Pictures from the Holy Land

A Pilgrimage of the Heart

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

Led by:

The Rev. Thomas P. O’Dell
and
Linda Rafael
All Saints Episcopal Church
Omaha, Nebraska

June 16 – 25, 2010

Trip map

DAY 1, Wednesday, June 16, 2010 - We will depart from Omaha and fly to Atlanta where we will board our connecting non-stop trans-Atlantic flight to Tel AvivMeals on board the aircraft. D

DAY 2: Thursday, June 17, 2010 - Our Pilgrimage in this Holy Land begins:  After meeting our guide for the Holy Land, we transfer by deluxe motor coach to our hotel on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea at Netanya for dinner and overnight. BLD

DAY 3: Friday, June 18, 2010 - We have come to see for ourselves (John 1:45-46):  After breakfast, we head north toward Caesarea, once capital of the Roman province, where we visit the Roman and Crusader remains and the harbor from which St. Paul was taken prisoner to Rome.  Now on to the fertile valley, known as the plain of Megiddo, which 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 Kgs. 9:15).  We now depart for the Sea of Galilee stopping at Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation before arriving at the kibbutz on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where we will have dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 4: Saturday, June 19, 2010 - He is going ahead of us to Galilee (Mt. 28):  The Sea; On the Boat; Capernaum; Tabgha; Mount of Beatitudes; Mt. Hermon; Korazin:  We shall visit Tabgha to view the mosaic of the Loaves and Fishes and here we will celebrate Holy Eucharist.  We will visit Capernaum and St. Peter’s House and then board a boat reminiscent of those used in Jesus’ time and sail across the Sea of Galilee to Tiberias where we will meet our motorcoach.  We shall continue to Korazin (Mt. 11:21), then to the springs of Banias (Mt. 16:13) where Peter said:  “Thou art Christ.” There will be a walk along the mouth of the Jordan River where we may renew our Baptismal vows.  We will continue to Caesarea Phillipi before returning to Tiberias where we will visit the museum which houses the boat that dates from Jesus’ time which was found in the mud around the Sea of Galilee.  We will have dinner and overnight at our kibbutz. BD

DAY 5: Sunday, June 20, 2010 - From Galilee Up to Jerusalem:  This day will find us following the footsteps that Jesus and his family would have taken as they made their way from Galilee to Jerusalem.  We proceed to Jericho, the oldest human settlement in the world.  From the vantage point of the site in Jericho we have a spectacular view of the “Mt. of Temptation.”  Driving up to Jerusalem, we view the setting for the parable of the Good Samaritan, and St. George’s Greek Orthodox Monastery, literally carved out of a cliff.  Once in Jerusalem we find a site high above on Mt. Zion or the Mt. of Olives in order to orient ourselves.  Then it’s on to the hotel for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 6: Monday, June 21, 2010 - 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.  From here we shall move on to walk the Via Dolorosa, winding through the busy markets of the Old City and praying at the Stations of the Cross.  We shall end our walk at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, scene of the Crucifixion and site of the Tomb.  The rest of the day is free for further exploration in the Old City.  This evening we will go to St. George’s for Evensong. BD

DAY 7: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - Life’s Bread, Jerusalem and Bethlehem:  Through St. Stephen’s Gate to the Holy City, we walk to St. Anne’s Church, standing on a property facing the Temple Mount just as it was built by the crusaders.  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.  From there we go to St. Mark’s Syrian Orthodox Church, possible site of the Upper Room.  Now we travel to Bethlehem where we will have lunch at Two Mustaches (a wonderful Arab restaurant in Bethlehem).  Afterwards, we visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field.  We will have dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. BD

DAY 8: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 - The Judean Wilderness:  We drive along the Dead Sea to Masada, the fortress built high atop the mountain overlooking the Dead Sea.  We will ride the cable car to the top.  Those who are adventurous may decide to hike to the top or walk down.  We will have some time at the Dead Sea to wade in the salty water before we drive to Ein Gedi for a walk to a spectacular oasis/waterfall where David hid from Saul; then on to the Essene Center at Qumran, where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a cave overlooking the Dead Sea.  We return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 9: Thursday, June 24 - 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.  Afternoon is free for exploring your favorite sites or shopping.  We will enjoy a gala farewell dinner together before traveling to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv where we bid our driver and guide goodbye and board our late night flight back to the US. BD

DAY 10: Friday, June 25, 2010 - We will arrive in Atlanta this morning, clear customs and board our nonstop flight to OmahaMeals on board the aircraft.

Price: $3,449.00 .  Price is based on double occupancy with airline taxes and fuel surcharges included, which are currently $433.00 per person .  Roundtrip air from Omaha, Nebraska Airport.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single supplement:  $599.00

Final payment due March 31, 2010

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until January 1, 2010: $100 per person plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ January 2 – March 31, 2010: $200 per person plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After April 1, 2010: NO REFUND

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, S Snack

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

Note that Israel is a physically demanding destination. Good shoes and some preparing for the trip on the stair master are invaluable aids to a healthy and happy pilgrimage.