Holy Land Pilgrimage with Rev. Bradley Schmeling - Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

Day 1: Departure from the USA

Depart from Minneapolis, MN for your overnight flight to the Holy Land. Meals will be served on board.

Day 2: Arrival – Tel Aviv

We arrive at Ben Gurion airport and depart northward to our hotel for one night in the coastal area near Tel Aviv to start off the journey of visiting the Holy Land. The remainder of the day is free to walk along the Mediterranean, relax, and dine in our hotel in Tel Aviv.

Day 3: Mt. Carmel – Caesarea – Nazareth – Cana – Tiberias

After breakfast, we travel by private motor coach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, where the Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. We see the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct. We visit Mount Carmel, Muhraqa (the Place of Fire), and consider the contest between the Prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal (I Kings 18), discussing the reasons why the Prophet chose that place for the contest, and the lessons we learn from the story. Afterward, we go to Nazareth where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, and the Church of St. Joseph. We end our day with a visit to Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle. Drive to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Caesarea Philippi –  Mt. Arbel – Valley of Doves – Sea of Galilee

We start our day with a visit to Caesarea Philippi, at the source of the river Jordan, where Peter confessed that Jesus is the Messiah. Then we return to the Sea of Galilee via the Golan Heights with a stop overlooking the Road to Damascus. On to Mount Arbel, where we overlook the ancient road from Nazareth to Galilee with a possible hike on part of the Jesus Trail. We then carry on to the Valley of the Doves and travel along the ancient road that leads from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee along the Via Maris. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Day 5: Sea of Galilee – Magdala – Capernaum​ – Mount of Beatitudes​

We start the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, Then we visit Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene, and see the 1st-century synagogue, the oldest synagogue discovered on the shores of Galilee, with a stone-carved replica of the Temple and Menorah. We then take a short drive to Capernaum, the biblical village and hometown of Jesus. Capernaum is closely associated with Jesus and His ministry as described in the Synoptic Gospels. There we see the house of the mother-in-law of Peter and an ancient synagogue that dates back to the time of Jesus and where much of His teaching took place. After a lunch of St. Peter’s fish, we drive to Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000. We then visit the site known as “Peter’s Primacy” where Jesus appeared to His disciples for the third time after His Resurrection. Later we continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, the scene of Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount. We enjoy the view of the enchanting gardens and reflect on Jesus’ sermon. then will have communion service and worship led by your pastor. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.                                                                                                                    

Day 6: Jordan Valley – Shepherds Field – Church of the Nativity - Bethlehem (ELCJHL)

After breakfast, we drive through the Jordan Valley and on to  Bethlehem to visit Shepherd's Fields, where the angels appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of Our Lord. These fields are also the setting of the Book of Ruth. After lunch, we travel to the Church of the Nativity and view the place where Our Lord was born. We check in at our hotel and enjoy conversation and dinner with Local Church leaders. overnight in Bethlehem.                                                      

Day 7: Augusta Victoria Hospital – LWF – Mt. of Olives – Mt. Zion – Garden of Gethsemane  (ELCJHL)

We start our day at Dar Al Kalima College and the Culture Center. Meet with Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb to learn about the Palestinian Christians. Then to Jerusalem visit Augusta Victoria Hospital to witness the work of the Lutheran World Federation in health and education. Later, we enjoy a panoramic view from the top of Mount of Olives, and then we continue to the Church of the Ascension and the Church of the Pater Noster. We continue down to Dominus Flevit and St. Mary Magdalene Church. We pray at the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations. In the afternoon, we visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Jesus was denied by St. Peter. Then we visit the Upper Room, the place of the Last Supper, and King David’s Tomb. Back to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 8: Wadi Qelt – St. George Monastery – Baptismal Site – Jericho – Qumran – the Dead Sea                         

This morning we depart Bethlehem, traveling through the Judean wilderness where Jesus fasted for 40 days, and along the ancient road passing the good Samaritan inn. Upon reaching Wadi Qelt, we enjoy a view of St. George’s Monastery nestled in the wilderness. We carry on along the ancient road toward Jericho, passing by Herod’s Winter Palace, where the infamous King died in the year 4 BC, and which was likely the background setting for the parable of the prodigal son. On the way to Jericho, we head to Bet Arabah where John baptized Jesus. The site is also known as the “Place of Crossing” of the Israelites. From Bet Arabah, we drive to the city of Jericho. We see Tel Jericho, the old town of Joshua, to see the excavations of the ancient city and the Mount of Temptation. We then drive to Qumran and visit the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were accidentally found and the buildings that formed the public center of the Essenes. Then we proceed to the Dead Sea where we can enjoy a dip in the relaxing and healing waters. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 9:  Pools of Bethesda – Holy Sepulcher – Church of the Redeemer (ELCJHL) - Jerusalem

This morning after breakfast, we walk the Via Dolorosa, the traditional path that Jesus walked from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. There, we visit Golgotha and the Empty Tomb. We then visit Church of the Redeemer, Meet with Bishop Ibrahim Azar (ELCJHL) then to Jewish Quarter, and go to the Western Wall, a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site. We then visit St Anne’s church and the nearby Pools of Bethesda, where the healing at the pool took place. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.                                                            

Day 10: Departure from Tel Aviv to the US

Check-out and departure from our hotel for the return home. We arrive on the same day.

OPTIONAL POST-TOUR EXCURSION TO JORDAN

Day 10:  Jordan, Mt. Nebo, Petra                                                                                                                                   We will drive to the border of Jordan, Once in Jordan, we will visit Mt. Nebo, where the prophet Mousa (Moses) gazed over the Promised Land before he died with overlook views of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. We continue towards Petra, stopping to experience a traditional Bedouin dinner, and overnight in Petra.

Day 11:  Full day Petra – Amman
After breakfast, we will visit the site of Petra. It is a 2000 year old Nabatean city that was highlighted in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. We will walk through the narrow passageway up to the Treasury, which is a massive Royal Tomb carved out of the solid rock. If time permits, we will visit the Traditional Tomb of Aaron (Moses’ brother). In the afternoon, we continue on to Amman to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Amman – Jarash
After breakfast, we will explore Jarash, which is north of the capital city of Amman. Inhabited since the Bronze Age, it is known for the ruins of the walled Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa, which is one of the cities of Decapolis. These ruins include the 2nd century Hadrian’s Arch, the Corinthian Columns of the Temple of Artemis, and the huge Forum’s Oval Colonnade. We return to Amman to meet with local ELCJHL leaders, and then back to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Amman. 

Day 13: Arrive USA
After a brief rest in our rooms, we will transfer at midnight to the airport for our 2:15 AM flight back to the USA.

NOTE: The schedule is subject to change due to various factors and at your Tour Leaders’ and Guide’s discretion.