"Following Jesus in the Holy Land"

Becoming Disciples by Walking Where Jesus Walked

Led by:

The Rev. Tuck Bowerfind
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Alexandria, VA

February 9 – 24, 2015

DAY 1: Monday, February 9, 2015 - Depart the U.S. from Washington, DC connecting in Newark, NJ for the flight into Tel Aviv, Israel.  Meals on board the aircraft. M

DAY 2: Tuesday, February 10, 2015 - Our Pilgrimage in this Holy Land begins:  After meeting our guide for the Holy Land, we transfer to Ruth Daniel Residence in Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight. MD

DAY 3: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 - 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 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 Har-Megiddo have uncovered a fortified city built by Solomon (1 Kgs. 9:15 BD.  We continue to Nazareth for dinner and overnight at St. Margaret’s Guesthouse. BD

DAY 4: Thursday, February 12, 2015 - Today we explore the Holy sites of Nazareth and the area surrounding Nazareth.  We visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, the Orthodox Church, Christ Church (the oldest Anglican Church in the Middle East) and Mary’s Well.  We visit Nazareth Village, a reproduction of Nazareth as it would have looked during the time of Jesus.  We see Mt. Tabor, the traditional spot of the Transfiguration.  We visit Sepphoris, near Nazareth, probably where Jesus and Joseph worked.  Dinner and overnight Nazareth. BD

DAY 5: Friday, February 13, 2015 - He is going ahead of us to Galilee” (Mt. 28):  The Sea; Capernaum; Tabgha; Mount of Beatitudes.  We begin at Capernaum where we walk in the ancient synagogue and see St. Peter’s house.  We continue to Korazin (Mt. 11:21) before traveling to Tabgha where we see the mosaics of the Loaves and Fishes and celebrate Holy Eucharist.  From Tabgha we take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee all the way back to Tiberias.  Afterwards, we journey to the Mount of Beatitudes to rehear the Sermon on the Mount and then hike down to the shore of the Sea of Galilee as Jesus and his disciples would have done.  We visit the museum that holds the 1st century boat discovered in the mud around the sea and return to Nazareth for our dinner and overnight. BLD

DAY 6: Saturday, February 14, 2015 - We cross the Sheik Hussein Bridge into Jordan and proceed to the Kreimeh Rehabilitation Center for a brief visit before we continue to Amman where we visit the Jofeh Community Rehabilitation Center.  The Community will provide a light lunch and a donation will be expected.  After lunch, we will continue to Madaba to see the mosaic of the Old City of Jerusalem and then to Mt. Nebo where God showed Moses the Promised Land.  Dinner and overnight at Thomas Schneller Guesthouse in Amman. BLD

DAY 7: Sunday, February 15, 2015 - We will attend morning services at The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Amman and then visit the traditional Baptismal site of Jesus at Bethany Beyond the Jordan.  Here we will renew our Baptismal vows.  We drive to our hotel at the Dead Sea for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 8: Monday, February 16, 2015 - A day to explore the Red Rose City of Petra.  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 will depart for Amman where we will have dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 9: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 - We cross the Allenby Bridge into Israel and continue to Jericho, the oldest city in the world.  We have a spectacular view of the “Mt. of Temptation”.  We continue to the Essene Center at Qumran, overlooking the Dead Sea.  It was here that the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.  We shall continue to the Knight’s Palace in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 10: Wednesday, February 18, 2015 - The Passion:  Palm Sunday Walk:  We walk along the Palm Sunday Path from the top of the Mount of Olives into the city, visiting the Tomb of Lazarus, the Church of Dominus Flevit, the Mosque of the Ascension, the Church of the Lord’s Prayer, the Garden of Gethsemane and the Tomb of Mary.  This afternoon we will visit the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book, housing some of the Dead Sea scrolls and the model, depicting Jerusalem at the time of Jesus.  We will meet with a representative of the Bereaved Families at our hotel.  (Pending confirmation.) Dinner and overnight Jerusalem. BD

DAY 11: Thursday, February 19, 2015 - We start the day with a visit Dheishe refugee camp.  Continue to Bethlehem University for lunch with the students.  Then we visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field.  Pending a final confirmation, we will visit the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight. BLD

DAY 12: Friday, February 20, 2015 - We visit Masada, the isolated mountain-top fortress above the banks of the Dead SeaMasada was fortified as early as the 1st or 2nd century BC and then enlarged by Herod the Great.  You may ride the cable car in both directions or choose to hike and/or down the mountain.  Then we are off to Ein Gedi for a walk to a spectacular oasis/waterfall where David hid from Saul.  We return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. BD

DAY 13: Saturday, February 21, 2015 - The Holy City:  Temple Mount, Muslim, Christian and Armenian Quarters:  Through St. Stephen’s Gate to the Holy City.  We enter the walled city of Jerusalem and visit St. Anne’s Church, a Crusader jewel, which stands on a property facing the Temple Mount.  Once inside we find ourselves singing (the acoustics are glorious).  We visit excavations which speak to us of Jesus’ healing at the “pool with the five porticos.”  We will stop for prayer at the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa before ending our walk at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, scene of the Crucifixion and site of the Tomb.  We visit the Armenian Quarter, St. James Cathedral and St. Mark’s Syrian Orthodox Church where, according to Syrian tradition, Jesus and his disciples shared the last supper.  Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. BD

DAY 14: Sunday, February 22, 2015 - This morning we attend services at St George’s Episcopal Cathedral. Afterwards, we will return to the Old City to walk to the Ophel Gardens, the Dome of the Rock, the Western Wailing Wall and the Jewish Quarter.  We visit the ancient excavated cisterns that were found under the Old City and explore the excavations of the Southern Steps.  Dinner and overnight Jerusalem. BD

DAY 15: Monday, February 23, 2015 - We can rest at the hotel till noon and have some free time in the afternoon to explore on our own.  We will have an early “farewell to the Holy Land” dinner and transfer to the Tel Aviv Airport for our departure back the USA. BD

DAY 16: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 - We arrive into Newark and transfer to our final flight to Dulles arriving into Washington this morning. M

Price: $3,399.00.  Price is based on double occupancy without airline taxes and fuel surcharges.  Pricing based on minimum of 15 pilgrims.  Roundtrip air from Washington D.C. on United Airlines.  Air transportation available from other cities.  Single supplement:  $999.00

Estimated taxes are $600.32 per person.  These may change.

Deposit $300.00 due with application no later than September 1, 2014

Final payment due November 1, 2014

Cancellation Penalties
◊ Until October 31, 2014: $200 per person plus any unrecoverable fees.
◊ November 1, 2014 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.