CELEBRATING ST MARYLEBONE S 900th ANNIVERSARY A Journey of Faith A pilgrimage through The Lands of the Bible Israel - Palestine - Jordan Led by Father Stephen Evans 24 April - 6 May 2017 - The official and preferred pilgrimage partner for the Diocese of Jerusalem - www.lightline.org.uk
A Journey of Faith I am delighted to be inviting you to join me on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Jordan in 2017 as we celebrate St Marylebone s 900th anniversary. We will journey through the land that is special for three of the main religions of the world. It contains powerful reminders of many of the biblical stories we have grown up with. Whether these stories are fact or archetypal myth, with their profound beauty they remain as tantalising and challenging as ever. We will see places that remind us of the ancient story of the Jewish people in their promised land. We will visit places associated with Jesus during his ministry. We will also meet some of his heirs the small but remarkable Christian communities who continue faithfully to live and worship in this overwhelmingly Islamic and Jewish land. We will see ruins that speak eloquently of the once mighty Roman and then Byzantine Empire. We will also see how modern Israel has inherited the Roman mantle of a minority governing an ethnically and religiously different majority. There will be an optional extra four days in Jordan, to visit magnificent Petra, Mount Nebo and the Madaba mosaic among other significant sites. I am convinced that we will all be enriched by sharing this journey together. It will take us deep into the human tapestry of faith and hope. It will confront us with the eternal possibility of resurrection, offering this beautiful, troubled land - and all humanity - the chance of being truly Holy. Canon Stephen Evans Lightline Pilgrimages is the official & preferred pilgrimage partner for The Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem. A contribution is made to the diocese on behalf of each and every pilgrim that travels with Lightline Pilgrimages.
Day 1 Monday, 24th April TRAVEL TO THE LANDS OF THE BIBLE We gather at London Heathrow to join an afternoon Royal Jordanian /British Airways flight to Amman. On arrival we will be met by our guide and driven to the city of Madaba, the city of Mosaics (biblical Medba - Numbers 21; Joshua 13; 1 Chron 19; Isaiah 15). Dinner and overnight stay in Madaba. Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34). We then proceed to the Greco-Roman city of Jerash (Biblical Gearasa), one of the Decapolis cities also known as the Pompeii of the East where we will break for lunch before proceeding to explore the stunning first century ruins of this once great city, acknowledged as one of the best preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. Return to Madaba in good time to freshen up before dinner. Overnight stay in Madaba. Day 2 Tuesday, 25th April MADABA, MT NEBO AND JERASH After breakfast we will begin our pilgrimage by visiting the local Greek Orthodox Church of St George s to view the 6th Century mosaic map of the world with Jerusalem firmly at its centre. We then drive on to Mount Nebo with spectacular views across the Jordan Valley to Jericho, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. Tradition has it that it is here that Moses surveyed the Day 3 Wednesday, 26th April GADARA & CROSSING This morning we leave Madaba after breakfast and drive down to the Jordan Valley to visit the site of Bethany beyond the Jordan (John 1:28, Matthew 3:13-17) near the site where John baptised Jesus and where we will have an opportunity to renew our baptismal vows. Excavations nearby have revealed the remain of a few churches here. We then break for lunch before continuing north along the Jordan Valley to Um Quays, the site of the Biblical Gadara, hoping to see the stunning views over the Sea of Galilee. We then drive to the Sheikh Hussein Bridge to cross over into Israel, the Promised Land and on to our hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Arriving in good time to freshen up before dinner. Overnight stay by the Sea of Galilee.
to visit the Church of the Annunciation, the Old Synagogue-Church and the traditional site of Mary s Well. Return to the Sea of Galilee and our hotel. Dinner and overnight by the Sea of Galilee. Day 4 Thursday, 27th April MT TABOR, NAZARETH & CANA We begin our day by driving across the Jezreel Valley (the plains of Armageddon) to visit the Basilica of the Transfiguration on the summit of Mount Tabor. We will celebrate the Eucharist on the site which commemorates the Transfiguration of Jesus before Peter, James and John. On descending the mountain we continue to the village of Cana, the site of Jesus first sign. After a break for lunch we continue to Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up, Day 5 Friday, 28th April JESUS GALILEAN MINISTRY Today we start our day at Tabgha to visit the Church of the Loaves and Fishes for a celebration of the Eucharist, then on to the Church of the Primacy of Saint Peter and continuing to the to the summit of the Mount of the Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee. After a break for lunch we will then drive to the ancient fishing village of Capernaum, the centre of Jesus Galilean Ministry the site where Jesus often preached. We leave Capernaum by boat and sailing on the Sea of Galilee to Nof Ginosar, to see the First Century fishing boat before returning to our hotel for relaxation and opportunity to meditate by the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight stay by Galilee.
Garden of Gethsemane. After a break for lunch we visit Mount Zion to visit the sites associated with the Last Supper, the Day of Pentecost and the falling asleep of Mary, before finishing in Gallicantu and we recall Peter s betrayal of Jesus. Here to we can view the recently excavated Roman pathway and steps that lead up from the Old City and quite possibly the very steps Jesus was led up. We then continue to our Jerusalem hotel and check-in. Dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem. Day 6 Saturday, 29th April THE MT. OF OLIVES, MT. ZION This morning we leave Galilee after an early breakfast and drive south along Jordan valley, stopping for a coffee break in the ancient oasis city of Jericho, where we will have an opportunity to view the Mount of Temptation which clings precariously to the cliff face. We then drive up through the hills of the Judean Wilderness towards Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives and en route visit Bethany, the home of Jesus friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We will stop briefly on the summit of the Mount of Olives for a breathtaking view of the Old City of Jerusalem and its beautiful surrounding medieval walls. We then begin to trace the Jesus Palm Sunday journey from Bethphage down the mountain stopping at the Church of Pater Noster and the Church of Dominus Flevit, which commemorates the site where Jesus wept over the destruction of Jerusalem and finally the Church of All Nations and the Day 7 Sunday, 30th April SUNDAY SERVICES - EIN KAREM This morning we join members of the local community for the Eucharist at St. George s Anglican Cathedral. We then drive over to West Jerusalem to visit the Israel Museum to view the Shrine of the Book and the model of Jerusalem based around the time of Jesus. After lunch we travel to Ein Karem to visit the traditional home of John the Baptist where we will bring the day to a close with Evening Prayer. Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel in the Old City. Day 8 Monday, 1st May BETHLEHEM Today we leave Jerusalem, after breakfast and spend the day in Bethlehem, the city in which Christ was born. We will drive the short distance where we will be confronted by the 9-metre high partition wall. We enter through the check-point to visit the Church of the Nativity and the Grotto, venerated as the birthplace of Jesus. We then continue to the Shepherds Fields at Beth Sahour where we will celebrate the Eucharist. The afternoon will be devoted to Christian Institutions endeavouring to bring something of the abundant life promised in the Gospel. We will also visit the St Vincent Creche/Orphanage, the only facility of its kind in the West Bank offering Christian love and compassion to over forty abandoned babies and small children. Return to Jerusalem and our hotel in good time to relax before dinner. Overnight stay in Jerusalem.
Day 9 Tuesday, 2nd May THE VIA DOLOROSA After an early breakfast we drive to the Dung Gate to visit the Western Wall of the Second Temple and, if permitted, the Dome of the Rock and Al- Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount. We will begin the day at the beautiful Crusader Church of St. Anne overlooking the Pools of Bethesda, before visiting the Convent of the Sisters of Zion built on the foundations of the Antonia Fortress, the Roman Garrison of Jerusalem. After a celebration of the Eucharist we visit the recently excavated first century stone pavement (Gabbatha in the gospels) to follow the Way of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa to Calvary enshrined within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After a break for lunch we drive to Abu Gosh to celebrate our final Eucharist in the Holy Land. Return to our hotel in good time to relax before dinner. Overnight stay in Jerusalem. Early night! Day 10 Wednesday, 3rd May DEAD SEA, MASADA & PETRA We say farewell to Jerusalem after an early breakfast as we drive down to the Dead Sea basin passing by the site of Qumran where the Dead Sea scrolls were found and head south along the shoreline to Mount Masada. We ascend the summit by cable car to visit Herod s stepped Palace complex. It was on this flat-topped mountain that the Jewish Partisans committed mass suicide during the Jewish revolt against Rome rather than give in to slavery. We continue south across the Negev Desert to the Arava crossing point just north of Eilat where we cross back into Jordan and re-join our guide and continue to the Rose-Red City of Petra nestling in the Edomite mountains. We plan to arrive in good time to relax and rest before dinner. Overnight stay in Petra. Day 11 Thursday, 4th May ROSE-RED CITY OF PETRA We wake to the sunrise in the mountains of Edom and after breakfast leave our hotel and follow a narrow path through towering rock walls into ancient Petra. Here we are confronted by a stunning spectacle of temples, tombs and monuments carved by the Nabateans from the red sandstone of Petra. We plan to spend the entire day exploring this magnificent city that lay hidden from the world for centuries. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12 Friday, 5th May KERAK and the DEAD SEA After an early start we drive up the Desert Highway to Kerak to visit the magnificent 12th century crusader fortress dominating the town, before descending through Wadi Mujib, a spectacular ravine on the King s Highway leading to our hotel resort on the shores of the Dead Sea where we will have an opportunity to bathe in its unique mineral laden waters. Dinner and overnight stay by the Dead Sea. Day 13 Saturday, 6th May RETURN TO LONDON After a leisurely breakfast we drive up to Amman s Queen Alia Int l airport and check-in for our return flight to London. We plan to arrive back at Heathrow around midday. Please note this complex touring programme may be subject to minor local amendments INCLUSIVE HOLY LAND TOUR COST - 2495 All Lightline tours are carefully calculated to include all items necessary to complete your tour at the advertised price. Scheduled flights on British Airways or Royal Jordanian Airlines London Heathrow - Amman BA 147 15:20 / 22:25 Amman - London Heathrow BA 146 08:30 / 12:10 Please note the above flight times are local and are subject to change All airport departure & passenger taxes (UK & Israel). Accommodation at following selected hotels: All hotels and guest houses are fully air-conditioned with en-suite facilities Madaba - Mosaic Hotel (A 4-star hotel situated in the city centre) Galilee - Pilgerhaus (A Benedictine Guest House by the Sea of Galilee) Jerusalem - Gloria hotel (Within the Old Walled City by Jaffa Gate) Petra - Crowne Plaza (within a few minutes of the site) Dead Sea - Holiday inn (On the shores of the Dead Sea) Half board basis (breakfast & dinner throughout). All entrance fees and local government taxes. Qualified English speaking guide throughout the tour. All touring in modern air-conditioned tourist coaches. Jordan double-entry visa procurement fees. THE ONLY ITEMS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE ARE: Single room supplement (limited availability) 595, travel insurance, lunches, gratuities 7 a day, and any items of a personal nature (laundry & drinks etc).
- The official & preferred Pilgrimage partner for the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem - Coopersale Hall Farm Tel: 01992 576 065 Epping CM16 7PE email:info@lightline.org.uk www.lightline.org.uk FOR YOUR PROTECTION AND PEACE OF MIND Lightline Pilgrimages Limited holds an Air Travel Organiser s Licence issued by the Civil Aviation Authority - ATOL 9693. The flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure is financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/atolcertificate.
All bookings are subject to our full booking conditions which appear on our website at: www.lightline.org.uk A copy of these can be posted to you on request. By asking us to make your booking, please make sure you tick the appropriate box confirming you have read our booking conditions. The booking conditions provide for the payment of cancellation charges if you cancel or fail to make payment when due. They also include limitations and exclusions of our liability to you. For international travel by air, sea or rail, our liabilities are limited and excluded as if we were a carrier within the applicable international convention or EU regulation (for example, the Montreal Convention, the EC Regulation on Air Carrier Liability and the Athens Convention). A surcharge may be payable in limited circumstances where certain costs increase after booking. Your contract will be with Lightline Pilgrimages Limited. This contract comes into existence when we dispatch our confirmation invoice to the person who makes your booking. All Lightline flight and flight-inclusive holidays are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay, you will be supplied with an ATOL certificate. Please check and ensure that everything you booked is listed correctly. For more information about the ATOL certificate please visit: www.atol.org.uk/atolcertificate Or see our full booking conditions. British citizens require a British passport in order to travel to the destinations we feature. This usually takes less than six weeks to obtain, unless you are over 16 and have not held a passport previously, in which case you need to allow a minimum of at least six weeks. Please ensure you have at least six months validity on your passport from the date of your return journey to the UK. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes regularly updated travel information on its website: https://www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo which you are recommended to consult. In the event of any flight delay or cancellation at your UK or overseas point of departure, the airline is responsible for providing such assistance as is legally required by the Denied Boarding Regulations. The ferry, tunnel or rail operator is similarly responsible in relation to any delayed or cancelled sea crossing or international rail departure. Except where otherwise stated in our brochure or on our website, we regret we cannot provide any assistance in such circumstances other than information and advice to the extent we are in a position to do so. Data Protection Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. This information will be passed on to the principal and to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Certain information may also be passed on to security or credit checking companies. If you travel outside the European Economic Area, controls on data protection may not be as strong as the legal requirements in this country. We will only pass your information on to persons responsible for your tour travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as any disabilities, dietary or religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers, whether in the EEA or not, we will be unable to provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons). Cancellation Should you or any member of your party need to cancel their booking once it has been confirmed, the party leader must immediately advise us in writing. The notice of cancellation will only be effective when it is received in writing by us at our offices. As we incur costs from the time we confirm your booking, the cancellation charges as displayed in our full booking conditions will apply. Lightline Pilgrimages Limited, Coopersale Hall Farm, Epping. CM16 7PE