Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Ben Gurion Airport -Tiberias
Day 2 Tiberias Churches and Boat ride at the Sea of Galilee
Church of Beatitude (Sermon on the mount) on the MT of Beatitude:
The church of the Beatitudes is the setting of Jesus most famous “Sermon on the Mount’ which comprised the heart of his teachings.
Church of Multiplication:
The Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish, is best known for Christ’s miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish to feed a multitude, 5000 men, plus women and children sitting on the grass. Then he took five loaves and two fish, “looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves . . . and the disciples distributed to the crowds”. After all the people ate, the leftovers filled 12 baskets, the miraculous feeding came after Jesus learnt that Herod Antipas had beheaded his cousin, John the Baptist.
Primacy of ST. Peter:
The Church of the Primacy of St Peter where Jesus made his third appearance to his disciples after his Resurrection. Peter and six other disciples had been fishing all night without catching anything. Just after daybreak Jesus stood on the beach, though they did not recognize him. Jesus told the disciples to cast their net on the right side of the boat and the net filled with 153 fish. When the disciples dragged the net ashore, they found that Jesus had cooked them breakfast on a charcoal fire. Jesus challenged Peter three times with the question: “Do you love me?” Peter’s positive response to this three-fold challenge cancelled out his three-fold denial of Jesus the night before his crucifixion. Then Jesus gave Peter a three-fold commission: “Feed my lambs …Tend my sheep . . . Feed my sheep.” And he also indicated that Peter would die by martyrdom. After this event Peter’s primacy as head of the apostles was recognized. The rock incorporated in the church floor is believed to be the place where Jesus prepared breakfast. It was known to medieval pilgrims as Mensa Christ (the table of Christ).
Boat Ride at the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum Capernaum:
Is the small town where the Ruins of St. Peter’s House and the ancient synagogue where Jesus did most of His teaching and one of the three town Jesus cursed for not listening to his teachings and refusal to repent.
Chorazin:
The ruins are one of the three Galilean cities cursed by Jesus (“Woe to you, Chorazin!”) because their people did not accept his teachings and repent.
Beitsaida:
Is the third ancient village located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee that Jesus cursed. The village of Jesus disciples Philip, Peter and Andrew. It is identified as the location where Jesus performed some of his most indelible miracles, it is here he led a blind man away from the village, restored his sight, and instructed the man not to re-enter the town nor to tell anyone of the miracle he had performed.
Kursi:
Is the village where Jesus healed the two possessed demonic men who came at him out of the tombs and transferred the demons afflicting them to a number of swine, that thereupon rushed down a steep hill and perished.
Baptismal Site (River Jordan):
Both areas in Jordan and the West Bank take their names from the river. The river has a major significance in Judaism and Christianity, the Jews believe that the Israelites crossed it into the Promised Land. Christians believe that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in it.
Day 3 Mt Tabor, Cana and Nazareth
Mt Tabor, Church of the Configuration:
Is the mountain where the Transfiguration of Jesus took place. The event in which Peter, James and John were introduced to the divine incarnation of Christ, the God/Man. Mount Tabor is a “high mountain” in Galilee.
Cana of Galilee:
The Wedding Church of the village of Cana is renowned to be the site of Jesus first Miracle at a wedding ceremony where He turned Jars of water into the best Wines on His Mother’s request. The Wedding Church which was built on site where the first miracle happened is where many couples go to renew their vows of marriage.
Nazareth: Church/Basillica of the Annunciation:
The church was built at the site where the Virgin Mary accepted the angel Gabriel’s announcement of her pregnancy with the Son of God.
St. Joseph’s workshop:
Is where the Church of St. Joseph in Nazareth which is built over the carpentry workshop of Joseph the husband of the Virgin Mary. The church (also known as the Church of the Nutrition and the Church of Joseph’s Workshop). It stands very much in the shadow of the soaring cupola of the Church of the Annunciation on its southern side. It is also believed to be the site of the Holy Family’s home.
Day 4 Jerusalem, Mount of Olives and its Churches
Mount of Olives:
It is named so for the olive groves that once covered its slopes. It stands 300ft above the city of Jerusalem. Several key events in the life of Jesus, took place on the Mount of Olives it is where Jesus often went there to pray and went down the mountain on his triumphal entry to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday also it is the place from which Jesus ascended to heaven.
Pater Noster Church:
Is where Jesus Christ’s taught the Lord’s Prayer to his disciples. On walls around the church and its vaulted cloister, translations of the Lord’s Prayer in 140 languages are inscribed on colourful ceramic plaques.
Church of the Ascension:
Is a shrine located on the Mount of Olives on the site believed to be the earthly spot where Jesus ascended into Heaven after his resurrection. It houses a slab of stone believed to contain one of his footprints.
Dominus Flevit Church:
Or the little teardrop church, located halfway down the western slope of the Mount of Olives, it is in this place Jesus wept over the future fate of Jerusalem, it occurred during Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday, when crowds threw their cloaks on the road in front of him and shouted, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of Lord” Looking down on the city, Jesus wept over it as he prophesied its future destruction. Enemies would “set up ramparts around you and surround you, and hem you in on every side . . . crush you to the ground . . . and they will not leave within you one stone upon another; because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God. “Within 40 years, in AD 70, Jesus’ prophesy was fulfilled. Roman legions besieged Jerusalem and, after six months of fighting, burnt the Temple and levelled the city.
The Garden of Gethsemane:
Is the garden of Olives which hosts the oldest Olive trees in the world at the foot of Mount of Olives where Jesus underwent the agony and was arrested there before his crucifixion .Walking distance from the Gethsemane garden.
The Church of all Nation/Basilica of Agony :
This Church enshrines a section of bedrock where Jesus prayed before his arrest ad His tears penetrated the rock and still visible to this day.
Day 5 Jerusalem Old City,Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre:
Entering the Old City from the Kidron’s valley is through St. Stephens Gate(Lions Gate) passing St. Anne’s Church, home of Anne and Joachim parents of the blessed Virgin Mary. Pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralyzed man, Church of the Condemnation and Flagellation where Jesus was condemned to death by crucifixion and was flogged then carrying His cross through the Via Dolorosa in Latin meaning "Way of Grief," "Way of Sorrow," "Way of Suffering" is a processional route believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. The winding route from the Antonia Fortress west to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—a distance of about 600 meters (2,000 feet). It is marked by nine stations of the Cross; the remaining five stations being inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Church of the Holy Sepulcher:
Is the site where Jesus Christ was crucified and died on the cross, the place was shaped like a skull thus came the name Golgotha. The church was built by Helena the mother of Constantine on her pilgrimage to Jerusalem where she found a relic of the original cross.
PM:
Mount Zion,DormitionAbby , Church of St.Peter in Gallicantu, Upper Room, Wailing Wall, Southern Steps
Mount. Zion:
Is a hill just outside the walls on the southern end of the Old City. The hill has been called Mount Zion since sometime in the Middle Ages, even though Jewish scripture refers to it as the Temple Mount. Among the important sites and landmarks on Mount Zion are the Upper Room (Cenacle)where Jesus had the Last Supper with His disciples before his arrest.
Dormition Abby:
Is one of the three earliest churches in Jerusalem and was regarded as the mother of all Churches. the Catholics believes that it is the site where Virgin died or rather “fell asleep “.
The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu:
The church of the Cockcrow/Caiaphas house where St. Peters denied Jesus three times on the eve of His arrest. Below the church is the dungeon where Jesus was detained the night of his arrest.
The Upper Room, (Cenacle):
The room is located on top of Mount Zion, where Jesus had shared the Last Supper with his disciples the night before He was arrested. During this meal he instituted the Eucharist which are the most momentous events of the Christian faith. Also, the descending of the Holy Spirit on His disciples at Pentecost, which is recognized as marking the birth of the Christian Church.
Wailing Wall:
Is the most sacred site to the Jewish people who believed the remains of the wall to be of the great Jewish temple or the wall surrounding the court yard of the temple. While Muslims considers the wall to be part of Al-Aqsa Mosque built in the seventh century by the Umayyads.
Southern Steps: Are at the southern edge of the Western Wall, just around the southwest corner where Robinson’s Arch is located, this spot was the main entrance for the common man to enter the Temple, the stairs are irregular, with both original and replaced stones, which forced the faithful to pay attention as they ascended the alternating wide and narrow steps. It also prevented a hurried approach to the Temple.
Day 6 Jericho, Dead Sea, Qumran, Masada
Jericho:
means “City of palms”) It is known to be the oldest town on earth, where the Israelites supposedly brought down its walls with a great shout and trumpet blasts when they entered the Promised Land. Also, here Jesus healed Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, and dined with Zacchaeus, the rich tax collector. And both Cleopatra and Herod the Great coveted this lush oasis. Water from Jericho’s powerful perennial spring provides irrigation for abundant fruit, flowers and spices.
Prophet Elisha spring:
Another name for the spring is (Prophet’s Fountain/Elisha’s Fountain) it is a fresh water spring near the archaeological mound of Tel Jericho where remains of settlements were found dating back to about 8,000 BC. It is believed that Prophet Elisha purified its waters by throwing salt into it.
Zacchaeus tree:
Is a Sycamore tree which is over 2000 years old and is located in the City Centre of Jericho. This is the tree Zacchaeus climbed when Jesus was passing through the town to see him as he was a very short man and couldn’t see over the heads of the crowds. Also, it is the place where Jesus cured Bartimaeus the beggar from blindness
The good Shepherd Church:
Is the site Lord Jesus gave Bartimaeus back his sight and converted the rich Zacchaeus into Christianity, performing for both his ministry of the Good Shepherd.
Qumran:
Is best known as the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered not so long ago. Located on the north-western shore of the Dead Sea, Qumran is located between Jerusalem and the major Dead Sea beaches and attractions such as Ein Gedi and Masada.
The Dead Sea:
Also called the Sea of Lut, Sea of Salt. It is a significant location, both historically and in modern day society, to many of the world’s major religion primarily Christianity and Judaism. The Dead Sea, itself, is an inland body of water appropriately named due to the fact that it’s extremely high salt and mineral-rich waters that are not conducive to sustaining life. In fact, the Dead Sea is nearly ten times saltier than any of the world’s oceans. It is the lowest point on Earth.
Masada:
Is the ancient fortress overlooking the Dead Sea. A cable car and a winding path climb up to the fortifications. Among the ruins is King Herod’s palace and a Roman style bathhouse with mosaic floors. It is famous for the last stand of the Zealots where the 960 living at the top of the plateau chose to commit suicide rather than to fall into the hands of the Romans alive. Masada is a UNESCO world heritage
Day 7 Bethlehem, Church of Nativity, St. Jerome’s Cave, Milk Grotto ,Beit Sahour Shepherds Field Church/Basilica of Nativity:
Church of Nativity:
Is one of the major Christians sites is the cave of Jesus birth. In 326 Constantine and his mother Helena built the church over the cave, which we know now as the church of nativity.
St. Catherine’s Church:
Is located in the northern part adjacent to the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem. It works as a parish church in Bethlehem and Franciscan monastery. There is a complex of caves underneath the church. It was dedicated in 1347 to St. Catherine of Alexandria. This is the church where the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem celebrates Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
St. Jerome’s Cave:
Is two-room cave which lies underneath the Church of St. Catherine St on the right-hand side of the nave, steps lead down to a complex of subterranean chambers. The first cave on the left at the bottom of the stairs are identified as the Chapel of the Holy Innocents. This is said to be the burial place of infants killed by King Herod in his attempt to eliminate the new-born “King of the Jews at the end, on the right, are the rooms where Jerome lived and spent 30 years translating the Scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into Latin. The adjacent caves have been identified as the burial places of Jerome (whose remains were later taken to Rome).
Milk Grotto:
Is the place where the Holy Family found refuge during the Massacre of the Innocents, before they could flee to Egypt. The name is derived from the story that a "drop of milk" of the Virgin Mary fell on the floor of the cave and changed its colour to white. There are three different caves, which are visited by some in hope of healing infertile couples, the shrine being a place where prayers for children are miraculously answered.
Beit Sahour ,Shepherds Field :
Is 2 Km East of Bethlehem. It Is the place where the Angel of the Lord appeared to the Shepherds and informed them about the birth of Jesus in a cave in Bethlehem and shopping.
Day 8
Departure
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