PILGRIMAGE TO LALIBELA,

"THE NEW JERUSALEM"

THE ULTIMATE

SPIRITUAL Pilgrimage of a lifetime; to JOURNEY be amongst some of the world’s poorest people and learn how they relate to God Unexpected things like the mosque at Nedash, singing in their everyday life. "Who would true valour see" in a very dark tunnel in Mr & Mrs Waterhouse Lalilbela, coming across a bunch of school children at a It is a beautiful country with an wayside coffee stop, dawn at Wukro. ancient and fascinating history, seen in its stunning churches and palaces Mingling with the crowd at Timket at Lalibela was a reall etc,, and the deep faith of the joy, and seeing the finely orchestrated singing and dancing Ethiopians is awe inspiring. Everyone is so welcoming and keen to share was an especial joy. their faith and traditions. Rev. A Peabody Mrs B. Essam PILGRIMAGE TO LALIBELA ETHOPIA The new Jerusalem

Summer-themed tips and tricks Photo credits for the whole family Richard Hancock Hannah Mornement +Andrew has recently retired, after eight years as Bishop of Reading, in the Diocese of Oxford. Prior to that, he served in the Diocese of Egypt, North Africa and the Horn of Africa for nine years, first as Chaplain of St Matthew's Addis Ababa, then as Area Bishop for the Horn of Africa. He has a deep love of Ethiopia, her peoples and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He is proud to be associated with Tadele Travel and is pleased to invite you to join him on a pilgrimage to Lalibela, Ethiopia's Jerusalem.

I n v i t i n g y o u t o j o i n m e o n a s p i r i t u a l j o u r n e y t h r o u g h t h e a n c i e n t C h r i s t i a n l a n d o f E t h i o p i a

Ethiopia is an extraordinary and beautiful country and her people are friendly and hospitable. The scenery and the birdlife are spectacular. Ethiopia is very much a land of faiths, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which is still growing, is unlike anything you may have experienced before.

If you join us, our pilgrimage destination will be Lalibela which - more than anywhere else in Ethiopia – not only reflects but embodies the antiquity of the nation. Christianity arrived here in the fourth century, and some archaeologists believe that the earliest structures of its famous rock-hewn churches date back to the seventh or eighth centuries.

As we make our way to Lalibela, we will spend our first few days in Addis Ababa to celebrate Timkat. We shall then stay for two nights in Gheralta where we will explore the earliest Christian churches in the country; and a night in Aksum where there are extraordinary pre-Christian stellae and where the Ark the Covenant is believed to be kept, to this day. We will travel to the imperial town of Gonder, a former capital of Ethiopia and the historical centre of theological formation for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. After one night in Gonder we will drive to to visit some of the island monasteries on .

We shall arrive in Addis Ababa in time for the feast of Timket, the Baptism of Christ. Throughout, there will be time to linger, to soak up the atmosphere, and to pray. I will also offer reflections to keep us focused on our purpose as pilgrims.

T A D E L E T R A V E L P I L G R I M A G E P I L G R I M A G E H I G H L I G H T S

I N T H E F O O T S T E P S O F T H E N I N E S A I N T S

In the early 7th century, nine monks from Syria, Lebanon, Greece and Cyprus came to the Christian Kingdom of Ethiopia to ask permission to preach the gospel and set up monasteries across the nation. Their work was to change the monastic life of the Christian Ethiopian forever. They were given the name "the nine saints" for their achievements and their holiness. The Gheralta area is where they started their mission.

T H E A R K O F T H E C O V E N A N T

On the pilgrimage tour, you will visit , the city of the fabled Queen of Sheba. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church claims that the Ark of The Covenant resides here, housed in an old chapel near the Church of our Lady Mariam of Zion.

C H U R C H E S A N D R O Y A L T Y The town of Gonder is commonly known as the "Camelot of Africa". In the 17th century, Gonder was the seat of powerful kings and queens who built some beautiful palaces and churches and fought to keep Orthodox Christianity as the faith of the nation. Exploring this important city will give you a glimpse of Ethiopia in medieval times.

T H E H O L Y L A K E Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile and one of the holiest lakes in Ethiopia. For centuries it has been the guardian of many of Ethiopia's Christian treasures. Twenty of the lake's 37 islands contain monasteries, many founded in the 14th century in the reign of Emperor Amde- Tsion. T H E N E W J E R U S A L E M Lalibela is the holiest Christian site in Africa. Designed to replicate the holiest Christian sites of the Middle East, it was intended for the hordes of pilgrims who perished in the desert on their journey to the Holy Land. Now known as Africa's Jerusalem, Lalibela represents a worthy destination for any pilgrimage today.

T A D E L E T R A V E L P I L G R I M A G E TIMKET - THE BAPTISM 17 - 31 January 2020

Summer-themed tips and tricks for the whole family TIMKET - THE BAPTISM

For Ethiopians, Timket is the most important religious festival of the year; for many visitors, it’s the most spectacular. Thousands of Ethiopians travel to their nearby towns to join in the three-day celebration of Epiphany that starts on 18th January. In Orthodox churches, Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan, and sprinkling (or spraying!) the faithful crowds with holy water is central to this joyous celebration.

The processions are a blaze of colour, splendor and vibrant celebration. Priests and deacons wear richly embroidered robes, and carry ornate crosses, smoking censers, and beautiful fringed umbrellas whose sequins and gold threads gleam in the sunshine. In contrast, the faithful are dressed in simple flowing white shemma (cotton robes). Swaying musicians and clapping members of the public accompany the priests, at some points chanting seriously and at others singing loudly and ululating joyfully. Underneath it all is the steady rhythm of the procession that the priests beat out with their prayer sticks.

Enjoy Timket in Addis Ababa...

T A D E L E T R A V E L P I L G R I M A G E Summer-themed tips and tricks for the whole family T I M K E T - T h e B a p t i s m P i l g r i m a g e - 1 7 - 3 1 J a n 2 0 2 0

D A Y B Y D A Y I T I N E R A R Y

J A N 1 7 : F L Y T O A D D I S A B A B A Fly to Addis Ababa on an overnight flight from London Heathrow that takes just 7 hours and arrives in Addis Ababa at 6:15am local time. J A N 1 8 , 1 9 & 2 0 - A D D I S A B A B A On the 18th morning arrive in Addis and rest for a full morning. After lunch at your hotel we will take a gentle introductory tour of the city. You will visit the National Museum where you are introduced to the three million-year-old bones of ‘Lucy’ and also visit Trinity Cathedral, where Emperor Haile Selassie is buried. We will join the crowd for the Timket procession and follow the Tabot to Jan Meda. T h r e e n i g h t s a t H e y d a y H o t e l J A N 2 1 & 2 2 - G H E R A L T A We take a 65-minute flight to Mekele in the region of Tigray and then drive 80km to Gheralta. As well as visiting monasteries nearby dating back to the 3rd century, we will also visit Al Negash, the earliest Muslim settlement in Africa (516 AD). Gheralta is a place of prayer and contemplation.

T w o n i g h t s a t G h e r a l t a L o d g e J A N 2 3 - A K S U M We continue by road to Axum, a 2 hour journey through beautiful scenery. Axum is the ancient capital of the land of the Queen of Sheba, and there you will view the obelisks of the stelae field, Queen of Sheba’s Palace and the reputed resting place of the Ark of the Covenant in the church of St Mary of Zion.

O n e n i g h t a t S a b e a n H o t e l J A N 2 4 , 2 5 , 2 6 , & 2 7 - L A L I B E L A We take a short flight to Lalibela of 25 minutes. Lalibela is the centrepiece for this pilgrimage, and our arrival is timed for us to enjoy the wonders of its churches, before joining the festival celebrating the martyrdom of St George on 27th January. F o u r n i g h t s a t T u k u l V i l l a g e H o t e l

J A N 2 8 - G O N D E R We take the midday flight from Lalibela to the royal city of Gonder, famous for its medieval castles and churches. We will tour the Royal Enclosure of Fasil Ginb and then continue to the beautifully decorated church of Debre Berhan Selassie. O n e n i g h t a t G o h a H o t e l J A N 2 9 & 3 0 - L A K E T A N A We make the scenic drive to Bahir Dar on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, and visit the monastery of Debre Sina Mariam. We then go by boat to Dek island and visit Narga Selassie monastery continuing to the Zege Peninsula to visit Ura Kidane Mihret. We then walk through the forest to visit Azwa Maryam Monastery before returning to Bahir Dar. T w o n i g h t s a t B l u e N i l e r e s o r t J A N 3 1 - A D D I S A B A B A We take the noon flight back to Addis Ababa and have a farewell dinner at one of the traditional restaurants in the city, with a final chance to enjoy Ethiopian traditional music then home on the late night flight to London.

D a y b a s e a t H e y d a y H o t e l

T A D E L E T R A V E L P I L G R I M A G E F U L L Y - I N C L U S I V E T O U R P R I C E £ 2 , 8 5 0

W H A T ' S I N C L U D E D H O T E L S

Return Economy flight from London to We use hotels and lodges that are owned by the Addis Ababa local people. They all are simple, clean and fit for 3 domestic flights the purpose. 13 nights’ accommodation in twin-bedded S I N G L E R O O M S U P P L E M E N T rooms A limited number of single rooms are available on Full board throughout the trip this tour at a supplementary cost of £400. We advise Full programme of visits as per the you to book early to avoid disappointment. itinerary All transport services, internal flights and F I N A N C I A L S E C U R I T Y airport taxes in Ethiopia Your pilgrimage tour is financially protected by our English speaking national guide ATOL bonded scheme. When we confirm your throughout booking, you will be supplied with an ATOL admission fees where applicable Certificate. Our ATOL License number is 11251. comprehensive briefing notes I N S U R A N C E W H A T ' S N O T I N C L U D E D It is a condition of travelling with us that you should Entrance visa fee ($50) take out adequate travel insurance for your tour and Travel insurance that your insurance cover is appropriate for your Alcoholic drinks particular needs.

V I S A F I T N E S S L E V E L An entry visa is required to enter the country. Ethiopia is a mountainous country, and most of the You can either apply online or get it on arrival. historical and pilgrimage sites are in the Highlands Make sure your passport has a six-month where the altitude is generally above 2000m. This validity beyond your return date from Ethiopia. requires a reasonable level of fitness to be able to walk If you do not obtain a visa before travelling to on uneven terrain and climb stairs, which might be the Ethiopia, you will need $50 in hard currency to case even when visiting churches. pay for your visa on arrival. E T H I O P I A N F O O D Western food such as pasta, rice, meat and vegetarian S A F E T Y A N D S E C U R I T Y stews, and breakfast cereals are available. If you’re The safety and security of our clients is of more adventurous, it’s worth trying spicy Ethiopian paramount importance. While the destinations food and injera, the pancake-like staple that comes of our itineraries have all been chosen with this with most food. Stews are often spiced with berbere, a mind, we are constantly tracking all security distinctive Ethiopian mix of spices that include chilli, issues in Ethiopia and the surrounding regions. garlic and cardomom.

R E S E R V A T I O N A N D P A Y M E N T S

To reserve your place on this pilgrimage please complete a Booking Form and send to Tadele Travel with a deposit of £500. You can request a booking form by emailing [email protected] A second payment of £1500 will be due by 31 August 2019. Third payment of £850 due 21 November 2019.

For any assistance call GIRMA on Mob + 44 (0) 7986 732 784 OR +44 (0) 1273 286 478 PENTECOST & The fasting of the Apostles

5-19 June 2020

Summer-themed tips and tricks for the whole family PENTECOST & The fasting of the Apostles The Feast of Pentecost - fifty days after Easter and the same time as the spring harvest festival in ancient Israel - is one of the most important in the Christian calendar. It was then that the Holy Spirit was poured out onto the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem and, through them, has been poured out ever since, into the whole creation. It was then that God was fully revealed as an eternally loving relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Because of Pentecost, Christ is still with us now. It was then that the Church’s sacraments became more than mere memorials, and it was then that our Kingdom mission to reveal God’s love to the world began and how it continues. It is how God chooses to dwell in us to shape and love and perfect us in God’s service, for the sake of this world God loves so much. It is Pentecost that makes us one - and it will be beautiful to celebrate all this with our Ethiopian Orthodox sisters and brothers.

Throughout this pilgrimage we will travel in the season of "The Fasting of the Apostles". It is one of the oldest fasts in the Ethiopian Orthodox church and was previously known as the “Fast of Pentecost” or the “Fast of the Disciples.” However, during the Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325 AD, its name was changed to “Fast of the Apostles” which has carried through to the present day. The fasting lasts 35 days from the Monday of Pentecost. A very early collection of Syriac hymns, beloved of the Ethiopian Church, celebrates it like this:

“A stream has welled up, it has become a torrent.... It has flooded the universe, it has converged on the temple. No bank or dam could halt it.... It has spread over the whole face of the earth and replenished it completely. all who were thirsty have drunk of it and their thirst has been quenched, for the Most High has given them to drink. By means of the living water they live for ever. Alleluia!” T A D E L E T R A V E L P I L G R I M A G E Summer-themed tips and tricks for the whole family PENTECOST: the Fasting of the Apostles Pilgrimage 5 - 19 June 2020

D A Y B Y D A Y I T I N E R A R Y

J U N 5 - F L Y T O A D D I S A B A B A Fly to Addis Ababa on an overnight flight from London Heathrow that take just 7 hours, and arrive in Addis Ababa at 6:15am local time. J U N 6 & 7 - A D D I S A B A B A On the 6th morning we arrive in Addis. After a restful morning and lunch at your hotel we take an introductory tour of the city. We will visit the National Museum where you are introduced to the three million-year-old bones of ‘Lucy’, and also visit Trinity Cathedral, where Emperor Haile Selassie is buried. On the 7th June we will celebrate Pentecost with Ethiopian Orthodox Christians. T w o n i g h t s a t H e y d a y H o t e l J U N 8 & 9 - G H E R A L T A We take a 65-minute flight to Mekele in the region of Tigray and then drive 80km to Gheralta. As well as visiting monasteries nearby dating back to the 3rd century, we will also visit Al Negash, the earliest Muslim settlement in Africa (516 AD). Gheralta is a place of prayer and contemplation.

T w o n i g h t s a t G h e r a l t a L o d g e J U N 1 0 - A K S U M We continue by road to Axum, a 2 hour journey through beautiful scenery. Axum is the ancient capital of the land of the Queen of Sheba, and there you will view the obelisks of the stelae field, Queen of Sheba’s Palace and the reputed resting place of the Ark of the Covenant in the church of St Mary of Zion. O n e n i g h t a t S a b e a n H o t e l J U N 1 1 & 1 2 - G O N D E R We take the midday flight from Axum to the royal city of Gonder, famous for its medieval castles and churches. We will tour the Royal Enclosure of Fasil Ginb and then continue to the beautifully decorated church of Debre Berhan Selassie. We will also drive out for a day trip in the Simien Mountains National Park.

T w o n i g h t s a t G o h a H o t e l J U N 1 3 & 1 4 - L A K E T A N A We make the scenic drive to Bahir Dar on Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile, and visit the monastery of Debre Sina Mariam. We then go by boat to Dek island and visit Narga Selassie monastery continuing to the Zege Peninsula to visit Ura Kidane Mihret. We then walk through the forest to visit Azwa Maryam Monastery before returning to Bahir Dar. T w o n i g h t s a t B l u e N i l e r e s o r t

J U N 1 5 , 1 6 , 1 7 & 1 8 - L A L I B E L A We spend a full day on the road from Bahir Dar to Lalibela. Lalibela is Africa’s Jerusalem. We will visit the extraordinary rock-hewn churches. We will pray with local people, priests & deacons and share our common religious knowledge. Friday the 19th of June is an exciting day in Lalibela, as a double saint’s day celebrating St. Lalibela and St. Micheal. Our spiritual journey ends with a spectacular morning. F o u r n i g h t s a t T u k u l V i l l a g e H o t e l J U N 1 9 : A D D I S A B A B A We take the noon flight back to Addis Ababa and have a farewell dinner at one of the traditional restaurants in the city, with a final chance to enjoy Ethiopian traditional music then home on the late night flight to London.

D a y b a s e a t H e y d a y H o t e l

T A D E L E T R A V E L P I L G R I M A G E F U L L Y - I N C L U S I V E T O U R P R I C E £ 2 , 8 5 0

W H A T ' S I N C L U D E D H O T E L S

Return Economy flight from London to We use hotels and lodges that are owned by the Addis Ababa local people. They all are simple, clean and fit for 3 domestic flights the purpose. 13 nights’ accommodation in twin-bedded S I N G L E R O O M S U P P L E M E N T rooms A limited number of single rooms are available on Full board throughout the trip this tour at a supplementary cost of £400. We advise Full programme of visits as per the you to book early to avoid disappointment. itinerary All transport services, internal flights and F I N A N C I A L S E C U R I T Y airport taxes in Ethiopia Your pilgrimage tour is financially protected by our English speaking national guide ATOL bonded scheme. When we confirm your throughout booking, you will be supplied with an ATOL admission fees where applicable Certificate. Our ATOL License number is 11251. comprehensive briefing notes I N S U R A N C E W H A T ' S N O T I N C L U D E D It is a condition of travelling with us that you should Entrance visa fee ($50) take out adequate travel insurance for your tour and Travel insurance that your insurance cover is appropriate for your Alcoholic drinks particular needs.

V I S A F I T N E S S L E V E L An entry visa is required to enter the country. Ethiopia is a mountainous country, and most of the You can either apply online or get it on arrival. historical and pilgrimage sites are in the Highlands Make sure your passport has a six-month where the altitude is generally above 2000m. This validity beyond your return date from Ethiopia. requires a reasonable level of fitness to be able to walk If you do not obtain a visa before travelling to on uneven terrain and climb stairs, which might be the Ethiopia, you will need $50 in hard currency to case even when visiting churches. pay for your visa on arrival. E T H I O P I A N F O O D Western food such as pasta, rice, meat and vegetarian S A F E T Y A N D S E C U R I T Y stews, and breakfast cereals are available. If you’re The safety and security of our clients is of more adventurous, it’s worth trying spicy Ethiopian paramount importance. While the destinations food and injera, the pancake-like staple that comes of our itineraries have all been chosen with this with most food. Stews are often spiced with berbere, a mind, we are constantly tracking all security distinctive Ethiopian mix of spices that include chilli, issues in Ethiopia and the surrounding regions. garlic and cardomom.

R E S E R V A T I O N A N D P A Y M E N T S

To reserve your place on this pilgrimage please complete a Booking Form and send to Tadele Travel with a deposit of £500. You can request a booking form by emailing [email protected] A second payment of £1500 will be due by 31 January 2020. Third payment of £850 due 01 April 2020.

For any assistance call GIRMA on Mob + 44 (0) 7986 732 784 OR +44 (0) 1273 286478 THE ULTIMATE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

T A D E L E T R A V E L

Tadele Travel limited is an Ethiopian tour operator specialising in providing travellers with extraordinary experiences of Ethiopia. Sales office - Brighton, UK Operations - Addis Ababa & Lalibela, Ethiopia

S P E A K T O A N E X P E R T

If you have any questions or want to understand more about Ethiopia, please call the following numbers:

Call us on : +44 (0)1273 286 478 Mob: +44 (0)7986 732 784 Email - [email protected]

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