Itinerary for May 15-28, 2014 Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Papal Mass in Bethlehem Jeff Cavins, Host
15MAY Friday ~ Depart USA for Israel.
16MAY Friday ~ Our flight arrives at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv in the morning. An Amiel Tours representative is on hand to assist as we clear customs & collect our luggage. We board our coach & depart for Jerusalem. Mass and Orientation will be held at hotel. Overnight Olive Tree Hotel, Jerusalem. D
17MAY Saturday ~ Jerusalem, Mt of Olives, Gethsemane, Israel Museum ~ From the top of the Mt of Olives we view the Old City of Jerusalem. The Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock dominates the view. We walk down the “Palm Sunday Way” to Dominus Flevit & the Garden of Gethsemane. Mass is at the Church of the Agony. At the Israel Museum we see the model of 1st Century Jerusalem & the Shrine of the Book, which tells the story of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Overnight Olive Tree Hotel, Jerusalem. B D
18MAY Sunday ~ Jewish Quarter, Southern Steps of the Temple Mount, City of David, Mt Zion, St Peter in Gallicantu, Caiaphas’ house, Upper Room ~ Returning to the Old City, we explore the Jewish Quarter & the amazing discoveries found after the destruction of the Jewish Quarter in the 6 Day War in 1967. The City of David, the oldest part of Jerusalem, tells the story from the earliest days when David conquered Jerusalem. Mass is at St Peter in Gallicantu, where we also visit the High Priest Caiaphas’ house. We finish at the Upper Room on Mt Zion. Tonight we have the opportunity to visit the Kotel or Western Wall tunnels. Overnight Olive Tree Hotel, Jerusalem. B D
19MAY Monday ~ St Anne’s Church, Via Dolorosa, Ein Kerem ~ We enter the Old City at the Lion’s Gate. By St Anne’s Basilica are the Pools of Bethesda. We start the Via Dolorosa nearby, carrying the Cross with meditation at each of the Stations of the Cross. Mass at Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In the afternoon we are in Ein Kerem, the home of John the Baptist. We walk up to the Visitation Church to see the “Magnificat” in many languages, celebrating Mary’s song. Overnight Olive Tree Hotel, Jerusalem. B D
20MAY Tuesday ~ Free Day or Elah Valley, Emmaus, Jaffa ~ We travel through Old Testament lands to the Elah Valley where David slew Goliath. Mass is at a site associated with ancient Emmaus, the Roman city of Emmaus Nicopolis, where we remember how Jesus’ revealed Himself to those who walked on the road to Emmaus. Our last visit is to the ancient port of Jaffa (Joppa.) This is the city of Jonah’s defection & Peter’s vision at the home of Simon the Tanner- one of the oldest cities in the world. Today it is a charming artist community. Overnight Olive Tree Hotel, Jerusalem. B D
21MAY Wednesday ~ Judean Wilderness, Jordan, Mt Nebo, Madaba, Dead Sea ~ Departing Jerusalem, we head east through the Judean Wilderness. We cross to Jordan via the Allenby Bridge. Upon entering Jordan, we are in the area mentioned often in the Bible but perhaps most known from the book of Ruth. In Madaba we visit St. George’s Church which houses a mosaic map of ancient Israel. On Mt Nebo, the mountain from which Moses viewed the Promised land, we have a panoramic view of the Israel. Tonight we are on the east shore of the Dead Sea. The resort hotel has a beach on the shore as well as Dead Sea water pools in the spa for us to experience the buoyant waters. Overnight Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea Jordan. B D
22MAY – Thursday - Petra ~ After mass at the hotel, we travel to the Nabataean city of Petra. This is an ancient city famous for its carved architecture in the reddish stone that gives it a unique color. It became a very important stop on the Nabataean incense route. It is the most visited site in Jordan & considered one of the top places to visit in a lifetime. There is the opportunity to ride a horse down to the beginning of the canyon or “siq” that leads to the city. We walk through the natural gorge of reddish stone to the Treasury & the city beyond. Biblically, this is thought to be the area where the Edomites lived, the people who would not let Moses & the Israelites pass through. Overnight Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea Jordan. B D
23MAY – Friday – Israel via Allenby Bridge, Qsar El Yehud, Bethlehem ~ This morning we enjoy the Dead Sea & the hotel facilities before a late start to head back to the Allenby Bridge, rejoining our Israeli coach & guide. Mass is nearby at Qasar El Yehud, the wilderness part of the Jordan River thought to be where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. It is also where Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. We arrive at our hotel in Bethlehem. Overnight Intercontinental, Bethlehem. B D
24MAY – Saturday – Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity, Shepherd’s Fields ~ Today we visit the many sites in Bethlehem. The present church, The Church of the Nativity, was built in the 6th century. We visit the Nativity Grotto, marked as the place of the birth & the manger. Right next to the Church of the Nativity is St. Catherine’s Catholic Church & the entrance to St. Jerome’s Grotto where he translated the Hebrew scripture into Latin in the mid-4th century. The Shepherds’ Fields excavation reveal caves where the shepherds lived & cared for their flocks & the remains of early churches, clearly a destination for early pilgrims. We visit a shop owned by Palestinian Christians & this is an opportunity to buy the olive wood carvings & other souvenirs items. Overnight Intercontinental, Bethlehem. B D
25MAY – Sunday – Bethlehem, Papal Mass in Manger Square, Jerusalem ~ This morning is free time in Bethlehem until the papal mass in Manger Square. After mass we board our coach to travel to the Galilee. Overnight Ma’agan Resort Village, Galilee. B D
26MAY – Monday – Boatride/ Capernaum/ Primacy of Peter/ Mt of Beatitudes/ BeitSaide/ Korazim ~ We begin our day on the Sea of Galilee. The wooden boat is much larger, but reminds us of the fishing boats from Jesus’ time. At Capernaum we have mass in the church built over St Peter’s house, the place of worship for the earliest Christians. Nearby, sitting on the shore of the lake, is the church that recalls when Christ restored Peter, the Primacy of Peter. We will have time to meditate at the Mt of Beatitudes, which overlooks the Sea of Galilee, near where the “Sermon on the Mount” was given. BetSaide, a more recently confirmed site, is Peter’s birthplace. Korazim overlooks the lake & gives us another example of a 1st century synagogue. Together with Capernaum, these cities are cursed by Jesus. Overnight Ma’agan Resort Village, Galilee. B D
27MAY – Tuesday – Magdala/ Nazareth/ Mt Carmel/ Caesarea Maritima ~ (Those of our group who arrived earlier depart for the airport this morning. The rest continue the tour of the Galilee.) Another recently confirmed site is Magdala, Mary Magdalene’s village. We continue west to Nazareth where we have mass at the Church of the Annunciation. We continue to Mt Carmel, where Elijah defeated the priests of Ba’al with God’s help. The view of the Jezreel Valley from the top gives us the setting of many biblical references & stories. Caesarea Maritima, the site of the first Gentile convert, is on the Sitting on the Mediterranean Sea. The theater, remains of Herod’s palace & hippodrome gives us a view of life in a 1st century Roman city. After a stop for a snack, we end at the airport in time to check in for our midnight flight home. B
28MAY ~ Wednesday ~ Arrival home ~ After clearing customs in our arrival city, we continue home with wonderful memories of our visit to the Holy Land!
WELCOME HOME!