7 Nights/8 Days
Day 1: Arrive Tel Aviv Airport / Tel Aviv or Netanya.
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, we will be met by our local guide who will escort us throughout our stay in the Holy Land and make the Scripture come alive as we follow in the footsteps of our Lord. Drive to a nearby superior first-class hotel located in the lovely beach town of Netanya or Tel Aviv for our first night in the Holy Land.
Day 2: Netanya / Tiberias
Drive north along the Mediterranean coast to ancient Caesarea, the capital of the ancient Roman Procurators of Judea, where St. Peter preached and St. Paul was imprisoned for two years. Here Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new religion, and Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial. Visit the Roman theater, Crusader’s Moat, the Byzantine Churches, and the Aqueduct. We gather at Caesarea amphitheater for a prayer and then continue to the sparkling port city of Haifa. Ascend to the top of Mt. Carmel, home of the Prophets Elijah and Elisha; for a scenic view of the city and the port.
Take an excursion to the summit of Mount Tabor to visit the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus and the beautiful scenery of the valley of Jezreel. Continue to Tiberias, for check-in at our local first class hotel.
Day 3: Tiberias
Take a boat on the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias to Kibbutz Ginossar. Gather around on boats in the middle of the lake for a prayer. Then we take a look at the perfectly intact 2000 years old boat recently uncovered on its shores. Continue to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry. After visiting the synagogue where he taught, drive on to Tabgha. This was the site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Motor up to the Mt. of Beatitudes for St Peter’s Fish Lunch and Prayers at the site of the Sermon of the Mount where Jesus preached to the people. The beautiful view of the Sea of Galilee and the entire Galilee is spectacular. . Continue to visit Magdala, where we see the excavations of a First Century Synagogue and a probable site where Jesus taught his disciples. Back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Tiberias / Jerusalem
After breakfast, drive to Cana of Galilee where the newly baptized Jesus performed the first miracle, turning water into wine at the wedding feast. Continue to Nazareth, His boyhood home. Following a visit to Nazareth village for a tour and biblical lunch, visit Joseph’s workshop and the cave of the Annunciation. There is time to walk in the streets of Our Lord’s boyhood town. Drive down the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem, your home for the next four days
Day 5: Jerusalem
This morning, stand atop the Mt. of Olivesas Jesus did and enjoy the spectacular view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem, significant to Christians, Jews and Moslems. Visit the Church of Pater Noster (commemorating the Our Father), the Chapel of Ascension and then walk the “Palm Sunday Road” to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done and the Church of All Nations. Drive through the Kidron Valley to see the Tombs of Absalom, Zacharia, James and the Gihon Fountain.
This afternoon, enter the Old City of Jerusalem where everyday life and winding cobblestone streets have remained much the same over the centuries. Sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne and view the Pool of Bethesda. Visit the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos and the arch of the “Ecce Homo”. Follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) through the narrow alleys and bazaars, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and then walk to Garden Tomb.
Day 6: Jerusalem
This morning we drive to Bethlehem visit the birthplace of Jesus and one of the most revered sites, the Church of Nativity, the Manger, the Church of St. Catherine, the Grotto of St. Jerome and the Shepherds’ Fields. Continue to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found if weather permitting we will float at the Dead Sea in the salty and mineral laden water. The sea has high concentration of various healing chemical salts that one cannot sink in, then to ancient Jericho to visit the ruins of the ancient city which was conquered by Joshua. From the top of the ancient “tel”, you’ll have an excellent view of Elisha’s Fountain and the Mt. of Temptation. A drive through the winding mountain roads take you back to Jerusalem.
Day 7: Jerusalem
Visit ( view ) the Temple Area; the beautiful Dome of the Rock, el Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third major sacred mosque, and the Wailing Wall, holiest shrine in the world for Jews. Next stand in the Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Supper. Then survey the Dormition Abbey, St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied Jesus three times, and King David’s Tomb. This afternoon we drive back to the Old City to visit David Citadel and we say a prayer inside at the citadel. Return to hotel for overnight
Day 8: Jerusalem / Tel Aviv Airport / Rome
This morning drive way of the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) to the New City to see the scale model of this ancient city as it was during the time of Jesus, and then visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. Then go to Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist, to visit the Visitation Church where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat.” Then we drive to Ben Gurion Airport for our afternoon flight to Rome.