St. Helena's Episcopal Church
San Antonio, TX

Led by
Rev. David G. Read
Local Guides
Canon Iyad Qumri and Rami Qumri

Proposed Itinerary

12-Day Pilgrimage

October 26 - November 6, 2022

Updated on October 16, 2021

Oct 27-30 Saint George’s Guest House

Oct 30-Nov 2 Sisters of Nazareth

Nov 2-6 Saint George’s Guest House

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, DAY 1: DEPART USA

On our way to the Holy Land

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, day 2: ARRIVE TEL AVIV / TRANSFER TO JERUSALEM

We arrive in Tel Aviv and are met by our guide, Canon Iyad Qumri. We are transferred to Jerusalem.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, DAY 3: HORIZONS OF JERUSALEM / HERODIUM

Introductions, 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, 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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, DAY 4: SHEPHERD’S FIELD / BETHLEHEM / CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER

We depart Jerusalem for Bethlehem and the Shepherds’ Field, visit a 1st century cave dwelling, Lunch in Beit Sahour (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. Walk the Cardo to the Constantinian Entrance to the Church of the Resurrection to the Holy Sepulcher.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, DAY 5: CAESAREA MARATIMA / NAZARETH

Depart for Caesarea Maratima, a seaport on the Mediterranean Sea, this was built by Herod the Great, we visit the Crusaders fortifications, the Roman aqueduct and amphitheater. Lunch in 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.

Dinner and Overnight at the Sisters of Nazareth

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, DAY 6: JORDAN RIVER / CAPERNAUM / BEATITUDES / TABGHA

Today we depart for the Sea of Galilee-Lake Kinnereth. Stop at the Jordan River for the renewal of Baptismal vows, Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, we then visit Capernaum where we see the 13Ancient Synagogue and St. Peter’s House. We continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, Lunch, visit to Tabgha (Heptapegon), The Loaves and Fishes Church and the Chapel of St. Peter’s Primacy.

Dinner and Overnight at the Sisters of Nazareth

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, DAY 7: SEPPHORIS / CAESAREA PHILIPPI

Depart for Zippori, Sepphoris, where we explore the excavations of the Roman/Byzantine city. Lunch. We continue 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?”

Meet with Fr. Nael Abu Rahmoun at Christ Church in Nazareth.

Dinner and Overnight at the Sisters of Nazareth

A treat you will not want to miss!!!!

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, DAY 8: 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 Palestinian Authority, in the fourth century the Emperor Constantine and his mother St. Helena built the church of St. George in the village, the ruins of the Church are still found on a hill in the town. Taybeh is also the home of the only Palestinian brewery in the Middle East.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

Guest Speaker: Contemporary Issues — An Israeli Perspective

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, DAY 9: WESTERN WALL / DOME OF THE ROCK / ISRAEL MUSEUM

We depart for the Western Wall near Elharam Esh Sharif (The Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque). St. Anne’s Church and the pools of Bethesda.. 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

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, DAY 10: BETH-PHAGE / DOMINUS FLEVIT / GETHSEMANE / DEAD SEA

Walk the Palm Sunday Procession. We will stop at Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over the city. It is known as Dominus Flevit [ Latin for “The Lord wept”]. Afterward, we will walk to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Lunch at the Qumris in Jericho. Dead Sea, where you will have the option to swim – or really, float (Rocky Beach).

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

Guest Speaker: Lecture on Islam

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, DAY 11: WAY OF THE CROSS / EMMAUS

Stations of the Cross, Silent reflections at the Empty Tomb, Later in the morning we will depart for Emmaus Nicopolis. We celebrate the Eucharist at the ruins of the Byzantine Church. Lunch. FREE AFTERNOON

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, DAY 12: RAMALLAH

Sunday Eucharist at Saint Andrew’s Church in Ramallah, the liturgy will be celebrated in English and Arabic. Lunch, FREE AFTERNOON

Transfer to the Tel Aviv airport