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Pilgrimage & Tours
As Dame and Knight of the Holy Sepulchre with over 20 years of experience in the christian pilgrimage sector, we can guarantee you a life-changing spiritual experience that brings you back to the roots of your faith. Being members of the Equestrian order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, we work alongside the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem (the Catholic archbishop of the Holy Land) for the benefit of the local Christian community. We can arrange meetings with Catholic church leaders. We work with local Catholic licensed tour guides and provide reservations in catholic guest houses that are owned and run by the Catholic church. Moreover we are happy to arrange retreats and conferences as well as visits to various projects that are aimed at preserving the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, you will be met and greeted by your tour guide. You will drive to your hotel, where you will spend the next three nights. Dinner will be at your hotel.
After breakfast we will drive to the Mount of Olives for a breathtaking panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem. From this point you can see much of what makes Jerusalem such a unique city to the three major religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. We will visit the Chapel of the Ascension and the Pater Noster church commemorating the Lord’s Prayer, then walk the Palm Sunday road to the Dominus Flevit Church, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. From there we will proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane to visit the Church of all Nations for Mass on the Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed on Holy Thursday before his betrayal. After lunch, we will drive to Mount Zion to visit Dormition Abbey, the site of the death of Mary, and the Cenacle, the site of the Last Supper and the Pentecost. Nearby is the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, which commemorates the evening of Holy Thursday, where Jesus was imprisoned for the night and where Peter denied Jesus three times, the site of the high priest Caiaphas. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. At your request, a possible guest speaker following dinner.
The Passion of Jesus´ Last Hours. We start the day very early in the morning with Holy Mass at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. Proceed to the Temple area where we see the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and then St. Anne’s Church, the birthplace of the Blessed Mother. Also on the site is the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus cured the lame man. After lunch we will proceed along the Via Dolorosa to the Chapel of the Flagellation where our Lord was scourged, and visit the Ecce Homo church. We will continue along the Via Dolorosa, praying at the Stations of the Cross, remembering the last steps of Jesus through Jerusalem on Good Friday and reflecting on the greatness of his sacrifice. We will finish at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus was crucified and buried. We will visit his empty tomb and reflect on the fact that our Lord is indeed risen. We’ll have free time at the church for prayers and reflection as well as for walking in the Holy City to experience the culture of Old Jerusalem at our leisure. Dinner is served at our hotel.
After breakfast we will drive to Bethany, where we will visit the Tomb of Lazarus, a dear friend whom Jesus raised from the dead. Here we will celebrate mass. Afterwards we will go to Qumran for lunch, after which we will see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and learn more about the culture that created them. We will also enjoy a float in the nearby Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth and a fascinating natural phenomenon known for its healing properties offering one of the most unique experiences on earth. Back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast we will head to the village of Ein Karem, the site of the birthplace of St. John the Baptist, then visit the Church of the Visitation, where the Virgin Mary, visited her cousin Elizabeth, pregnant with St. John the Baptist, and proclaimed the Magnificat. We will visit the Model City of Jerusalem in Jesus’ time, also the Shrine of the Book to view the Dead Sea Scrolls. Drive to the Shepherd’s Fields in Beit Sahour, where the heavenly host of angels announced the birth of Jesus. After lunch, we will drive to Bethlehem to visit the place of our Lord’s birth in the Basilica of the Nativity, the oldest continually operating church in the world, dating back to the year 327 A.D. See the chapel of St. Jerome and the Church of St. Catherine where mass will be celebrated followed by time to shop for authentic olive wood products, mother-of-pearl and religious souvenirs at one of the local Christian stores in Bethlehem. We will return to our hotel for a special farewell dinner where each group member is presented with a gift of a colorful Catholic pilgrimage certificate issued by the Franciscan Pilgrimage Office in Jerusalem.
We will depart Jerusalem and head towards Tiberias. On our way we will visit the Oasis town of Jericho, see the excavations of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Visit Elijah’s Fountain, Tel Jericho, The Sycamore Tree, view Mount of Temptations where Jesus was tempted for 40 days by Satan. After lunch, we will drive through the Jordan Valley until we will reach the Baptismal site on the Jordan River. Here we will celebrate Mass outdoors and renew our baptismal vows. Drive to Galilee for Dinner and overnight.
We will focus on the ministry of Christ during his time in Galilee. After breakfast we will drive to Capernaum, home of Jesus during his public ministry, where he performed miracles and healings. There we will see the ruins of the local synagogue and St. Peter’s house where Jesus would have stayed while ministering in the area. Nearby, we will visit the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, where Jesus appeared to the apostles after his resurrection and instructed Peter to feed His sheep. There will be an unforgettable Mass on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, after which we will enjoy a peaceful boat ride across the Sea where Christ walked on water. After a stop for lunch, we will visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes in Tabgha, then ascend to the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where we will have time for readings and meditation. Then we will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast we will visit Nazareth, the town of Jesus’ childhood, to visit the Basilica of Annunciation, then visit the holy cave where Mary lived, St. Joseph’s Workshop and Mary’s Well. We will drive to Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle and changed water into wine at the wedding feast. Here we will have the renewal of marriage vows and the blessing of families. After lunch we will ascend Mount Tabor, the place of Jesus’ Transfiguration, where we celebrate Mass, and have some time for meditation and pray while enjoying the view of the valley of Armageddon. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.
After breakfast we will drive to Haifa, where we will visit Mount Carmel, home of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, for a scenic view of the city and the port. We will visit Stella Maris, a Carmelite monastery that houses the shrine of our lady of Mount Carmel where we will celebrate Mass. See Muhraka, where Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal and where the Carmelite order began. Drive north to the port city of Acre UNESCO World Heritage Site. Acre became the capital of the Crusader Kingdom after its conquest by Richard the Lionheart. Marvel at the forbidding Ottoman fortress and tour the excavated part of the immense underground CRUSADER CITY with its secret passageways and the vaulted crypt of the Knights of St. John. After lunch we will drive south the ancient Roman Capital with visits to the theater, Aqueduct and Crusader Ruins of Caesarea Maritima. Dinner and overnight in Tel Aviv.
Board your flight from Tel Aviv to your home destination. Take time to reflect on all you have seen during your visit to the Holy Land.
A number of adjustments to your itinerary is possible at your request. Guest speakers on various topics can be arranged as well as meetings with church leaders and visits to various projects aimed at supporting Christian presence in the Holy Land. Contact us for more information on focused tours and allow us to help tailor your trip to your group’s specific interests and needs.