Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Led by
The Reverend Eliza R. Ragsdale &
The Reverend Robert G. Trache
Local Guides
Canon Iyad Qumri and Rami Qumri

Proposed Itinerary

14-Day Pilgrimage

June 28-July 11, 2022

Updated on October 13, 2021

Jun 20-Jul 2 Saint George’s Guest House

Jul 2-6 Sisters of Nazareth

Jul 6-11 Saint George’s Guest House

TUESDAY, JUNE 28, DAY 1: DEPART U.S.A

On our way to the Holy Land

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, DAY 2: ARRIVE BEN GURION AIRPORT / TRANSFER TO JERUSALEM

Arrival to Tel Aviv you will be met by your guide, transfer to our accommodation in Jerusalem. Introductions. Walk to Damascus Gate to get the feel for the distance and our surrounding.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House. Tel: 972-2-6283302

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, DAY 3: HORIZONS OF JERUSALEM / HERODIUM

In the morning we will drive to Mt. Scopus where we will look at the different dramatic settings of the Scripture. Then we will look at the many different Jerusalem, Lunch, visit Herodium some 12 km. south of Jerusalem, on a hill shaped like a truncated cone that rises 758 m. above sea level, stood Herodium, the palace-fortress built by King Herod. It had a breathtaking view, overlooking the Judean Desert and the mountains of Moab to the east, and the Judean Hills to the west.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

Guest Speaker: Contemporary Issues – A Palestinian Perspective

FRIDAY, JULY 1, DAY 4: SHEPHERD’S FIELD / BETHLEHEM

We depart Jerusalem for Bethlehem and the Shepherds’ Field, visit a 1st century cave dwelling, (Shepherds’ Field), ‘And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night’, Lunch. Church of the Nativity located in Manger Square. It is the Oldest Church in Christendom, constructed by Constantine in AD 326 and the traditional site of the Nativity, visit the Creche Museum at the Peace Center.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

SATURDAY, JULY 2, Day 5: JERICHO / NAZARETH

Wadi Qelt early morning to watch the sunrise also get the feel for the desert, depart for Jericho to hike up Mt. of Temptation and view Tell Jericho, Lunch, in Jericho before we begin our trip up the Rift Valley to Nazareth. In Nazareth we will visit Mary’s Well, the site of the only spring-fed fountain in the city, and most likely the place where Mary would have gone to draw water. We then visit the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation where we will have an opportunity to have an introduction to the Icon, we then follow on foot the path to the Latin Church of the Annunciation, the traditional site of the Angel Gabriel’s appearance to Mary, telling her she would conceive Jesus, the Emmanuel.

Visit the Sisters of Nazareth in Nazareth

Dinner and Overnight at the Pilgerhaus / Tabgha

SUNDAY, JULY 3, DAY 6: SEA OF GALILEE / JORDAN RIVER / CAPERNAUM / BEATITUDES

Today we depart for the Sea of Galilee-Lake Kinnereth. Stop at the Jordan River for the renewal of Baptismal vows. We then visit Capernaum where we see the Ancient Synagogue and St. Peter’s House. We continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, Lunch is by the Sea of Galilee, followed by a visit to Tabgha (Heptapegon), The Loaves and Fishes Church and the Chapel of St. Peter’s Primacy. Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.

Dinner and overnight at the Pilgerhaus / Tabgha

MONDAY, JULY 4, DAY 7: SEPPHORIS / CAESAREA PHILIPPI / MAGDALA

Sepphoris, where we explore the excavations of the Roman / Byzantine city, the capital of Galilee at the time of Jesus. Lunch, depart for Caesarea Philippi (Banias) and Jesus went on with his disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?”. Visit the ruins at Magdala including the Synagogue.

Dinner and overnight at Pilgerhaus / Tabgha

TUESDAY, JULY 5, DAY 8: CEASAREA MARATIMA / / MT. TABOR

Today we depart for Caesarea Maratima, a seaport on the Mediterranean Sea, this was built by Herod the Great as his summer palace. Lunch., visit Mt. Tabor and the Basilica of the Transfiguration ‘And he was transfigured before them and his garments became glistering.

Dinner and Overnight at the Pilgerhaus / Tabgha

WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, DAY 9: BURQIN / NABLUS / TAYBEH

Depart for Burqin. Jesus had passed through Burqin on his way to Jerusalem from Nazareth, and as he was passing by the village he heard cries for help from ten lepers who were isolated in quarantine in a cave, Nablus to visit (St. Photini the Greek Orthodox Monastery), St. Photini lived in first century Palestine, she was the Samaritan woman who Christ visited at the well asking her for water, the church built over Jacob’s well where will tour the church and drink from the Well, Lunch in Taybeh, visit Taybeh, the only 100% Christian town, in the fourth century the Emperor Constantine and his mother St. Helen built the church of St. George in the village, the ruins of the Church are still found on a hill in the town. Will also visit the brewery.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

Guest Speaker: Contemporary Issues- An Israeli Perspective

THURSDAY, JULY 7, DAY 10: WESTERN WALL / DOME OF THE ROCK / SOUTHERN WALL EXCAVATIONS / ISRAEL MUSEUM

Adjacent to the Western Wall lies an impressive archaeological park. The park contains artifacts from different periods: the First and Second Temple periods, the Byzantine Muslim period, the ancient Crusades period, as well as others. The most exciting findings are: the walls of the city from the First Temple period, the steps leading up to the Temple, the original street from the time of the Second Temple period, shops, ritual baths and more. Visit the Western Wall near, continue to visit Elharam Esh Sharif (The Dome of The Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque), St. Anne’s Church and the pools of Bethesda, visit the southern wall excavations Lunch. Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. We will also visit a scale model of the Old City of Jerusalem, describing the city as it would have been during Jesus’ time.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

Guest Speaker: Lecture on Islam

FRIDAY, JULY 8, DAY 11: FREE DAY

A free day to shop, revisit favorite sites in Jerusalem or to visit Masada, a fortified palace of Herod the Great which saw heavy fighting between Jewish rebels and Roman soldiers in 73 A.D.You may also wish to visit Yad Vashem site of the Holocaust Memorial, David’s Citadel and David’s Tower.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

SATURDAY, JULY 9, DAY 12: OLD CITY / CHURCH OF THE RESSURECTION

Briefing for the Holy Sepulcher. We then walk the Cardo to the

Constantinian Entrance of the Holy Sepulcher. Lunch, continue our visit to the Holy

Sepulcher.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

SUNDAY, JULY 10, DAY 13: BETH-PHAGE / DOMINUS FLEVIT / GETHSEMANE / PRINCESS BASMA / DEAD SEA

Depart for Beth-phage and Mt. of Olives walk down the Palm Sunday Road ending at the Garden of Gethsemane. Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, this church was built over the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Peter denied Jesus three times, Lunch. Visit Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children on the Mount of Olives, the Center is home to the victims of many paralyses, strokes, debilitating injuries and other physical and Emotional needs.The Dead Sea, where you will have the option to swim – or really, float (Rocky Beach). Dinner in at the Qumri’s.

Overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

MONDAY, JULY 11, DAY 14: WAY OF THE CROSS / EMMAUS

Early this morning we walk and pray the Way of the Cross, Emmaus Nicopolis. We celebrate the Eucharist at the ruins of the Byzantine Church. Lunch. FREE AFTERNOON.

After dinner transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our return flight ……… on ………… Airlines that departs at ………….

TUESDAY, JULY 12, DAY 15:

ARRIVE IN THE UNITED STATES