Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Depart UK on our direct flight to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport. Upon arrival your guide and coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Bethlehem. Evening dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast we walk to the Manger Square - the Basilica of the Nativity - to start our walking tour for today. We first visit The Grotto inside the Nativity Church where Jesus was born and afterwards, we tour the church - the Franciscan Church of the Nativity; we also see the church of St Catherine, St Jerome’s’ Cave and tomb and St Joseph’s Grotto where we celebrate Mass. We then walk to the Milk Grotto - the Museum of the Miracles. Lunch here and afterwards, coach to Shepherd’s Field, visit the Grottos there and visit the Chapel above - where the angels first sang the ‘Gloria in Excelcis Deo’ on the night of the first Christmas. We may sing Christmas Carols here. Before we return to the hotel, we have a chance to do some shopping for religious articles produced in Bethlehem. Dinner at the hotel.

Early departure to Jerusalem and to the Old City (Lions Gate). We first visit the beautiful church of St Anne’s where Our Lady was born and the Pool of Bethesda. Proceed to the Shrine of the Flagellation where we begin the Stations of the Cross along Via Dolorosa, following the route Our Lord walked on the first Good Friday. We will take turns to carry a cross here changing at every station, and finish in the Holy Sepulchre Basilica - the holiest place for all Catholics. We celebrate Mass in the Chapel of Apparition. Afterwards visit Mt Calvary, the Holy Tomb of Jesus, St Mary Magdalene’s Shrine and visit the Grotto of the True Cross. Lunch. We walk to Mt Zion to visit the Upper Room (last supper) and the tomb of King David and move on to visit the magnificent Dormition Abbey where Our Lady was assumed to heaven. Return to our hotel. Evening dinner here.

After breakfast we visit the School of Joy and the organisation founded by Fr Mamdouh Abusada who supports young people and disabled children by providing them with a full education through the organisation. We also visit Martha’s House another charity organisation dedicated to support vulnerable old women, especially widows whose families are no longer able to support them. We will celebrate Mass in one of the local churches here. We leave Bethlehem and check-in to our hotel in Jerusalem where we will stay for the next 3 nights. Evening dinner at the hotel.

We travel to Bethany to visit St Lazarus’s Church - (home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary). We celebrate Mass here. Proceed to Jericho, view the Mt of Temptation and Zacchaeus’s Sycamore Tree. Lunch in Qumran/Jericho. Continue to the Dead Sea for the floating experience. Dead Sea salt is composed of many minerals that have therapeutic qualities, and which are good for your skin. Israel is famous around the world for producing such products.

After breakfast coach to the summit of Mt of Olives where we visit Ascension Dome, Pater Noster Grotto, where Jesus taught His Prayer, Our Father. We descend towards Dominus Flevit where Jesus wept when he foresaw the destruction of Jerusalem. We celebrate Mass here. We continue the descent to Gethsemane Garden and the Basilica - the church of the Agony. We spend a few minutes for prayer and reflection in front of the Rock of the Agony. Proceed to St Peter’s in Gallicantu - a truly incredible Shrine - and visit the dungeon where Jesus was imprisoned after His mock trial on Maundy Thursday night. We then drive to the beautiful village of Ein Karem just outside Jerusalem, where we see the Visitation Shrine of Our Lady and the Birthplace of St John the Baptist. Return to our hotel and evening dinner.

Before we leave Bethlehem, we visit the Western Wall - the holiest site in Judaism. We leave Jerusalem today and we will be staying in Tiberias for the next 2 nights. We drive along the Judean desert toward the north and Nazareth. Here we visit the beautiful Basilica of the Annunciation (that dominates the skyline of Nazareth); we visit the Grotto where the Annunciation took place (we spend some time for prayers and reflection in front at the Grotto) and afterwards we celebrate Mass at the Upper Basilica. Lunch. We walk across to the other side of the church and visit St Joseph’s Grotto, then to the Synagogue of Jesus and Mary’s Well (St George’s church). Proceed to Cana where Jesus performed his first miracles and renewal of Marriage Vows. A souvenir certificate can be purchased (cost £5.) as well as Cana Wine to take home with you. We then travel to Tiberias “Yardenit - Jordan River” for renewal of our Baptismal Vows. Proceed to Proceed to Galilee and check-in to our hotel and evening dinner here.

After breakfast we drive towards the Sea of Galilee to visit Mt of Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount took place, followed by St Peter’s Primacy where Christ appeared to the Apostles after His Resurrection, and we celebrate Mass here before moving on to visit the church of the Feeding of the 5,000 (Tabgha). We will have lunch in St. Peter’s restaurant. Afterwards we have a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee (one of the highlights of your pilgrimage) and then to Capernaum - the town of Jesus, where we visit the Church of St Peter and other remains of the ancient synagogue where Jesus used to teach. Drive back to our hotel. Evening dinner at the hotel.

We check-out of the hotel and take the coach to the foot of Mt Tabor. Here we take a minibus in a beautifully scenic drive to the summit, where we visit the Church of Transfiguration. We descend and continue driving further north to Haifa - Mt Carmel and visit the Basilica of Our Lady Star of the Sea - Carmelite Headquarters and we visit the church and the Cave of Prophet Elija. We also visit the Sanctuary of the Carmelites Fathers and have an opportunity to view the impressive Gardens and Bahá’í Temple. If time allows, we will