Holy Land Pilgrimage with Rev. Jay Grave - St. John Lutheran Church

Day 1: Departure from the USA

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

Day 2: Arrival – Tiberias

We arrive at Ben Gurion airport and go northward to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

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

After breakfast, we travel 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, site of the contest between Prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal, and then travel to Nazareth where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation. We return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Caesarea Philippi – Golan Heights – 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, followed by a visit to the Ancient Boat Museum that houses a 2,000-year-old fishing boat found buried in mud on the shores of Galilee. The boat provides a good example of what fishing boats looked like during the time of Jesus. 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. We also have time for prayer and reflection. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.                                                                                                                    

Day 6: Jordan Valley – Shepherd's Field – Bethlehem (ELCJHL)

After breakfast, we drive south through the Jordan Valley to Bethlehem. We visit Shepherd's Field, 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 dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.                                                      

Day 7: Temple Mount – Mt. of Olives – Mt. Zion

We start our day with a visit to Temple Mount to see the Dome of the Rock, a possible location of the Holy of Holies. Later, after a panoramic view from the top of Mount of Olives, we visit the Church of the Ascension, the Church of the Pater Noster, Dominus Flevit, St. Mary Magdalene Church, and the Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the afternoon, we visit several sites on Mt. Zion in Jerusalem. Back to Bethlehem for dinner and overnight.

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: Augusta Victoria Hospital – LWF – Via Dolorosa 

After breakfast, we visit Augusta Victoria Hospital to witness the work of the Lutheran World Federation. Later, we walk the Via Dolorosa, the path that Jesus walked from the Antonia Fortress to Golgotha, now housed in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We then visit St Anne’s church and the nearby Pools of Bethesda. 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 

Drive to the Jordanian border. Once in Jordan, we visit Mt. Nebo, where the prophet Mousa (Moses) gazed over the Promised Land before he died. We continue towards Petra, stopping to experience a traditional Bedouin dinner, and overnight in Petra. 

Day 11: Full-day Petra – Amman 

After breakfast, we visit Petra, the 2,000-year-old Nabatean city featured in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. We 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 visit the Traditional Tomb of Aaron (Moses’ brother). In the afternoon, we continue on to our hotel in Amman for dinner and overnight. 

Day 12: Amman – Jerash 

After breakfast, we explore Jerash, 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 travel back to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Amman. 

Day 13: Arrive USA 

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport for our flight back to the USA.

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