Holy Land Pilgrimage with Rev. Scott Schul - Grace Lutheran Church

                                          DAILY ITINERARY
                 

Day 1, Jan 20: Departure from the USA

 Depart Dulles International Airport, DC. for your overnight flight to the Holy Land. Meals will be served on board.

Day 2, Jan 21: Arrival, Tel Aviv

We arrive at Ben Gurion airport and depart northward to our hotel for one night in the coastal area near Tel Aviv to start off the journey of visiting the Holy Land. The remainder of the day is free to walk along the Mediterranean, relax and dinner in our hotel in Tel Aviv.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Day 3, Jan 22: Mt. Carmel, Caesarea – Nazareth – Cana – Tiberias

After breakfast, we will travel by private motor coach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea (included), where the Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. We’ll see the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct. Visit Mount Carmel, Muhraqa the Place of Fire and consider the contest between the Prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal (I Kings 18), discussing the reasons why the Prophet chose that place for the contest, and the lessons we learn from the story. Afterwards we will go to Nazareth where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, we will also visit Church of St. Joseph. We end our day by a visit to Cana of Galilee where Jesus preformed his first miracle,  Drive to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.                                                                                                     

Day 4, Jan 23: Caesarea Philippi – Golan Heights – Mt. Arbel – Valley of Doves – Sea of Galilee.                      We will start our day with visit to Caesarea Philippi at the sources of the river Jordan where Peter confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, then we would return to the Sea of Galilee via the Golan Heights with a stop overlooking the Road to Damascus. On to Mount Arbel  lookout overlooking the ancient road from Nazareth to Galilee with possible hike on a part of Jesus Trail. We will then carry on to the Valley of the Doves and travel along the ancient road that leads from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee along the Via Maris. Dinner and overnight in tiberias.

Day 5, Jan 24: Sea of Galilee – Magdala - Capernaum​ - Mount of Beatitudes​

We will start the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, followed by visit to the Ancient Boar Museum that houses a 2000-year-old fishing boat found buried in mud on the shores of Galilee The boat provides a good example of how fishing boats looked like during the time of Jesus.Then we will visit Magdala, hometown of Mary Magdalene, and see the 1st century synagogue, which is the oldest synagogue discovered on the shores of Galilee with a stone-carved replica of the Temple and Menorah. We will then take a short drive to Capernaum, biblical village and hometown of Jesus. Capernaum is closely associated with Jesus and His ministry as described in the Synoptic Gospels. There we will see the house of the mother-in-law of Peter and an ancient synagogue that dates back to the time of Jesus and where much of His teaching took place. St. Peter’s fish At noon, we will drive to Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000. We will then visit the site known as “Peter’s Primacy” where Jesus appeared to His disciples for the third time after His Resurrection. Later we will continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, scene of Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount. We will enjoy the view of the enchanting gardens and reflect on Jesus’ sermon. We will also have time for prayer and reflection (Worship Service) Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.                                                                                                                    

Day 6, Jan 25: Jordan Valley - Jacobs Well – Shepherds Field - Bethlehem

After breakfast, we will drive through the Jordan valley, on to Nablus, visiting ancient Shechem saddled between Mt Ebal and Mt Gerizim, visit the ruins of the city dating back to the time of Jacob and Joshua where we see the high place of the city and the city gates. Nearby we visit Jacobs well where Jesus encountered the Samaritan women. Drive to Bethlehem visiting the Shepherds fields where the angels appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of Our Lord. These fields are also the setting of the Book of Ruth. After lunch (on your own), we will travel to the Church of the Nativity and view the place where Our Lord was born. check – in at our hotel, dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.                                                       

Day 7, Jan 26: Augusta Victoria Hospital, LWF - Mt. of Olives – Mt. Zion

We will start our day with Augusta Victoria to witness the work of the Lutheran World Federation in health and education. Later we will enjoy panoramic view from the top of Mount of Olives then we continue to the Church of the Ascension and the Church of the Pater Noster, and down to Dominus Flevit and St. Magdalene Church. Pray at the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations. In the afternoon, we visit. St. Peter in Galicantu where Jesus was denied by St. Peter. Then we will visit Upper Room, the place of the Last Supper and King David’s Tomb. Back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.                                                                 

Day 8, Jan 27: Wadi Qelt ’ST George Monastery” - Baptismal site - Jericho  - Dead Sea                                       This morning we depart Bethlehem, travelling along the Judean wilderness where Jesus fasted for 40 days, l along the ancient road passing the good Samaritan inn. Reaching wadi Qelt we enjoy a view of St George’s Monastery nestled in the wilderness. Carry on along the ancient road reaching Jericho passing along Herod’s Winter palace where the infamous King died in the year 4 BC and probably was the background setting for the parable of the prodigal son. Prior to visit Jericho we head to visit Bet Arabah where John baptized Jesus. The site is also known as the “Place of Crossing” of. The Israelites. From Bethabara we will drive to the city of Jericho. We will see Tel Jericho, the old town of Joshua, and see the excavations of the ancient city, view the Mount of Temptation will also be in sight. We will then drive to the Dead Sea where we can enjoy a dip in the relaxing and healing waters of the Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 9, Jan 28: Temple Mt – Pool of Bethesda –  Via Dolorosa – Holy Sepulcher - Jerusalem

This morning after breakfast ,We will walk the Via Dolorosa, the traditional path that Jesus walked from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher visiting Golgotha and the Empty Tomb. We will visit the Jewish Quarter and go to the Western Wall, a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, and Judaism’s holiest site. visit theTemple Mount, where the Jewish temple stood until it’s destruction in 70 A.D and see the Dome of the Rock, a possible location of the Holy of Holies. On to visit St Anne’s church and a visit to nearby Pools of Bethesda where the healing at the pool took place.  back to Bethlehem  for dinner and overnight.                                                              

Day 10, Jan 29: Departure Tel Aviv to the US

• Departure checks out and departs our hotel for our return home. We will arrive on the same day.