Pictures from Israel

Resurrection Pilgrimage

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

Led by:

Worldwide Pilgrimage Ministries and
The Rev. Orion Davis, Spiritual Leader

April 10 - 21, 2007

Trip map

DAY 1, Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - Depart U.S. on a wide-body jet for a trans-Atlantic flight. D

DAY 2, Wednesday, April 11, 2007 - Our Pilgrimage in this Holy Land begins: After meeting our guide for the Holy Land, we travel to Netanya on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 3, Thursday, April 12, 3007 - We have come to see for ourselves (John 1:45-46): Herod’s City-Caesarea; The Majesty of Carmel; Armageddon ... to the Sea of Galilee.  We head north toward Caesarea, once capital of the Roman province, where we visit the Roman and Crusader ruins and the harbor from which St. Paul was taken prisoner to Rome.  We continue toward Mt. Carmel (Is. 35:2), a symbol of strength, beauty and fertility for OT prophets.  Traditionally, Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal is located at Muhraqa (‘the sacrifice’), a peak offering a spectacular view of the Jezreel Valley.  This fertile valley, also known as the plain of Megiddo, has been the scene of horrible carnage and almost constant strife.  Legend portrays this area as the stage for the final battle of history: Armageddon (Rev. 16:16).  The excavations at Megiddo have uncovered a fortified city built by Solomon (1 Kings. 9:15).  We continue to the kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee where we will have dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 4, Friday, April 13, 2007 - “He is going ahead of us to Galilee” (Mt. 28): "The Sea; Capernaum; Tabgha; Korazin; Mount of Beatitudes.  We begin at Capernaum where we shall walk in the ancient synagogue and see St. Peter’s house.  We continue to Korazin (Mt. 11:21) before traveling to Tabgha where we will see the mosaics of the Loaves and Fishes and celebrate Holy Eucharist.  From Tabgha we will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee all the way back to Tiberias.  Afterwards, we will journey to the Mount of Beatitudes to rehear the Sermon on the Mount and then we will hike down to the shore of the Sea of Galilee as Jesus and his disciples would have done.  We will return to our kibbutz and visit the museum that holds the 1st century boat discovered in the mud around the sea.  Dinner and overnight at our kibbutz. BD

DAY 5, Saturday, April 14, 2007 - The upper Galilee: Golan Heights; Caesarea Philippi; Mt. Hermon.  We travel to Caesarea Philipi, once the largest city in northern Israel.  It is here that Jesus said to Simon, “and upon this rock I will build my church” (Mt. 16: 13-20).  Near the foot of Mt. Hermon, we will walk along the Jordan River to the Springs of Banias and renew our baptismal vows.  We will travel to Safed, the highest city in Israel before we return to our kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  Perhaps you will want to take a stroll around the grounds or take a dip in the pool at our kibbutz where we will have dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 6, Sunday, April 15, 2007 – This morning we travel to Beth Shean to see the best preserved Roman-Byzantine town in Israel.  Beth Shean lay on the old trade routes between Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean.  We will continue to Mt. Tabor, the traditional spot of the Transfiguration.  The Church of the Transfiguration incorporates two chapels; one of Moses and one of Elijah.  Our journey now takes us to Nazareth, home of the Basilica of the Annunciation.  We will ontinue following the footsteps that Jesus and his family would have taken as they made their through Samaria.  We will continue to our kibbutz on the shores of the Dead Sea for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 7, Monday, April 16, 2007 - The Judean Wilderness:  We drive along the Dead Sea to Masada, the isolated mountain-top fortress about 440m above the banks of the Sea.  Masada was first fortified as early as the 1st or 2nd century BC and then enlarged by Herod the Great.  For those who wish, there will be the opportunity to either climb Masada to the top or to hike down the mountain.  Afterwards, there will be time for a dip in the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth.  Then we are off to Ein Gedi for a walk to a spectacular oasis/waterfall where David hid from Saul before returning to our kibbutz on the Dead Sea for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 8, Tuesday, April 17, 2007 – “Up to Jerusalem”: We begin today with a visit to Qumran where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.  We then travel to Jericho, where we find the remains of the oldest city in the world.  We will travel by cable car to the Mount of Temptation to visit the Monastery of the Temptation where Jesus was tempted by Satan during his 40 day fast (Mt. 4, 1- 11).  We will continue traveling up to Jerusalem and stop for a hike to St. George’s Monastery, an ancient retreat literally built into the side of the mountain.  As we travel into Jerusalem, we will find a site on Mt. Zion or the Mount of Olives in order to see the city and orient ourselves.  Then it is on to our hotel for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 9, Wednesday, April 18, 2007 - Life’s Bread, Jerusalem and Bethlehem:  Through St. Stephen’s Gate to the Holy City, we study the model of ancient Jerusalem to orient ourselves to the city.  We walk to St. Anne’s Church, standing on a property facing the Temple Mount.  Once inside we find ourselves singing (the acoustics are glorious).  Nearby, we visit excavations which speak to us of Jesus’ healing at the “pool with the five porticos.”  We walk together to the Temple Mount Dig, to the Dome of the Rock, to the Western Wailing Wall and the Jewish Quarter.  We will visit the ancient excavated cisterns that were found under the Old City and explore the excavations of the Temple Mount Dig.  We will then depart for Bethlehem for lunch at a wonderful Arab restaurant called Two Moustaches.  After lunch, we will visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field and have some time for shopping before returning to Jerusalem for a visit to The House of Caiaphas, site of the imprisonment of Jesus prior to his crucifixion.  We will have dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. BLD

DAY 10, Thursday, April 19, 2007 - The Passion: Palm Sunday Walk; Dominus Flevit; Church of the Agony; Garden of Gethsemane; Cave of the Olive Press; Kidron Valley to the House of Caiaphas.  We will walk along the Palm Sunday Path stopping to celebrate Eucharist in a private garden that is a part of Gethsemane.  From here we shall move on to walk the Via Dolorosa, winding through the busy markets of the Old City.  We shall end our walk at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, scene of the Crucifixion and site of the Tomb.  We will visit the Garden Tomb, thought by some to be the site of Golgotha and the tomb of Jesus.  The rest of the day is free for further exploration in the Old City.  After dinner at our hotel in Jerusalem, we visit the Scottish Hospice where a consortium of Arab women sell their handmade wares. BD

DAY 11, Friday, April 20, 2007 - New Jerusalem: Today we shall visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and the Knesset, the Israel Museum which houses the Shrine of the Book, along with other important sites.  We will visit Biblical Resources, where we eat as Jesus and the Disciples would have eaten at the Last Supper.  There will be some free time this afternoon for exploring your favorite sites in the Old City on your own.  We will enjoy an early gala farewell dinner together before our overnight in Jerusalem. BLD

DAY 12, Saturday, April 21, 2007 - Homeward Bound!  We will board our motorcoach and depart for Ben Gurion Airport where we bid goodbye to our driver and guide, board our trans-Atlantic flight, and journey home with a new appreciation of the Holy Land arriving back in New York this afternoon. BL

Price: $2,699.00.  Price is based on double occupancy without airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Air from New York.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single supplement costs available on request.

An application for travel insurance will be included with the receipt for your deposit.  We strongly recommend that you seriously consider this coverage.

Meals: B Breakfast, L Lunch, D Dinner

The itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion and direction of the leader or guide.