ISRAEL. THE HOLY LAND – IN THE STEPS OF JESUS

NAZARETH · MOUNT OF BEATITUDES · TABGHA · CAPERNAUM · GALILEE SEA · CANA OF GALILEE · MOUNT TABOR · HAIFA · CAESAREA MARITIMA · BETHLEHEM · THE DEAD SEA (EIN BOKEK) · JERUSALEM · JERICHO · THE DEAD SEA (KALIA BEACH) · TEL AVIV - JAFFA · MEDITERRANEAN SEA (JAFFA BEACH)

DAY 1

Arrival in Israel to Ben Guriona airport. We drive to the hotel for dinner and accomodation.

DAY 2

Breakfast. We head to Nazareth and stop for a while the Annunciation basilica , along with the Annunciation Grotto.  We will see the st Joseph Church, where the house of the Holy Family used to be. This is where Jesus lived up to the age of thirty, before he left to fullfill the mission of spreading the Word of God. An extra programme around the area of Nazareth. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 3

Breakfast. We drive up to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached the eight blessings – the christian road signs on the way to heaven. In Tabgha we visit the Primacy church, where after Resurrection Jesus manifested himself to his students and made breakfast.  Here he also asked st. Peter about love, when he passed him the primacy in the Holy Church. We head to Taghba – the church of multiplying of bread and fish. In here Jesus fed 5 000 men,  along with women and children. Visitting the fundaments of st Peters’ house and synagogue ruins. that had been there since Jesus visited the city and had an Eucharyst speech in the synagogue. Lunch and degustation of st. Peters’ fish. Then there will be a cruise on a ship through the Sea of Galilee. After this we continue to the Cana of Galilee, where Jesus performed his first miracle and where Christ also blessed a young married couple with his presence. There will be an opportunity for couples to renew their marriage vows. Dinner and overnight

DAY 4

Breakfast. We start our visit at Mount Tabor and drive to the top with taxis’. We head to the Tranfiguration of Jesus basilca. After this we continue to Haifta and visit the Mother Mary from Mount Caramel Sanctuary, as well as at the Grotto of St Elias. Free time. Our next stop is Caesarea Maritima - a city built by Herod the Great. A stroll and free time at the beach at the Mediterranean Sea, with a view on the ruins of the ancient aqueduct, leading water to Caesarea. Dinner and accomodation.

DAY 5

Breakfast. We head to the shepherds field – Sijar al – Ghanam in Betlehem, to stand in the place, where the shepherds heard the Good News. We continue with a visit the Church of the Nativity and pray in the Grotto of the Birth of Jesus. We drive to the St Catherine basilica, where the Christmas Eve Service takes place. There will be an opportunity to see the St Joseph Grotto, where St Joseph awaited the birth of baby Jesus. Next to it is a St Geronimo Grotto, where the Holy Bible was translated to latin, the so called Wulgata. Our next stop is to the Milk Grotto, the place of prayer for a child. Drive to Ein Karem – the place where St Elizabeth was visited by  Maryand  the birth of John the Baptist. Elizabeths’ confession made Mary sing the ”Magnificat” canticle. After the birth of John the Baptist, Zachary sang the ”Benedictus” canticle. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 6

Breakfast. We head to the Dead Sea and then to Masada, where a temple can be found – the last bastion of Jew resistance, against Rome – currently a historical memorial and the place, where Israeli soilders said their oaths. Our next stop is in Ein Bokek to rest at the Dead Sea. The waters of this basin have the highest concentration of salt in the world. They also have medical properties, which help to treat some afflictions. At the beach of Ein Bokek, one can find fantastical creatures from crystalised salt, which reminds a moon landscape. Dinner and overnight

DAY 7

Breakfast. We drive up to Jerusalem. Sightseeing at the Old City will begin from the St Stephens Gate, from where we’ll continue to the St Anne Roman church from the XII cent., commemorating the birth of the Mother of God, as well as the Betesda pond. The Cross Way will begin at the Church of the Flagellaion and the EcceHomo Basilica. The stations of the Way of the Cross will lead over to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in which the last stations take place i.e. Stone of Anointing. Transfer to  the Cenacle, The Basilica of the Holy Mother Mary, as well as the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. Here Jesus was also judged by the high council. Our last stop is at the Western Wall. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 8

Breakfast. We head to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. We continue with a visit to the Ascension Day Sanctuary, also known as the Chaple of Ascension – the place of the Ascention of Jesus Christ. Next we’ll visit the Carmo Convent – Pater Noster. Here there is a cave, where Jesus taught his students the prayer ”Our Father”. In the cave the first Council of Jerusalem took place with the participation  of St Paul. Here the apostoles decided, that the good news will be announced to all the countries. We say the Apostles' Creed, as well as the Lord’s Prayer. Our next stop is the Dominus Flevit Chapel (The Lord Wept), situated on the Ancient Roman road, where Jesus rode a donkey to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Here Christ also wept over Jerusalem – the city, which didn’t meet its time of visitation. We then continue to the Valley of Josaphat, where according to Ezekiels’ vision the Resurrection will take place. Then we head to the Jewish cemetery. We drive up to the Getsemani Basilica and pray next to the stone, on which Jesus prayed in the Olive Garden. We stop for a while at the Basilica of Agony and walk through the Olive Garden with old olive trees. We end this day with a visit to the Getsemani Cave, where Jesus was betrayed by Judas’ kiss. Free time. Dinner and accomodation.

DAY 9

Breakfast. We start our day with a visit in Jericho and watch the panorama of the Mount of Temptation, as well as the Zacchaeus Sycomorus. Next we drive to the Dead Sea and rest at the Kalia Beach, known mainly for its large amounts of medical mud. Dinner and accomodation.

DAY 10

Breakfast. We head to Tel Aviv – Jaffa. After this we continue to the old port of Jaffa, known from Greek mythology, describing Jaffa, as the place where Adromeda was released by Jason. The history of the harbour reaches almost four thousand years. Over the centuries it had been visited by pharaohs, Alexander the Great and Roman emperors. According to the Apostoles Creed, Jaffa was visited by st Peter as well. The climate of the harbor city and the fishermen settlement had survived untill today and the local Mediterranean beaches are known for its unique beauty. Free time. A walk at the seaside promenade with an opportunity to bath. Drive to the airport and the end of the pilgrimage.

PRICE : FROM $ 980  OR  € 870