The Holy Land

Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus

Led by:

The Rev. Penny Pfab
St. Paul’s By the Sea Episcopal Church
Jacksonville Beach, FL

April 16 – 25, 2012

DAY 1: Monday, April 16, 2012 - Depart Jacksonville Airport on United Airlines for our flight to Washington’s Dulles Airport where we connect to Lufthansa Airlines connecting in Frankfurt for our flight to Tel Aviv. M

DAY 2: Tuesday, April 17,2012 - Our Pilgrimage in this Holy Land begins:  After meeting our guide for the Holy Land, we travel to Caesarea for dinner and overnight. MD

DAY 3: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 - 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 continue on to Nazareth, home of the Basilica of the Annunciation.  We travel through Cana, site of the first miracle where Jesus turned the water into wine before we arrive at Tiberias and out hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 4: Thursday, April 19, 2012 - 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: Friday, April 20, 2012 - 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 begin at the Mount of Transfiguration where we will visit the magnificent church and gardens.  We now 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.”  We continue toward Jerusalem and stop and visit Beth Shean, the best preserved Roman-Byzantine town in Israel.  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: Saturday, April 21, 2012 - The Passion:  Palm Sunday Walk; Dominus Flevit; Church of the Agony; Garden of Gethsemane; Cave of the Olive Press; Kidron Valley; Via Dolorosa and Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  We begin walking as Jesus would have done on Palm Sunday, visit the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of the Agony.  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 Episcopal Cathedral for Evensong. BD

DAY 7: Sunday, April 22, 2012 - 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 The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantru also known as the House of Caiphas.  Tradition holds this is where Christ said to Peter, “Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice” (Mark 14:72).  Below this modern church are ancient caves where, it is said, Christ spent the night before being taken to Pontius Pilate.  Now we are off to Bethlehem for lunch at Two Mustaches (a wonderful Arab restaurant in Bethlehem).  Then, we visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field.  We return to Jerusalem for dinner at our hotel and then a chance to visit St. Andrew’s and Craftaid. BLD

DAY 8: Monday, April 23, 2012 - The Judean Wilderness:  We drive along the Dead Sea to Masada and ride the cable car to the top.  We will explore this vast mountain top fortress that was built as early as the 1st century AD and then expanded by Herod the Great who built two enormous palaces here.  During the first Jewish Zealot revolt in 66 AD, the fortress was held by less than 1000 Jews for 2 years before the Romans finally breached the walls.  You will have the opportunity to walk down a winding path or ride the cable car back down the mountain.  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.  It is here that the famous Dead Scrolls were discovered.  We return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 9: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - New Jerusalem: Today we shall visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and the see the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament.  We will visit the Israel Museum which houses the Shrine of the Book.  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: Wednesday, April 25, 2012- 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: $3,1999.00.  Price based on double occupancy minimum of 15 with participants.  Price excludes airline taxes and fuel surcharges that will be added to your final payment invoice.  Estimated taxes are currently $649.00 per person and may change.  Roundtrip air from Jacksonville, FL on United and Lufthansa Airlines.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single supplement costs $759.00.

Final Payment due January 17, 2012

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until January 17, 2012: $100.00 per person.
◊ January 18, 2012 or later: 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.

Crossing into Jordan

Discovering the mysteries of Petra and Holy sites of Jordan

DAY 10: Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - 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: Thursday, April 26, 2012 - 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: Friday, April 27, 2012 - 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: Saturday, April 28, 2012 - 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: $629.00* 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).

Final Payment due January 17, 2012

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until January 17, 2012: $100.00 per person.
◊ January 18, 2012 or later: 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.