A Journey to the Holy Land
13 Days
Proposed Itinerary
Diocese of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Under the Direction of Bishop Eugene Sutton
Local Guides Canon
Iyad Qumri and Rami Qumri
Day 1
Monday, April 18
Depart USA
On our way to the Holy Land
Day 2
Tuesday, April 19
Arrive Ben Gurion Airport / Transfer to Nazareth
NAZARETH
Dinner and Overnight at the Sisters of Nazareth
Check-in
Day 1
Check-out
Day 5
Details
Arrival to Tel Aviv you will be met by our guide, Canon Iyad Qumri, transfer to our accommodation in Nazareth. Introductions
Description
The Sisters of Nazareth Guest House is close to markets, churches, and cafes. Enjoy a rooftop terrace overlooking the beautiful city of Nazareth. Explore the sites recalling the ministry of Jesus at the Sea of Galilee, including Caperneum, Mount of the Beatitudes and Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes.
Contact
Tel: +972-4-6554304
Fax: +972-4-646-0741
Day 3
Wednesday, April 20
Nazareth / Sepphoris
Description
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.
Lunch.
Depart to Zippori, Sepphoris, where we explore the excavations of the Roman/Byzantine city.
Dinner and Overnight at the Sisters of Nazareth
Day 4
Thursday, April 21
Sea of Galilee / Jordan River / Capernaum / Beatitudes
Description
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.
Later we visit 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 Sisters of Nazareth
Later this evening is a treat you will not want to miss!!!!
Sea of Galilee
Day 5
Friday, April 22
Burqin / Nablus / Taybeh
BURQIN
Description
Dinner and Overnight at Saint George's Guest House
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 the 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. Visit St. Luke’s Hospital.
Lunch in Taybeh.
We then 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.
- Guest Speaker: Contemporary Issues
A Palestinian Perspective
Check-in
Day 6
Check-out
Day 13
Contact
Tel: +972-2-6283302
Day 6
Saturday, April 23
Horizons of Jerusalem / Herodium
Description
Walk down to Damascus Gate to get the feel for the distance and our surrounding, afternoon Mt. Scopus, view the Judean desert, Mt. of Olives, and City of David.
Lunch.
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
Horizons of Jerusalem
Day 7
Sunday, April 24
Western Wall / Dome of the Rock / Worship at Saint George's Cathedral / Israel Museum
Description
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. Sunday Eucharist at St. George’s Cathedral; the liturgy will be celebrated in English and Arabic.
Lunch
Later we visit the 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
WESTERN WALL
Day 8
Monday, April 25
Shepherd's Field / Bethlehem
Description
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’, 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.
Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House
Guest Speaker: Contemporary Issues -
An Israeli Perspective
SHEPHERD'S FIELD
Day 9
Tuesday, April 26
Old City / Church of the Resurrection
Description
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
Group Photo
Day 10
Wednesday, April 27
Princess Basma / Yad Vashem
Description
Visit Princess Bassma 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, currently numbering 450 Students.
Lunch.
Visit Yad Vashem site of the Holocaust Memorial.
Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House
Day 11
Thursday, April 28
Jericho / Dead Sea
Description
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. Dead Sea, where you will have the option to swim – or really, float.
Lunch.
Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House
Lunch - At the Qumri's in Jericho
Dead Sea - Rocky Beach
Day 12
Friday, April 29
Beth-Phage / Dominus Flevit / Ghethsemane
Description
Depart for Beth-phage and Mt. of Olives walk down the Palm Sunday Road ending at the Garden of Gethsemane.
Lunch.
Later we visit Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, this church was built over the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Peter denied Jesus three times).
Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House
Day 13
Saturday, April 30
Way of the Cross / Emmaus
Description
Early this morning we walk and pray the Way of the Cross. Later we depart for Emmaus Nicopolis. We celebrate the Eucharist at the ruins of the Byzantine Church.
Afternoon at leisure
Transfer to the Tel Aviv airport for our return flight to the USA
