Pictures from Israel

The Holy Land

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

Led by:

The Rev. John Palarine
Church of our Saviour
Jacksonville, FL

November 10 – 19, 2011

Trip map

DAY 1, Thursday, November 10, 2011 - Depart Jacksonville Airport on US Airways for our flight to Philadelphia where we connect to Lufthansa Airlines connecting in Frankfurt for our flight to Tel Aviv. M

DAY 2: Friday, November 11, 2011 - Our Pilgrimage in this Holy Land begins:  After meeting our guide for the Holy Land, we travel to Netanya on the shores of the beautiful Mediterranean Sea for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 3: Saturday, November 12, 2011 - We have come to see for ourselves (John 1:45-46):  Herod’s City-Caesarea; The Majesty of Carmel; Armageddon; Nazareth. . . . to the Sea of Galilee.  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.  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 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 travel on to Akko, the walled port city that still shows the imprint of the crusader occupant.  We continue on to Nazareth, home of the Basilica of the Annunciation.  We visit Cana, site of the first miracle where Jesus turned the water into wine before we depart for Tiberias for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 4: Sunday, November 13, 2011 - He is going ahead of us to Galilee” (Mt. 28):  The Sea; On the Boat: Capernaum; Tabgha; Mount of Beatitudes; Golan Heights; Caesarea Philippi; Mt. Hermon; Korazin.  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 visit Tabgha to view the mosaic of the Loaves and Fishes.  From there move to the Mount of Beatitudes to rehear the Sermon on the Mount.  We continue to Korazin (Mt. 11:21), then to the springs of Banias (Mt. 16:13) where Peter said:  “Thou are Christ.”  We 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 Tiberias for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 5: Monday, November 14, 2011 - From Galilee “up to Jerusalem” through Samaria:  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.  If local conditions permit our passage into the West Bank, we will pass through Arab villages, many of them with names recalling incidents in the Bible.  Jenin, for example, is where tradition holds that Jesus cured the 10 lepers (Luke 17:11).  We proceed to ancient Sebaste, a Hellenistic city where John the Baptist, according to tradition, was beheaded at the birthday party of Herod Antipas (Mark 6:17).  Here we shall visit and drink from Jacob’s well (Gen. 33:18), where Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink promising her “living water” (John 4).  In Schechem we find ourselves between Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal, in the Valley of Blessings and Curses (Josh. 8:30).  We recall that Mt. Gerizim was for the Samaritans the Holy Mountain.  If local conditions do not permit, we will proceed directly 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: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 - 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 walk into the Holy City along the Palm Sunday walk as Jesus would have done.  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.  This evening we will go to St. George’s for Evensong. BD

DAY 7: Wednesday, November 16, 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, 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.  After lunch at Two Mustaches (a wonderful Arab restaurant in Bethlehem), we visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field.  Following dinner at our hotel, we will visit St. Andrew’s and Craftaid. BLD

DAY 8: Thursday, November 17, 2011 - The Judean Wilderness:  We drive along the Dead Sea to Masada and ride the cable car to the top.  Following lunch, 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, overlooking the Dead Sea.  We return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 9: Friday, November 18, 2011 - 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 in the Old City on your own.  We will enjoy a gala farewell dinner together before returning to our hotel for a short rest. BD

DAY 10: Saturday, November 19, 2011 - Homeward Bound! After a very early wake up call, 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. M

Price: $2,739.00.  Price excludes airline taxes and fuel surcharges that will be added to your final payment invoice.  Estimated taxes as of March 21, 2011 $650.00 per person.  Roundtrip air from Jacksonville, FL on US Airways and Lufthansa Airlines.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single supplement costs $799.00.

Half of payment due August 10, 2011.

Final Payment due September 9, 2011

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until August 9, 2011: $100.00 per person.
◊ August 10, 2011 – September 8, 2011: $500.00 per person.
◊ After September 9, 2011: 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, M Meals on aircraft

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.

Jordan Extension Optional (20 pilgrims)


DAY 10: Saturday, November 19, 2011 - We cross the Allenby Bridge into Jordan and meet our Jordan driver and guide and go directly to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the site on the Jordan River which is believed to be the actual place where John baptized Jesus.  We will have time to renew our Baptismal vows at this sacred site before we continue to Madaba to see the mosaic of the Old City of Jerusalem on the floor of the church.  We will visit Mt. Nebo where God showed Moses the Promised Land.  From the summit of Mt. Nebo, we will be able to see into Jerusalem.  Now we travel the Desert Highway to Petra for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 11: Sunday, November 20, 2011 - A day to explore the Red Rose City of Petra which some historians equate with Sela, a town in which the Israelites had a famous victory over the local Edomites.  We will have the choice to walk to the site or to take a carriage ride through the dramatic “siq” or canyon.  We will see the Treasury, carved in pink stone, and continue past the Roman Theatre, the Corinthian Tomb and Palace Tomb.  As we continue, we see the theatre, the Roman Soldier Tomb, the Columbarium and much more as we make our way to the High Place of Sacrifice located at the top of Jabal Mount.  The High Place of Sacrifice is considered to be the oldest major cultic facility in Petra.  We visit the museum and, for those who take the 60 minute walk to the Monastery, they will be rewarded with the best sites in Petra.  We depart for Amman where we will have dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 12: Monday, November 21, 2011 - We will have a late wake-up call and check out of our hotel.  We will take a bus tour of the city of Amman and go to Jerash, located just north of Amman, it is considered to be one of the largest and most well preserved Roman sites in the world.  We will see the colonnaded streets, baths, plazas and mosaics which are all in unbelievably excellent condition.  Archaeologists have discovered remains here that indicate this site has been inhabited for over 6,500 years.  The architecture is amazing!  We will return to Amman to have a farewell dinner and then head to the airport for our flight back to the USA. BD

DAY 13: Monday, November 22, 2011 - Homeward Bound!  We board our flight in Amman for our return to the United States arriving back in the USA this afternoon.  We return home with our souls nourished from walking in the footsteps of Jesus. M

Price: $679.00* additional.  Single supplement costs $159.00* additional.  *Departure taxes/visa fees to be paid on site and are not included:  Israel exit tax at Allenby $48.00 per person (subject to change).  No charge for Visa (subject to change).

Half of payment due August 10, 2011.

Final Payment due September 9, 2011

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until August 9, 2011: $100.00 per person.
◊ August 10, 2011 – September 8, 2011: $500.00 per person.
◊ After September 9, 2011: 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, M Meals on aircraft

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

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