11 Day Holy Land Pilgrimage October 23 - November 02, 2023 from Washington, DC (IAD) with Fr. James Holland

Day One: Departure
Depart for your overnight flights to the Holy Land. Meals will be served on board.
 
Day Two: Arrival
Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv. Meet and Assist by your Guide, then transfer to your hotel in Tiberius, approximately two and a half hours drive. En route a possible visit to Caesarea Maritima, a harbor city that was built by Herod the Great. Dinner and overnight in Tiberius.
 
Day Three: Nazareth/Cana of Galilee/ Mount Tabor
Begin the day with a visit to Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up. Visit the Basilica of Annunciation, marking the annunciation by the Angel Gabriel of the birth of Jesus. See Mary’s well and the grotto, believed to have been the home of the Virgin Mary; the centuries-old Church of St. Gabriel. Continue to Cana of Galilee, where Jesus performed His first miracle of turning water into wine during a wedding feast. See the Wedding Church. End the day by going to Mount Tabor and visiting the beautiful two-level Basilica of the Transfiguration, marking the Transfiguration of Jesus before Peter and James and talking with Moses and Elijah. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the valley below. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Tiberias.
† Mass at Annunciation Church

Day Four: Golan Heights/Sea of Galilee
After breakfast, we drive to Golan Height to visit Caesarea Philippi which became an important Christian pilgrimage destination as the place where Jesus asked the disciples “Who do people say I am?". Drive back to Tiberius to Follow the footsteps of Jesus’ ministry in the villages around the Sea of Galilee, begin with a visit to Capernaum, often called the hometown of Christ. Capernaum is where Jesus healed a centurion’s servant, Peter’s mother-in-law, and many others who were brought to Him. See the church marking St. Peter’s house. Continue to Tabgha and visit the church of Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish, commemorating Jesus’ miracle of feeding 5,000 men. See the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy, where Jesus appeared to the disciples after the resurrection. The next stop is the Mount of Beatitudes, the hill where He preached the Sermon on the Mount to the multitudes that stood below. The journey continues as you are welcome to take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and remember the events which took place in the area. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
† Mass at Capernaum

Day Five: Haifa/ Mount Carmel/ Jaffa/Bethlehem
Drive to Mount Carmel, and visit Carmelites’ monastery Stella Maris Church. It was Mount Carmel that Prophet Elijah chose for gathering all the people with the prophets of Baal to prove who the True God is. Proceed to the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, also known as the Terraces of Baha’i Faith. These garden terraces form the Shrine of the Baal on Mount Carmel. Described as the Eighth Wonder of the World, they are one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country. Drive to Caesarea Maritima, a city and harbor built by Herod the Great about XXV-XIII BC. Today, its ruins lie on the Mediterranean coast of Israel about halfway between the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. It is here that Apostle Peter baptized Cornelius the Centurion and following it established there a church. Continue to Joppa (Jaffa), an ancient port city, which is believed to be one of the oldest in the world. The Bible says that St. Peters’ resurrection of Tabitha takes place in Joppa. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. † Mass at Stella Maris

Day Six: Shepherd’s Field/ Bethlehem
After breakfast, we stop in Beth Sahour to visit the Shepherds’ Fields, identified with shepherds who saw the Star of Nativity. Continue to Bethlehem and visit the Nativity Church, Chapel of the Innocents, Church of St. Catherine, and the Manger Square. See the Milk Grotto, where, according to tradition, the Holy Family took refuge during the Slaughter of the Innocents before their Flight into Egypt. Tradition has it that while Mary was nursing Jesus here, a drop of her milk fell to the ground, turning it white. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.
† Mass at Bethlehem Basilica

Day Seven: Bethany/ Dead Sea/ Qumran/ Jericho
After Breakfast, we make a stop at Bethany to visit the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus and the Tomb of Lazarus. Proceed to visit Jericho which has been the cradle of civilization as far back as 7,000 to 10,000 B.C. It was the first city taken by the tribes of Israel after they crossed the Jordan River. In Jericho, Christ cured a blind man. It was here that the chief tax collector Zacchaeus, who was short in stature, climbed a sycamore tree so that he could see Jesus. View the Mount of Temptation situated in the northwest of Jericho over-looking the city. After Lunch in Jericho, we drive to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Visit the remains of the Community Center of the Essenes and the Caves of the Scrolls. From there we drive to a private beach on the Dead Sea for a float in the salt and mineral laden water. Finally, you can renew your baptismal vows, at the traditional baptismal site on the Jordan River. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. † Mass at Bethany Church
 
Day Eight: Mount of Olives/ Mount Zion
Begin your visit with one of the most magnificent views in the world: ancient Jerusalem as seen from the top of the Mount of Olives. Visit the Pater Noster Church, where the Prayer “Our Father” is inscribed in dozens of languages, and the Church of Ascension, marking the place where Jesus ascended to Heaven. Then down the Mount of Olives in the footsteps of Jesus, taking the Palm Sunday path. Stop at Dominus Flevit (‘the Lord Wept’). From there we drive to Mount Zion to visit the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu the Abbey of the Dormition, and the upper room of the Last Supper. Drive back to the hotel for dinner. After Dinner, we will have a special holy hour with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the church of all Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane. Spend time in prayer and contemplation, and see the rock where Jesus prayed “Thy will be done”. Overnight in Jerusalem. † Mass at Dominus Flevit

Day Nine: Old City of Jerusalem.
Begin the day with a walk in the Old City of Jerusalem (The way of the cross “Via Dolorosa”). Among others, today we shall see the Holy Sepulcher, the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock and the Temple Mount, “Ecce Homo” Arch, Pilate’s Judgment Hall, Chapel of the Flagellation, St. Anne’s Church, and Bethesda ruins. “Optional” Ramparts Walk, we will have the opportunity to walk on the Wall of Jerusalem to have a greater sense of the Old City as a whole. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight in the hotel. † Mass in the Old City

Day Ten: Ein Karem
In the morning, we head to Ein Karem (spring of the Vineyard), according to tradition, the place of birth of John the Baptist. There are two churches by his name in the place. See the Church of the Visitation, built on the place where the pregnant Mary visited her pregnant cousin Elizabeth and stayed for three months. Enjoy a free afternoon in Jerusalem or take an “Optional” excursion to tour Hezekiah's Tunnel, part of Jerusalem's water system, is located under the City of David. We will enjoy our farewell dinner at a local restaurant and enjoy a folklore show and dance. Overnight in Jerusalem. † Mass in Ein Karem

Day Eleven: Departure
After breakfast, check out of our hotel and head to the airport for our journey back home.

 Note: *While we do our very best at making sure all items listed in your itinerary are included, there are times when conditions beyond our control affect your program/itinerary, including but not limited to air carrier changes, delays, weather, political climate, time constraints, or changes by your tour leader and tour guide.

Trip date:  April 22 -  May 02, 2023

Departure City:  Washington, DC (IAD)                     Package Price:  $4290.00

A single supplement is $850.00 (Private room)

The package price includes the following:

• Round Trip Airline Ticket
• Meet & Assist at Ben Gurion Airport upon arrival and departures
• Nine nights accommodation in double occupancy with breakfast and dinner
• Ten days sightseeing in a modern air-conditioned private bus
• English Speaking government-licensed Christian Guide.
• All entrance fees to places of interest
• Special dinner at oriental restaurant with folklore show
• Lunches
  
• Mass daily
• Complete travel portfolio (confirmations, backpack, name badge, luggage tag, power adaptor)

The package price does not include the following: 

• Tips for Guide, Driver, and hotels.
• Personal expenses
• soft drinks
• Travel Insurance
• Anything not mentioned above