The Episcopal Church St. James the Less
Scarsdale, NY

Led by
The Reverend Astrid Storm
Local Guides
Canon Iyad Qumri and Rami Qumri

Proposed Itinerary

12-Day Pilgrimage

July 6-17

July 7-11 Saint George’s Guest House

July 11-14 Sisters of Nazareth

July 14-17 Saint George’s Guest House

THURSDAY, JULY 6, DAY 1: DEPART USA

On our way to the Holy Land

FRIDAY, JULY 7, Day 2: ARRIVE TEL AVIV / TRANSFER TO JERUSALEM

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

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

Tel: ++972 2-6283302

SATURDAY, JULY 8, 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, 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: Lecture on Islam

SUNDAY, JULY 9, DAY 4: WESTERN WALL / DOME OF THE ROCK /RAMALLAH / ISRAEL MUSEUM

We depart for the Western Wall. Visit the Dome of The Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Sunday Eucharist at Saint Andrew’s Church in Ramallah, the liturgy will be celebrated in English and Arabic. 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

MONDAY, JULY 10, DAY 5: SHEPHERD’S FIELD / BETHLEHEM

We depart Jerusalem for Bethlehem and the Shepherds’ Field, visit a 1st century cave dwelling, Lunch is in Beit Sahour (Shepherds’ Field), ‘And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night’. 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.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

Guest Speaker: Contemporary Issues – A Palestinian Perspective

TUESDAY, JULY 11, DAY 6: JERICHO / NAZARETH

Wadi Qelt early morning to get the feel for the desert, depart for Jericho to hike up Mt. of Temptation and view Tell Jericho, 20-minute meditation on Mt of Temptation. Drive through the Rift Valley to Nazareth. Lunch. 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

Tel: 972-4-6554304

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, DAY 7: SEPPHORIS / CAESAREA PHILIPPI

Depart for Zippori, Sepphoris, where we explore the excavations of the Roman/Byzantine city, 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 people say that I am? “

Dinner and Overnight at the Sisters of Nazareth

THURSDAY, JULY 13, DAY 8: 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 Ancient 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

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

FRIDAY, JULY 14, 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. Helena built the church of St. George in the village, the ruins of the Church are still found on a hill in the town. We will also visit the brewery.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

Guest Speaker: Contemporary Issues — An Israeli Perspective

SATURDAY, JULY 15, 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. Dead Sea, where you will have the option to swim – or really, float (Rocky Beach).

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

SUNDAY, JULY 16, DAY 11: WORSHIP AT ST. GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL / CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER

Sunday Eucharist at Saint George’s Cathedral, the liturgy will be celebrated in English and Arabic. Lunch. Walk the Cardo to the visit the Church of the Resurrection.

Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House

MONDAY, JULY 17, DAY 12: WAY OF THE CROSS / EMMAUS

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

Transfer to the Tel Aviv airport for our return flight home