Rediscover the Holy Land

Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, and meet your local guide and driver whom will escort you to your hotel in on the coast. Dinner and overnight.

We depart via the coast to Caesarea Maritima, where St. Peter baptized the first Gentile convert (Cornelius) and where he was held Paul prisoner by Romans. It was the center of the Roman governors including Pontius Pilates. Visit the Roman and Crusader ruins, the Crusader City, the well preserved Theatre, the Harbour, and the Roman Aquaduct. Heading towards Haifa through Carmel Mountains, We will visit the Carmelite Monastery Stella Maris and Muhraqa located on the spot where Elijah confronted the false priests of Ba’al (1 Kings 18:17-40). Visit the magnificent Golden Domed Bahai Shrine and the Persian Gardens. We proceed up north to the port city of Accho [Acre] one of the oldest ports in the ancient world back to Canaanite period, we will see to see remains of Western Christian Crusader who ruled in Akko for almost 200 years and visit the Jezzar Pasha Mosque. We drive to Sea of Galilee for Dinner and overnight.

This morning we depart off from our hotel, driving into the beautiful landscape of lower Galilee, we stop at Meggido which was inhabited from 7000 BC – 500 BC, considered one of the important Ancient caravan routes and the Armageddon which according to Christian tradition the final battle between the forces of light led by Jesus Christ and the forces of darkness led by Satan or the Anti-Christ after the End of Days. Drive to Sepphoris one of the capital cities of the Galilee, the capital of Herod's son and was a flourishing city during Jesus time. We proceed to Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle at the request of his mother (John 2:1-11). In Cana we will visit the Franciscan chapel for a renewal of wedding vows. Continue to the Basilica of Annunciation in Nazareth where we will celebrate Mass and visit Mary's Well and the Church of the Angel Gabriel. On our way back to our hotel we shall see the so-called "Jesus Boat" a fishing boat of the kind used by the disciples of Jesus. We arrive in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

This morning we begin with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, from its shores Jesus recruited four of his apostles: the fishermen Simon and his brother Andrew and the brothers John and James (Matth 4:18-22). Our stop will be on the shore of Capernaum where Peter lived and where Jesus began his public ministry (Matth. 4:13), there he began teaching in its Synagogue, He healed a man who had the spirit of an unclean devil and healed a fever in Simon Peter's mother-in-law (Luke 4:31-41) followed by a visit to the Mount of the Beatitudes to gain a panoramic vista of the Sea of Galilee and where one of Jesus' famous teaching episodes Sermon on the Mount was given (Matthew 5-7). Then to Tabgha the fruitful garden where Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Mark 6:30-46), we shall see the magnificent mosaic commemorating the miracle of the multiplication, we head to the nearby Chapel of St. Peter Primacy, There will be an unforgettable Mass near the shores of the Sea of Galilee at the Primacy or Mt Beatitudes. We proceed to visit Caesarea Philippi, where the Apostle Peter made his great confession of faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (Matth. 16:13-17). Dinner and overnight at your hotel in the Galilee.

We start the day by going to the Jordan River to renew our baptismal vows in the River where Our Lord was baptized by John (Mark 1:9). Continue to Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration (Matth. 17:1-8), we shall ascend by a smaller motor vehicle due to its narrow route, we will celebrate a Mass on its summit. We drive on passing the small town of Nain, where Jesus raised the widow's son (Luke. 7:11-17). Next we visit the excavations of the ancient city of Beth Shan, In the New Testament it became one of the 10 cities of Decapolis. Drive through the Jordan Valley and drive on up through the Judaean Wilderness We make our way through the Judaean Hills towards the house of the Lord. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.

This morning we shall tour in Jerusalem, We will visit the Shrine of the Book the home of Dead Sea scrolls, and the Model of Jerusalem during Jesus time, In the afternoon we drive to the Shepherd's Fields where the angels announced the birth of Jesus. Then we visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem we kneel in the Grotto the birth place of our redeemer as we celebrate a Mass. We drive to Jerusalem passing Rachel Tomb en route. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

We begin our day with a visit to Bethany where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, hometown of Martha and Mary. Here we shall visit Lazarus' tomb. We may celebrate Mass in the Church of St. Lazarus, then the Inn of the Good Samaritan, we return to Jerusalem towards mount of Olives, from which Jesus ascended to heaven after his resurrection, we shall have an eye on history through a magistic view over Jerusalem, visit the Convent of Pater Noster with the Lords Prayer in displayed in 110 languages, and the Ascension from where ascended to Heaven (Acts 1:9-11), we will walk down the "Palm Sunday route" stopping at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Visit Gethsemane, the Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed His last prayer before his arrest, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:36-39). Visit the cave of betrayal (Luke. 22:40-46). Then to the cave of Assumption of Mary to Heaven. Drive along Kedron Vally where you will see the Tombs of Avishalom, Zachariah and the Prophets Tombs. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

It is an inspiring, full day of meditation. In the early morning we retrace the last steps of Jesus. As we walk along the Fourteen Stations of the Via Dolorosa, praying the Stations of the Cross, we reflect on the greatness of His sacrifice as he bore the burden of our sins on the Cross at Golgotha . Finally we arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Mass. Return back towards St. Stephen Gate to visit St. Anne’s Church, the home of the Virgin Mary and her parents Saints Joachim and Anne. We pass the Ecce Homo where Pilate proclaimed “Behold the man”; then the Wailing Wall, the most holy shrine for Jews. Nearby is the Dome of the Rock or Temple Mount. We exit at Mt Zion. At the Cenacle we visit the Upper Room of the Last Supper and King David Tomb Next we go to Dormition Abbey where we believe the Blessed Mary died. We end the day at St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied Him thrice. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

The desert east of Jerusalem is rich in Christian tradition. Further east, just off the Roman road that Jesus 'walked', is Wadi Qelt, site of the Monastery of St George. Drive to the lowest spot on Earth we will pass to the town of Jericho and visit Tel Jericho, the most ancient city in the world. We also stop at the Sycamore Tree which believed that Zacchaeus had climbed up a Sycamore Tree as he wanted to catch a glimpse of this wonderful savior then we stop to view Mt. Temptation where Jesus spent forty days and forty nights fasting and meditating during the temptation of Satan. Drive to the Dead Sea to visit Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scroll discovery. Proceed to the Mountain Fortress of Massada where we ascend and descend via the cable car, the site of the last Jewish Resistance against Romans in 73 AC. Enjoy a swim (or rather a float!) in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, renowned for its minerals and healing properties. We have some time at leisure in Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.

After breakfast we will head onto the hill country, to the city Ein Karem, the birthplace of St John the Baptist and visit the Church of Visitation where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited the home of Zachariah and Elizabeth, and proclaimed the 'Magnificat' (Luke 1:39-80).
Then free time to explore the crowded and vibrant street of the Old City in Jerusalem.

Today we drive to Emmaus for celebration of the Resurrection. It was on the road to Emmaus that Jesus appeared to his disciples following his resurrection and revealed himself in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:13-35). After we will head to Jaffa, the ancient port city located south of Tel Aviv known as the place where the prophet Jonah embarked for Tarshish (Book of Jonah 1:3) and where Peter stayed with Simon the Tanner and the Church of St. Peter where he raised Tabatha from the dead.

Transfer to the airport, filled with cherished memories, for your return flight home.