THE HOLY LAND

We start the day by visiting Caesarea on the sea, the city which Herod the great built, the impressive remains of the roman theatre, the palace and the crusader city are a witness to what this city was. After that we drive to the coastal city of Haifa. It is considered to be the second largest city in Israel with a busy harbor. Mount Carmel overlooks the city, it is associated with the place where the prophet Elijah was hiding from the Face of Isabel, and therefore we visit Stella Maris, the church that commemorates this event. From there we visit the Bahai’ Gardens with their very beautiful view over the city. After that we drive to Nazareth. The largest Arab city in the Galilea. Visit the church of the Annunciation where the angel of God announced the Birth of Christ. With its two floors, it is considered the largest Basilica in the Middle East. In the vicinity of the church, is the church of St Josef, where according to tradition was the place where the Holy Family Lived. The current church was built over a crusader church in 1914. Overnight in Hotel.

Today we drive to the Golan Heights where we visit Caesarea Philippi. We remember there the great confession of Peter that Jesus is the son of the living God. Then we drive to the lake of Tiberius. Visit the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus did the Sermon on the Mount, the church of the multiplication of bread and fish, the Primacy of Peter and Capernaum which is well known as the town of Jesus. Before the end of the day, we will enjoy a boat ride on the lake. Drive to Hotel and overnight.

The church of transfiguration that is located on Mt. Tabor tells the story of the transfiguration of the Lord. Driving to the Jordan Valley we reach the city of Bet Shean, the Best preserved Roman and Byzantine city in the Holy Land. Driving through the Jordan Valley with its fertile land we reach the oldest city in the world, Jericho. Visit the Mt of Temptations, the place where Jesus fasted forty days in the desert and was tempted by the devil. Then the sycamore tree where we remember the story of Zacchaeus. After that the traditional baptismal site on the Jordan River where we can renew our baptismal vows. Overnight in Hotel.

The day will take us to the Judean Desert. Visit Masada the fortress that was built by Herod the Great. According to the Jewish Roman historian Flavius that was the last strong hold for the rebels till it was destroyed in the year 73 AD. Ein Gedi is believed to be the place were David was hiding from the face of Saul, and where he wrote Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd. Visit Qumran, the home of the Jewish sect which was called the Essenes. The place became very famous after of the discovery of the scrolls of Qumran that are presented in the Shrine of the Book. After that we will have a possibility to float on the water in the Dead Sea. Overnight in Hotel.

We start the day by visiting the Mount of Olives. The church of Pater Noster is the place where we remember Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray. Then we go on foot to view the Old City of Jerusalem. Walk down the Palm Sunday, Passing the Tombs of the Prophets, the Jewish Cemeteries to Dominus Flevit. The Tear Drop shaped church stands to reminds us of Jesus crying over Jerusalem. Then continue to the church of all Nations also known as the church of Agony or Gethsemane. According to tradition this is the place where Jesus had his agony before he was arrested and given into the Hands of the Romans. The Garden of Gethsemane still has some old olive trees that might go back to the time of Jesus. The church of all nations still holds the Rock where Jesus prayed. Then driving some minutes around the Old city, we reach to Mount Zion. There we visit the church of the Dormition Abby where our Lady slept. In the crypt of the church, we can see the statue of our Lady in a sleeping position. Just three minutes’ walk away we find the Last Super Room, where we remember the last supper of our Lord, the place of the new covenant. and the Tomb of David. The Tomb that was built by the crusaders as an honorary tomb was the holies place for the Jews till 1967. Continue to the church of St. Peter in Galicanto where we remember the crying of Peter after he denied Jesus. Interest to see is the Dungeons under the church which is a good example of Roman Prisons. Overnight in Hotel.

We start the day by going through the lions Gate that is marked with two Panthers of each side of the gate. St Ann’s Church and the Pools of Bethesda are only some meters away. That is the place where we remember the healing of the cripple who was there for 38 years and the birth of Mary. Walk through the way of the cross, that believers walk since the 14th Century, to remember the passion of our Lord. The church of the Holy sepulcher is the holiest place in Christianity. Tour the church and visit the holy Tomb. After that the day will take us to Bethlehem. Visit the shepherd’s fields where we remember the Angle of God giving the good news to the shepherds. Follow the path of the shepherds of the birth-place of our Lord. The church of the Nativity is considered to be one of the oldest churches in the world. The church is standing tall above the cave where Jesus was born. The cave of St. Jerome where he translated the bible is also worth a visit. Overnight in Hotel.

Today we start by visiting the temple mount. Tourists or pilgrims are only allowed on the platform but in the actual mosques or the Dome of the Rock. Walk down to the wailing or western wall which is the holiest place for the Jews. After that walk through the Jewish Quarter where some ancient remains of the wall of Hezekiah from the 8th Century BC could be seen. The remains of the main street of the Roman Byzantine Jerusalem could be also seen. Drive to the Israeli museum where we can see the model of Jerusalem in the second temple period. The shrine of the book includes most of the scrolls of Qumran and the most interesting is the book of Isaiah. Overnight in Hotel.