Pictures from the Holy Land

A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

Led by:

Bishop Elect John S. Smylie
Diocese of Wyoming
Casper, WY

January 26 – February 3, 2011

Trip map

DAY 1, Wednesday, January 26, 2011 - Depart the United States on a wide-body jet for a trans-Atlantic flight with superior en route service.  Meals on board the aircraft. D

DAY 2: Thursday, January 27, 2011 - Our Pilgrimage in this Holy Land begins: After meeting our guide for the Holy Land, we will travel north toward Caesarea, once capital of the Roman province.  We have come to see for ourselves:  (Jn. 1:45-46) Herod’s City-Caesarea.  Here we will visit the Roman and Crusader remains and the harbor from which St. Paul was taken prisoner to Rome.  We continue to the kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee which will be our home for the next three nights.  After some time to rest, we will visit the “Jesus Boat” Museum to see the boat which dates from Jesus’ time that was found in the mud around the Sea of Galilee.  Dinner and overnight at the Sea of Galilee. BD

DAY 3: Friday, January 28, 2011 - The Majesty of Carmel; Armageddon; Nazareth . . . to the Sea of Galilee.  Today we will visit 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 Kgs. 9:15).  We proceed to Nazareth, where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and then return to our kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 4: Saturday, January 29, 2011 - “He is going ahead of us to Galilee” (Mt. 28):  The sea; On the boat; Capernaum; Tabgha; Mount of Beatitudes; Golan Heights; Caesarea Phillippi; Mt. Hermon; Chorazin.  We shall take a boat on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum:  there we shall walk in the ancient synagogue and see St. Peter’s house.  We shall visit Tabgha, view the mosaic of the Loaves and Fishes.  From there we move to Mt. of Beatitudes where we rehear the Sermon on the Mount.  We shall continue to Chorazin (Mt. 11:21), then to the springs of Banias (Mt. 16:13), where Peter said:  “Thou art Christ.”  There we will walk along the mouth of the Jordan River where we may renew our Baptismal vows.  We shall reach the foot of Mt. Hermon before returning to the kibbutz for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 5: Sunday, January 30, 2011 - The Jordan River Valley to Jericho and “Up to Jerusalem”:  Bet Shean, Jericho, Gilgal, Jerusalem. Our day begins on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  After breakfast we make our way down the Jordan Valley to visit Bet Shean, the best preserved Roman/Byzantine city in this country.  Here, the biblical Scythopolis, we visit the Roman theater and excavations.  We continue to Jericho, the oldest city in the world.  From this city’s walls we have a spectacular view of the “Mt. of Temptation”.  Near Jericho we shall visit Gilgal where the Ark of the Covenant was taken.  We continue to the Essene Center at Qumran, overlooking the Dead Sea.  It was here that the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.  After driving “Up to Jerusalem”, we will visit the 2nd Temple Model to orient ourselves to Biblical Jerusalem.  We shall continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. BD

DAY 6: Monday, January 31, 2011 - The Passion:  Palm Sunday Walk; Dominus Flevit; Garden of Gethsemane; The Church of the Agony; The Cave of the Olive Press, through the 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.  Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. BD

DAY 7: Tuesday, February 1, 2011 - 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, then to see the Dome of the Rock, then 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.  We travel to Bethlehem and have lunch at Two Mustaches (a wonderful Arab restaurant) and then visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field.  Tonight there will be an opportunity to learn of St. George’s Anglican Cathedral and College and join in evening prayer at St. Georges. BLD

DAY 8: Wednesday, February 2, 2011 - New Jerusalem: We will have some free time this morning and then check out of our hotel.  We will have a quick visit to the Israel Museum.  Here we find the Shrine of the Book where, beneath its onion shaped dome, the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed.  We will continue to Emmaus, mentioned in scriptures as the place where Jesus appeared to travelers after the Resurrection.  We will celebrate Holy Eucharist here before having a a “Farewell to the Holy Land” dinner and then drive to the airport at Tel Aviv where we will board our overnight flight back to the United States.  BD and meals on the aircraft. BD

DAY 9: Thursday, February 3, 2011 - We arrive back to Newark Airport where we will make our connecting flights finally arriving back to Denver around noon today.  Meals on Aircraft. B

Price: $2,299.00.  Price is based on double occupancy with airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Pricing based on minimum of 35 pilgrims.  Roundtrip air from Denver, CO Airport.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single supplement:  $299.00

Pricing includes airline taxes and fuel charges estimated to be $495+. These may change.

Deposit $200.00 due with application

Final payment due October 15, 2010

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Before October 14: $100 per person plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ After October 15, 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.