Bale. We visit the Chappell with the original alter that served in the Miracle (1 st kings:18). We enjoy the beautiful view off the roof of the church, with all of the Galilee in our sight. Then we ascend to Nazareth to visit the church of Annunciation. We stand and pray where the Angel Gabrielle came to Virgin Mary and told her about God s plan and the coming baby Jesus. We conclude our exciting day visiting Cana, the site of the first miracle of Jesus' ministry "turning water into wine at the wedding ceremony. At this holy site we can renew our Wedding Vows. Then we will then continue to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
DAY FOUR MT. OF BEATITUDES / TABGHA / CAPERNAUM / SEA OF GALILEE/ / JORDAN RIVER We start our sightseeing by a visit to the mount of Beatitudes which is the sight of the Sermon on the Mount. Standing here, where Jesus spoke to the thousands giving them his love and wisdom, We open our day with Holy Mass. We continue to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the multiplication of the "loaves and fishes". Visit the Church and see the beautiful Mosaic. We proceed to Capernaum, town of Jesus, where Jesus lived and taught, to visit the original Synagogue where Jesus had founded his ministry.visit the Old Boat from the time of Jesus at The Kibbutz. Continue to a quiet boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Time for praise, song and prayer. Arrive Tiberias and have a St. Peter's fish lunch. Continue to a special Highlight: visiting the River Jordan. We then return to our hotel for dinner overnight in Tiberias. DAY FIVE BEIT SHEAN / JORDAN VALLEY/ JERICHO MT. OF TEMPTATION / SPRING OF ELISHA/ JERUSALEM After the hearty Israeli breakfast buffet we say good-bye to the Galilee and head south, through the Jordan Valley, to the holy city Jerusalem. Start out sightseeing at Beit-Shean. This is an extraordinarily well-preserved Roman city. We shall visit the Gladiator arena, the Roman Theatre, the Paladious Ave, Agora Marketplace, see the beautiful mosaic of the fortune goddess of Teha (Fortuna). We visit the original Tel, consisting of over 22 layers of different civilizations, going back 4000 years, to the Egyptian times, and of course the time of King David. Here, on these city walls, the bodies of Saul and Jonathan were displayed after their fall at the Battle against the Philistines. We continue along the Jordan Valley through Jericho. Here, in this oldest city on Earth, stands the Mount of Temptation (where Jesus was tested by Satan - Luke 4), and the Spring of Elisha. We then start our ascend, as we pilgrim up the Old Roman Road (way of Jesus) to the Holy City of Jerusalem. We conduct our first holy mass in Jerusalem in the sacred Garden of Gethsemane in the Church of Agony / Church of all nations. Then visit the model of Jerusalem (depicting the city as it was during the time of Christ) and the Shrine of the Book (where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed). Then check in to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. DAY SIX JERUSALEM/ MOUNT OF OLIVES / GETHSEMANE / PATER NOSTER/ DOMINUS FLEVIT PALM SUNDAY ROAD/ SHRINE OF THE BOOK / BETHLEHEM An exciting full day of sightseeing, including the Mount of Olives, walk down the Palm Sunday Road, Church of Peter Noster, Domins Flevit, The Garden of Gethsemane, and the Kidron Valley. We will see the Tomb of Absalom and prophet Zachariah. After Lunch - We proceed to Bethlehem to visit the Church of Nativity, Manger Square and the Shepherd's Field. We have Holy Mass here in Bethlehem. Then back to our deluxe hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. Jerusalem Mt. Of Olives, Gethsemane
DAY SEVEN NOV 9 TEMPLE MOUNT/ POOL OF BETHESDA/ BIRTHPLACE OF VIRGIN MARY/ ST. ANN CHURCH / PRAETORIUM VIA DOLOROSA WALKING THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE / WAILING WALL This morning we will drive to the old city, and have a very special visit to the Temple Mt. here stood the Temple where Jesus and Holy Family Visited. Continue to the Pool of Bethesda (where Jesus cured an invalid John 5), The Church of St. Ann (Birthplace of Virgin Mary), The Praetorium (the site of Jesus' public trial and condemnation). Here we will be standing here on holy ground, as we start following the footsteps of Jesus, as we pick up the Cross and walk the Stations of the Cross the Via Dolorosa. Conclude our walk with a Holy Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and visit the empty tomb. Then we have time for Lunch inside the old city, and visit the market place bazaar with plenty of free time for shopping. Later we visit the Wailing wall the Western Wall. Then we go back to our deluxe hotel for dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. Dead sea Holy sepulcre DAY EIGHT NOV 10 OUR LADY OF THE ARK/ EIN KAREM DORMITION / CANECULUM/ This morning we visit the beautiful green hills surrounding Jerusalem. We start with a Mass at the Kiryat Yeearim Church, which is located on a hill near the modern village of Abu Gosh, on the road to Jerusalem. The present Catholic Church of Notre Dame de l'arche d'alliance (Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant) and convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition were built here in 1924 over the ruins of an ancient Byzantine church. A large statue of the Virgin Mary stands in the courtyard of the church. It was designed to be visible from every direction in the complex. Then continue to the beautiful picturesque village of Ein Karem, the village and birthplace of John the Baptist. Visit Mary s Well and the Church. Time to Enjoy the great Gelato ice-cream homemade in this village. Then we continue to the Upper Room the Room of the Last supper the Cenaculum, where Jesus had his last supper with his disciples on Passover eve.. On to the Dormition Abby Church, Where Mary fell asleep in Zion. Roman Catholic Church of the Dormition (the "Falling Asleep" of the Virgin), a neo- Romanesque building designed by Heinrich Renard and consecrated in 1908 which is served by Benedictine monks. Its centralized ground-plan betrays the influence of the Rotunda of the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher. It has a beautiful mosaic pavement, in the center of which are three intersecting circles, symbolizing the Trinity; from this central point rays radiate outwards to the next two (concentric) circles, the first of which contains the names of the prophets Daniel, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, the second those of the twelve apostles. Then we have the afternoon free to relax or return to our favorite sites in Jerusalem. Nov 11 QUMRAN/ SODOM/ MASADA / JUDEAN WILDERNESS/ DEAD SEA Good Morning Jerusalem! we srart the day with Holy Mass in the Church of the Tomb of Virgin Mary In Gethsemane. Then we drive east out of Jerusalem, and start descending through the Judean Wilderness, to the Desert, to the lowest place on the face of the earth. We view Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. Visit Massada, the amazing fortress Hearod the Great had built at the time of Jesus, with all the breathtaking archeological findings from 2000 years ago, including: the Roman bath house, the Northern Palace, the Synagogue, the water system and more. Then we drive to the Dead Sea. We will view Sodom and Gomorrah the salt caves and pillars,. We'll have a great relaxation And floating time in the replenishing Dead Sea. Here we split: After our inspiring time in the Holy Land, those who are signed up for Israel only will return to Jerusalem, Enjoy dinner, and head out to the airport for the flight back home, after an uplifting experience of a lifetime. Those who are continuing to the extension to JORDAN PETRA and the RED SEA will spend three nights at our 5-star deluxe hotel on the shores of the Red Sea, with spectacular visits to world heritage sites, combined with R and R time at this Picturesque Oasis: After the Dead Sea Relaxation we say good bye to those returning home, and we continue our journey in the Bible Land. We drive through the Arava Valley, view the King Solomon Copper Mines and the Hai Bar Reserve for Biblical wildlife, as we drive to the Red Sea. Arrive to Eilat, the beautiful city on the famous Gulf, Home of the most spectacular marine life and colorful reefs in the world. Check into our hotel. Dinner and overnight Eilat Red Sea. Nov 12 - LESUIRE DAY ON THE READ SEA SHORE - We rise to the beautiful sight of the sun glistening on the deep blue water of the Gulf of Eilat. These same waters served as the port of King Solomon the wise, and welcomed queen Sheba. We will spend the day here relaxing in the sun, reflecting on the great week we had in Israel and having time to enjoy the new friends we have made on the trip. Those who are interested can snorkel or scuba dive in some of the best waters in the world, with the richest and most colorful coral and marine life. Or spend the day shopping or visiting the world famous underwater observatory in Eilat. Dinner and overnight Eilat Red Sea. Nov 13 FULL DAY JORDAN PETRA! We rise early and after breakfast set out for touring the city of Petra in Jordan, the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom at the time of Jesus and the Edomite Kingdom before it. We accend through the granite mountains between the Aquaba Gulf leading up to the high altitude of the Kingdom of Jordan, as Moses walked to Mt. Nebo. On to the King's highway. Arrive at the mysterious city of Petra. You will marvel at the beauty and technology that these people demonstrated in carving this city out of solid pink rock. You will ride down the narrow entrance-way called the Siq, an experience you will never forget. Get off the horses or carriages and look up at the breath-taking Treasury. Go in and explore. Then Continue down the 2200 year old pathways, and lean about the Nabataean who ruled the incense route and made un-imaginable wealth thanks to the mirth
and frankincense they delivered to the markets in Rome. Visit their theatre, monuments, Necropolis and more. You will never forget these amazing colors. After touring Petra, you will enjoy a fabulous buffet lunch that is included in the tour price. At the end of this exciting day, we will return to our deluxe hotel in Eilat for dinner and overnight. Nov 14 This morning, we rise leisurely and have time to savor all that we have experienced. Those who wish can enjoy specialty last minute shopping in Eilat. Others can simply relax this morning by the pool. Noon we go for a special tour visiting the King Solomon's copper mines, and Solomon's pillars, and the Egyptian miners and workers camp dating back 2000 b.c. After these spiritual days and journey, we fly in the afternoon to Tel Aviv for our return flight to the USA. Nov 15, 2011 - Arrive Home to the USA LAX filled with uplifting experiences and a pilgrimage of a lifetime. NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM! Deposit to make reservation you pay $300 per person - Round trip Airfare LAX- Tel Aviv- LAX. - Deluxe motorcaoches. - D E L U X E hotels. - Full Israeli Breakfasts & Dinners. - St. Peter fish lunch on the Sea Of Galilee. - A boat ride on the sea of Galilee. - visit the Old Boat from the time of Jesus at The Kibbutz - All entrance fees to all sites on the itinerary. - Best lecturer and organizer of the Holyland.. - Special visit to - Massada & the Dead Sea. - Airport Transfers. - U.S.A. Departure tax. Price For this Pilgrimage $ 3,000 - If need a Single room add $ 740. - Price for RED SEA JORDAN PETRA EXTENSION $1000 - Single room supplement for the extension $ 400.