HOLY LAND & JORDAN In the Footsteps of the Magi WITH FR. DWIGHT LONGENECKER Author of Mystery of the Magi SEPTEMBER 6-18, 2018 www.catholicheritagetours.com/FDLHL | (800) 290-3876 HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE: Jerusalem: Old City, Mt. of Olives, Mt. Zion, Church of the Holy Sepulcher Ein Karem: St. John the Baptist Bethlehem: Shepherds’ Field, Church of the Nativity, Milk Grotto Sea of Galilee: Tabgha, Mt. of Beatitudes, Magdala, Capernaum Mt. Tabor: Transfiguration site Cana: Miracle of the wedding feast, renewal of wedding vows Nazareth: Basilica of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s shop Jordan River: Baptismal Site of Our Lord Jericho: oldest city in the world Herodion: Herod the Great’s Mausoleum Avdat: city along the incense route, where the Three Magi may have stopped Petra: the “Siq,” the Monastery, the Treasury, the Old City, spice route which may have been taken by the Three Kings Mt. Nebo: where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land Jerash: ruins of the walled Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa, including Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Artemis, and the Forum’s oval colonnade TRIP ITINERARY:* Day 1. Thursday, September 6: Transatlantic flight Avdat, which would have been a main rest stop for caravans traveling Board your flight to Amman, Jordan. from Petra. Frankincense and myrrh were common goods traded along this incense route. Overnight and dinner in Beersheba. (BB, D) Day 2. Friday, September 7: Amman After a late arrival in Amman, board your private motor-coach and Day 7. Wednesday, September 12: Beersheba – Herodion – transfer directly to your hotel. Bethlehem – Jerusalem This morning, depart Beersheba and head to the Judean hills. Along the Day 3. Saturday, September 8: Amman – Jerash – Amman way, stop at Herodion, the highest hill in the Judean desert upon which Enjoy a free morning to rest from your transatlantic flight. In the the largest Roman Palace in the 1st century AD was situated and which afternoon, visit the ancient city of Jerash, inhabited since the Bronze would later become Herod the Great’s Mausoleum. Visit the Palace, Age and known for the ruins of the walled Greco-Roman settlement. including the new excavations and the remains of Herod’s Burial Place. Between 400-600 AD the Christians built more than thirteen churches, Continue for a visit to the Shepherds’ Field, where angels gave them many with superb mosaic floors. Continue with a panoramic view of the “tidings of great joy” of the birth of the Messiah. This afternoon, in Amman and the city walls. Dinner and overnight in Amman. (BB, D) Bethlehem visit the Church of the Nativity, site of the Christ Child’s birth, and the nearby Milk Grotto where the Magi visited the newborn Day 4. Sunday, September 9: Amman – Mt. Nebo – Madaba – Petra Messiah. Continue to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (BB, D) While traveling from Amman to Petra, visit Mt. Nebo, where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land. Continue for a visit to the Day 8. Thursday, September 13: Jerusalem: Temple Mount, Monastery of St. George in Madaba to see a 6th-century mosaic floor Israel Museum, Citadel of David map of the Holy Land. Continue to view the high hill fort of Sela and Begin with a visit to the Temple Mount, where the Jewish Temple the temple ruins at Khirbet Et-Tannur, one of the best-preserved and stood at the time of Christ. Then, visit the Pools of Bethesda where most intact examples of a Nabataean open-air sanctuary. Arrive in Jesus healed the paralytic. Visit the Church of St. Anne, built over the Petra for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D) house where the Virgin Mary was born. Tour the Israel Museum and see the model of Jerusalem on a scale of 1:50 that shows the city in the Day 5. Monday, September 10: Petra first century AD. Next is the Citadel of David, walking up to the Phasael Enjoy a morning guided sightseeing of Petra. Walk through the “Siq,” tower, the only edifice of 1st century AD Jerusalem that is still standing. an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone, which some say could be From here, enjoy a great view of the city. Visit the newly-excavated the very “rock” that Moses split in two and from which water poured remains of Herod’s twin palace, which may have been where the Magi forth. 2,000 years ago the Nabateans carved a city out of the rose red were summoned to meet the vicious King Herod who inquired about rock. Admire the Treasury, known as El Khazneh, one of the most the newborn King. Finish with the Wailing Wall and western wall elegant remains of antiquity. In the Old City of Petra, see the ruins of excavations, the holiest site for the Jewish people, and walk the very an ancient pagan temple and many tombs carved into the rose red rock same streets that Jesus walked. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. face. Visit the Monastery, for those able and willing to climb the 800 (BB, D) steps leading up to it. View the ancient passageways across the Arava Desert along the spice route leading to Port of Gaza, which most Day 9. Friday, September 14: Jerusalem: Mt. of Olives, Mt. Zion, probably was taken by the Magi coming from the east heading toward Ein Karem Judea along the ancient roads. Dinner and overnight in Petra. (BB, L, D) Visit the Mount of Olives, where Jesus so often retired for prayer, and enjoy a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Then to the Pater Noster shrine, Day 6. Tuesday, September 11: Petra – Incense Route – Beersheba where Jesus taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer. Walk down Palm Travel south along Wadi Rum valley towards Aqaba, crossing the Sunday Road and stop at Dominus Flevit Church, where Jesus wept over border near the Red Sea into Israel. Meet your Israeli Christian guide Jerusalem. In Gethsemane, reflect on Jesus’ final night on this earth. and driver, and proceed along the Arava region to the incense road to The Garden contains trees whose roots date back to the time of Jesus. Visit the Church of All Nations to pray at the “Rock of Agony,” a section of bedrock where Jesus prayed alone on the night of His arrest. Continue to the house of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Our Lord was interrogated and imprisoned; now called Peter in Gallicantu “crowing rooster.” This beautiful church also commemorates St. Peter’s denial of Christ. Continue to Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room, site of the Last Supper and the institution of the priesthood and the Holy Eucharist. Nearby is the Church of the Dormition, where the Virgin Mary died — or “fell asleep,” as the name suggests. This afternoon, journey to Ein Karem to visit the birthplace of St. John the Baptist and the Church of the Visitation where the Virgin Mary visited her cousin, St. Elizabeth. Overnight in Jerusalem. (BB, D) Day 10. Saturday, September 15: Jerusalem: Way of the Cross – Baptismal Site – Jericho – Qumran – Dead Sea – Tiberias Early in the morning, walk and pray in the very footsteps of Christ along the Via Dolorosa, concluding at the Holy Sepulcher Church, constructed on the traditional site of Golgotha, the crucifixion and burial site of Our Lord. Then, visit Jericho, one of the world’s oldest cities, for a distant view of the Mount of Temptations. It was here that Jesus healed Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, and dined with Zaccheus, the rich tax collector. Visit Bet Arabah, the site of Jesus’ baptism at the Jordan River. Then visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue down to the Dead Sea to wade if desired. Depart for Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (BB, D) Day 11. Sunday, September 16: Sea of Galilee After breakfast, enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. After this, see the remains of a boat that dates from the time of Jesus, found buried deep in the mud of the Sea. Continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, the scene of Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount. Nearby is Tabgha, where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 during the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Continue to the site known as “Peter’s Primacy.” Here, after His resurrection, Jesus met with His disciples and told St. Peter, “feed My lambs; feed My sheep.” Today’s lunch is the famous, traditional “St. Peter’s fish.” Afterwards, visit the remains of the fishing village of Magdala, where tradition says St. Mary Magdalene was born. In 2009 a chance discovery revealed a 1st century synagogue of Galilee. End the day at Capernaum, from where Jesus launched His public ministry. See the synagogue which dates to the time of Jesus and the church built over the site of St. Peter’s home. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (BB, L, D) Day 12. Monday, September 17: Tiberias – Mount Tabor – Nazareth – Cana – Tel Aviv Drive to Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration. Continue to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation, that houses the Grotto with remains of the house of the Blessed Virgin, where the Archangel St. Gabriel appeared and announced she would be the Mother of God. Then, visit the Church of St. Joseph, which tradition identifies as the workshop of St. Joseph and the house of the Holy Family. Following the “Pilgrims Path,” visit Mary’s Well, where often the Virgin Mary would have walked to draw water from the spring. Next in Cana visit the Franciscan Wedding Church, where couples will have the opportunity to participate in the ceremony to renew their wedding vows.