HOLY LAND CATHOLIC TOURS
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Holy Land Catholic Pilgrimage - In the Footsteps of Jesus Christ
Day 1
Departure from your gateway city, overnight flight to Israel, Tel Aviv
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Day 2
Arrival at Ben Gurion airport where we meet the guide, and our Catholic pilgrimage in Holy Land begins, following The Footsteps of Jesus.
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Day 3
After good breakfast we are on our way to nourish our soul.
We will be driving along the Mediterranean Sea and stop at Jaffa and visit
the House of Simon the Tanner where Peter lived (Acts 9; 43) It is also here
that Centurion Cornelius was shown to send for Peter (Acts 10). From here
we proceed to the crusader port city of Ceasarea and the Roman capital of
Israel. Here, we will see the archaeological ruins of the Roman amphitheatre
from the days of King Herod; also we will make shortstop to see Aqueduct for
some sightseeing. Our next stop is in Haifa, and on to Mount Carmel, we will
visit Carmelite Monastery, Chapel of the Holy Family and Elijah’s cave
where we celebrate the Holy Mass. Overnight and dinner is in our hotel on
the Sea of Galilee it the city Tiberias.
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Day 4
We will leave our hotel and drive for Nazareth, the boyhood
of Jesus and the place where He spent the first 30 years of His life. We will
say many prayers in the most inspiring churches of St. Joseph and Annunciation
where the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that She would be the Mother of
God see the Well where our Mary went for the water. Next place of our visit
is Cana the site of Jesus's first miracle. In this beautiful little town we
will celebrate the Holy Mass for the Renewal of the marriage vows and blessing
of families. Local souvenir shops are offering us to taste the Cana vine,
and maybe purchase some to bring home.
After short drive we are at the River Jordan's Yardenit Garden a traditional
baptismal site where we will renew our baptismal vows. For this occasion,
bring dry towels and bathing suits for the ladies for the immersion in the
River Jordan. Tiberias is our next and last stop for dinner and overnight.
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Day 5
Today we will literally follow the " Footsteps of Jesus". We will visit Capernaum where Jesus spent most of His preaching; new church built at the site of the Home of St. Peter, ruins of the synagogue that had being built in the time of Jesus. Through story of our guide we will get to know more of the Life of Jesus in Capernaum. Than we drive to Mt. Of Beatitudes where the Lord Jesus preached Sermon on the Mountain; to Tabgha the site of the Multiplication of the loaves and fishes and the church of St. Peter's Primacy. Mt. Tabor the Mount of Transfiguration is our next place of visit, after what we go to the Jordan Valley towards JERICHO, the oldest known continuously inhabited city in the world, through Judean Desert, pass by Mt. Of Temptation. Dinner and overnight is in the city of ageless history and beauty, the Holy City of Jerusalem.
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Day 6
After breakfast we start our day with a view of the Holy
City from the Mount of Olives following the Palm Sunday Road, the road Jesus
followed on His way to Jerusalem. We stop for the Holy Mass at the chapel
of Dominus Flevit where our Lord wept and shed a tear for the city of Jerusalem
(Luke 19: 37- 42). We than proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane and pray 
at
the church of All Nations (Church of Gethsemane), where Jesus prayed: "
Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my
will, but thy, be done".
We also visit the church of St. Peter Gallicantu; church built on the site
of the house of high priest Caiaphas, where Jesus spent night in the rooms
(dungeon) that are still there. On this site Peter denied Jesus three times.
We will also see the room of the Last Supper, church of Dormition where the
Blessed Virgin Mary fell into Eternal Sleep. We will have a short praise and
Worship service invoking another outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all of
us in Upper Room the site of the Pentecost. From here next stop is at the
hotel for a dinner and good rest.
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Day 7
This morning we drive south of Jerusalem to Bethlehem (house of bread in Hebrew), to see the church of Nativity built over the tomb of St. Jeronimo. In the Grotto under the central altar one can see the Holy Manger, and the Silver Star with the Latin inscription " Hic de Maria Virgine Jesus Christus Natus est". After the visit to a birthplace of Jesus we will visit Shepard’s field where Angels appeared to the shepherds (Luke 2), to announce the Birth of Jesus. Here is beautiful view on Mt. Herodian and Judean Hills. Today we celebrate Holy Mass at the Church of Visitation the site of the Blessed Virgin Mary's visit with her cousin Elizabeth. This is the place where Our Lady said Her " Magnificat".
The birthplace of St. John the Baptist is the last place we visit today before going back to our hotel in Jerusalem.
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Day 8
Jerusalem as our destiny is what we all see today as we enter
the old town and follow the Stations of the Cross or the Via Dolorous. We
will see the pool of Bethesda where Jesus Christ healed a man who was crippled
f
or 38 years. The church of St Anne one of the rare churches that was spared
from destruction of Moslems because was built over the crypt venerated as
a birthplace of Mary and a home of her parents Joachim and Anne. Today we
are also visiting the site of Crucifixion and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus
Christ, on this site is a church of the Holy Sepulchre where we celebrate
Holy Mass. After such a powerful experience the rest of the day is free for
personal devotions, shopping or additional sightseeing.
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Day 9
On our schedule for today is full day excursion to the Qumran
place where Dead Sea Scrolls were found, more than 900 pieces in 30 caves.
After stop at Qumran we will be driving along the Sea that is 1300 feet below
the sea level, which is the lowest surface on Earth. High percent of solids
will make our swimming in Dead Sea very interesting. In the wilderness of
Judea stands the rock fortress of Massada, built in the second century BC
and also in the year 40 BC by Herod the Great.
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Day 10
Early morning transfer to "Ben Gurion" Tel Aviv International airport for our flight back home - arrival home same day!
OR CONTINUE TO SINAI AND CAIRO..SEE ITINERARY BELOW...
HOLY FAMILY - MOSES - BURNING BUSH - JETHRO'S WELL - ST. CATHERINE
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INCLUDES
+ round trip air fares USA - Tel Aviv- USA
+ accommodation in double/twin rooms
+ superior first class 4* hotels
+ buffet breakfast and buffet dinner daily
+ Christian guide on the tour
+ high class air-conditioned coach
+ entrance fees acording the itinerary
+ porterage of one piece of luggage in/out hotels
+ daily Holy Mass arrangements
NOT INCLUDED
+ airport tax
+ third meal, souvenirs, personal expenses
+ tips for guides and driver
+ travel insurance
SEND YOUR E-MAIL WITH REQUEST FOR THIS TOUR
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Extension to Egypt - Mt. Sinai with St. Catherine and Cairo
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Day 1
Group will leave Jerusalem, transfer to the border with Egypt, Taba border crossing. Arrial to St. Catherine, check in to hotel for rest and some free time before dinner.
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Day 2
Today after breakfast group will have a visit to Greek Orthodox St. Catherine Monastery from the 6th century - over 1400 years of the Christian history. Early afternoon you will leave for Cairo, arrival on time for dinner. First night in Cairo
Group will have a option to climb the Mt. Sinai, Mount Moses as local Bedouins call it. Climb starts at about 2:00 am, it is about 3 - 4 hours long and can be shortened if camel is used to go up the mountain. Guide will take the group up and bring you back to the St. Catherine.
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Day 3
Breakfast, and then start your sightseeing by visiting the Pyramids of Giza. Cheops (Khufu) Pyramid, largest of the three, was built in the 3rd Dynasty about 2690 BC, and is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. In front of the Pyramid of Chephren (Khafre), we find the Sphinx carved from a single piece of stone. It is a lion with a Pharaoh's head thought to be a portrait of the pharaoh Chephren (Khafre).
Enjoy a camel ride by the Pyramids area, then continue with
visit to the Citadel of Salah El-Din, the Mohammed Ali Mosque, and the "medieval
bazaars" of Khan-El-Khalili, where one can bargain buying jewellery and
hand-tooled leather items. Return to your hotel for an overnight.
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Day 4
Breakfast at the hotel and then excursion to Old Cairo. We will be visiting the very Old Coptic Churches (Obelisk of Ain Shams, The Tree Of Virgin At Matarya, The Church Of Virgin In Zayton, Al Moalqa (Hunging Church), Church Of St. Barbara, Church Of St, Sergious (Abu Serga) Church Of Virgin Maria At Maadi and the Oldest Jewish Synagogue of Beni Ezra. Return to your 5* hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Day 5
Transfer to Cairo International Airport for our flight back home.
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INCLUDES:
+ accommodation in double/twin rooms
+ 5* hotels Sheraton, Le Meridien or Intercontinental in Cairo
+ 3* or 4* hotel in St. Catherine, Sinai
+ buffet breakfast and buffet dinner daily
+ Englisg speaking escort guide on the tour and local guides
+ high class air-conditioned tourist bus
+ entrance fees acording the itinerary
+ Israel exit border tax and Egypt border tax and visa
+ porterage of one piece of luggage in/out hotels
NOT INCLUDED:
+ tip for guides and drivers, hotel staff (all tips can be included in quote)
+ personal expenses, souvenirs, drinks
+ third meal, lunch daily
+ travel insurance
FOR GROUPS TOUR LEADER AND PRIEST TRAVEL FREE
WE CAN ADJUST THIS PILGRIMAGE TO YOUR OWN DESIRES
HOLY LAND TOUR CAN HAVE EXTENSION TO GREECE, ITALY, MEDJUGORJE
OR ANY OTHER PILGRIMAGE DESTINATION IN EUROPE
SEND US YOUR E-MAIL FOR
PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY AND AND EGYPT