Day One: Depart Atlanta for overnight flight to Tel Aviv.

 

Day Two TEL AVIV: I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.” (Psalm 122:1)  We arrive in Tel Aviv where we are met with our guide and motor coach for the duration of our trip.  Overnight and Dinner Tel Aviv

 

Day Three TIBERIAS: We begin our journey to Caesarea along the Mediterranean Sea. We will visit the Roman and Crusader ruins. We will continue to Mt. Carmel; visit the site of Elijah’s confrontation with the priests of Baal.  We will arrive in Nazareth to visit Mary’s well. Take a stroll along the local bazaars. We will celebrate Mass at the Church of Annunciation, where the Word became Flesh!  We then head to Cana the sight of the first miracle Jesus performed; we will re-new our wedding vows at the Wedding Church before Dinner and overnight Tiberius.

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Day Four TIBERIAS:  We will cross the Sea of Galilee by boat. We visit Capernaum, see the remains of the village synagogue; and the new Church built atop St. Peter’s house.  We’ll drive to the Mount of Beatitudes, where we have time for personal meditation in the beautiful gardens.  Here we visit Tabgha and the Franciscan Church of St. Peter's Primacy, where Jesus made His appearance after the resurrection.  Next, we visit the Benedictine Basilica of the Loaves and Fishes. We will then visit Tabgha and the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy ; where Jesus made His appearance after the resurrection.  We will enjoy a traditional Peter's fish lunch. We will have time for personal reflection and meditation at all these places today.  We drive to Mount Tabor the site of the Transfiguration.  We will celebrate Mass today at the Beatitudes. We return for dinner and overnight Tiberius. 

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Day Five JERUSALEM: This morning we depart Tiberius. We will visit the Jordon River and renew our Baptismal Promise. We will visit Beth She’an, one of the oldest cities in Israel. We’ll see the ancient wall that surrounded the city, public baths, a Roman temple, stores, artisan workshops, and other well preserved structures.  We will visit Qumran the home of Essenes connected with John the Baptist and the Dead Sea Scrolls. We will have opportunity to swim in the Dead Sea; the lowest place on earth before making our dramatic entry into Jerusalem! Dinner and overnight  Jerusalem.  

 

Day Six JERUSALEM: Today we will visit the Mount of Olives to take in the view of the beautiful city of Jerusalem. We will then walk down to the Dominus Flevit Chapel; where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, on to the Garden of Gethsemane; we will have Mass here. We will visit the Shrine of the Book to view the Dead Sea Scrolls and admire the Model City of Jerusalem.  This afternoon we will visit Ein Karem where John the Baptist was born and where Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth to utter the words of the Magnificat. We will visit the Church of the Visitation; one of the most beautiful Churches in Israel and the Church of St John the Baptist. Dinner and Overnight Jerusalem

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Day Seven JERUSALEM: Bethlehem This morning we go to Mt. Zion to visit the tomb of King David, the Church of Dormition and pray in the Upper Room. We will make our way to the Western (Wailing) Wall.  We also see the Cardo and the remains of Hezekiah's wall.  We will celebrate Mass in Bethlehem today in the Shepherd’s Field.  We will visit the Church of Nativity and the manger, the Crusader’s Cloister, and the Grotto of St Gerome. We should have free time for exploring the old city upon return to our Hotel. Dinner/overnight Jerusalem

 

Day Eight  JERUSALEM: 8   Church of Gallicantu/Via Dolorosa/Holy Sepulcher/Abu Ghosh  Today we travel along the Kidron Valley, stopping at the Church of Peter in Gallicantu, the site where Peter denied his Lord three times; where Jesus was held in the house of the High Priest Caiaphas. We will enter the old city through the Lion’s Gate  to visit the Church of St Ann and the Pool of Bethesda. We will then go to visit Pilate’s Judgement Hall and the Chapel of Flagellation.  We prayerfully walk the ‘Via Dolorosa’ concluding at the Holy Sepulcher and visit the Tomb of Jesus. We will travel to Abu Ghosh where we will visit one of the traditional sites of Emmaus, where Jesus appeared on the road on the first Easter Sunday. We shall have a farewell traditional Israeli Dinner before heading for our overnight flight to USA.

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Day Nine  9   United States   We depart our overnight flight (0100 in the morning) back to the US.  We leave the Holy Land to know we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus.  Your spiritual journey will give a new meaning to the Scriptures. You will come back with memories to cherish for a lifetime.