#2 Days In Holy Land

Arrive to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv . We’ll be taken to our hotel in Tiberius, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Nazareth

After Breakfast visit Nazareth, we’ll ride to jezreel valley to visit the site of the transfiguration, mount tabor (Matthew 14:1-50). At this site we’ll reflect on Christ’s humanity and divinity. Continuing to Nazareth the home of Mary and joseph we’ll visit Mary’s well and the basilica of annunciation. This is where the angel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she will bear the son of the god (Luke 1:30-34). We will join the celebration of Eucharist.

(Optional lunch).

Then we’ll explore the byzantine church of St. Joseph , to which tradition identifies as the workshop and home of the holy family (Luke 2:41-52;matt.2:19-23).

Proceeding on we’ll visit the Cana of galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water to wine 

(john2 “) 

Turn back to your hotel dinner and overnight at Tiberius.

Sea of Galilee- Mount of Beatitudes – Capernaum- Boat ride:

Following breakfast at the hotel than continue to mount beatitudes – celebration of Eucharist (mass)-where Jesus proclaimed his great sermon on the mount (Luke 6:20-49)

Near the mount of Tabgha one of the Jesus miracle sites. At Tabgha, Jesus fed the crowd 5000 people from five loaves of bread and two fish (Luke 9:10-17) . Also in Tabaha is St.peter’s primacy where Jesus bestowed church leadership upon peter (john21:9).

Then visit Capernaum, the launching place of Jesus ministry. In Capernaum we will have the opportunity to see the synagogue of where Jesus taught (mark: 1:21-29), and gave his sermon on the bread of life .

Afterwards we’ll have a boat ride in the Sea of Galilee in a wooden boat.

At the end of the day we’ll back to our hotel for dinner and overnight Tiberius.

Jericho

Following breakfast at the hotel we’ll travel to Jericho, the oldest city in the world was conquered by Joshua (josh. :1)

It was here in Jericho that the lord Jesus gave bartimaeus back his sight and converted the rich zachaeus, performing for both his ministry of the good shepherd (luke 18-19). We’ll visit the Franciscan church od the good shepherd for celebration of eucharist (mass). It was dedicated to Jesus for being a good shepherd for bartimaeus abd zacchaeus and is one of the most beautiful churches in Jericho .

On our way we pass by the archeological site of beit she’an . wel’ll continue to drive south along the Jordan valeey to vist jesus baptismal site (qasr el yahud ) on the river Jordan (matthew 3:13-7).

(Optional lunch).

Then we’ll visit the sycamore tree that revalls the incident in which the tax collector acchaeus , too short to see over the crowd, climed a sycamore’s branches to see jesus .(luke 18-19) and then have a look at the mount of temptation s. this is the hill in the judaean desert where jesus was tempted by the devil (matthew 4:8).

At the end of our day we’ll ride back to the hotel for dinner and overnight at Jericho.

Bethlehem

Following the breakfast and check out at the hotel, well continue to Bethlehem to visit the church of the nativity, marking the birthplace of Christ (matt1:18-25). As we enter the church we’ll, we’ll proceed down to the grotto of the nativity, which marks the spot of our savior’s birth (Matthew 2:1-18). Beneath the altar, there is  star and Latin inscription that states : HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS (here Jesus Christ was born to the virgin Mary).We’ll continue to explore saint Catherine’s church following lunch we’ll walk to milk Grotto Street and admire the church of milk grotto. This is where Virgin Mary was feeding the baby Jesus and drop of milk fell on the ground and turned the stones white. Afterwards we’ll ride to shepherd fields , identified since ancient timed with shepherds who saw the star of nativity (luke 2L8) in the caves these fields , we are still able to see the soot marks of the fires that shepherds lit to keep warm.

At the end dinner and overnight in Bethlehem hotel.

DEAD SEA

Following breakfast at the hotel, we’ll travel to the Judean desert to visit mar Saba monastery ; it is the greatest of the ancient monasteries. Mar Saba hangs dramatically down the cliff edge of a deep ravine. a thick wall and slit-like windows give mar Saba the appearance of a fortress these defensive features recall plunder by the Persians in 615 and attacks from Bedouins in the following centuries.

Then we’ll visits the city of Bethany: the home of siblings Mary , Martha and Lazarus , as well as that of Simon the leper . And in Bethany, in the cemetery just below the village. Jesus raised Lazarus from dead (john 11:43).

We’ll tour the st Lazarus roman catholic church; where we’ll join celebration of Eucharist )mass). Parts of the original mosaic floor are still visible here. The west wall of the courtyard contains the west faced of the 6th century basilica, as well as its three doorways. About twenty-five meters uphill northwest of the church is the modern entrance to the tomb of Lazarus.

Later we’ll travel to Dead Sea where we can float in its waters. It’s the lowest and saltiest spot on earth.

Afterwards we’ll counting to Qumran: it is made up of 2000 years old runis from the days of the second temple . This is also the site where the Dead Sea scrolls were written and discovered (ezekual 47:8-10).

At the end of the day drive back to our hotel for dinner and overnight Bethlehem.

JERUSALEM – MOUNT OF OLIVE – OLD CITY – VIA DOLORSA 

Following breakfast at the hotel, well venture to Mount of Olives and visit chapel of the ascension; the earthy spot where Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after his resurrection.

Well continue to pater noster church where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer 9matt.26:36-44).

Then well approach an observation point that overlooks the old city of Jerusalem. We’ll have the opportunity to stop at dominos flevit is a church that commemorates where Jesus wept for Jerusalem (luke 19:41) .

Strolling down the Palm Sunday route. Well descend to the garden of gethsemane. It’s a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives that sull contains trees with roots that date back to the time of Jesus .

Beside the garden is our next stop , the church of all nations built over the rocky of agony this is where Jesus prayed alone on the night of his arrest (luke 22:29-53) . 

Afterwards tour saint Ann’s church and visit pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the crippled man (john 5:1-9).

We’ll start walking the Via Dolorosa, where we’ll reflect upon the Stations of the Cross as we travel through the markets of the old city to church of the holy sepulcher (luke 23:26-23). This sacred destination is the site of Calvary (Jesus crucifixion place) and his tomb (luke 23:50-55)

At the end of the day dinner and overnight in Bethlehem .

Last day and flight back

Following breakfast at the hotel. We’ll check out of our hotel and transfer..