St. Paul Lutheran Church Holy Land Pilgrimage with Rev. Jonathan Bull

ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH – WESTERVILLE, OH

OCTOBER 20-29, 2023

Day 1: Depart USA 

Depart from Columbus, OH (CMH) on our international flight to Israel. Enjoy dinner and entertainment aboard the airplane. 

Day 2: Arrive in Tel Aviv 

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, an Elias Tours representative will meet and assist us through customs. We transfer to our hotel on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. (If our flight arrives early in the morning, we will visit Jaffa before going to our hotel.) Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Caesarea – Haifa – Megiddo – Nazareth – Tiberias

Wake up to the beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea. After breakfast, we drive north to Caesarea and visit the amazing Herodian port city. We gather for fellowship at the ancient Roman Theatre. We view the impressive archeological finds of the Roman Hippodrome, the Crusader fortifications, and the 2,000-year-old Aqueduct built by King Herod. We continue along the Mediterranean, on the road known Biblically as the Via Maris (“Way of the Sea”), to Mt. Carmel for a scenic overlook of the Valley of Megiddo. We visit Tel Megiddo (“Armageddon”) and see the Solomon city gate, stables and palaces from the times of Ahab, and the impressive water system dating to the 9th century BC. We invite you to your first lunch in Israel. We then continue to Nazareth, where the angels’ Annunciation to Mary took place. We also stop at Cana of Galilee, the traditional site of the miracle at the wedding. On to our Galilee hotel for dinner & overnight. 

Day 4: Galilee – Tiberias – Golan Heights – Sea of Galilee – Capernaum 

Today we explore the surroundings of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus spent three years of his ministry. We start with a visit to Magdala, the town of Mary Magdalene, where there is a new excavation of an ancient Church and Synagogue. We then visit Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry, where we walk along the ruins of the ancient Synagogue and St. Peter's home. On to Tabgha, the traditional site of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. We drive up to the Mount of Beatitudes for a breathtaking view of the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. This is a perfect place to read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. We then drive north and visit the Biblical town of Dan where we can see an altar and the Canaanite gate and walls from Abraham's time. We return to our hotel through the Golan Heights with a visit to Caesarea Philippi, located on the Banias Stream, one of the sources of the Jordan River. Dinner and overnight. 

Day 5: Galilee – Mt. Tabor 

After breakfast, we drive to Mt. Tabor and pay a short visit to Gideon Springs, where Gideon and the 300 men prepared to fight the Midianites. We return to the Sea of Galilee for a special fellowship cruise on a wooden boat, and then enjoy a lunch of the famous St. Peter’s Fish at a restaurant by the shore. We end the day at the Baptismal site, Yardenit, at the Jordan River. Dinner and overnight. 

Day 6: Jordan Valley – Beit Shean – Dead Sea 

After breakfast, we drive to Beit Shean, the largest archeological excavation in Israel. We walk along the reconstructed Cardo, sit on the ancient basalt benches at the Roman theater and see the remains of the luxurious spa center. We then drive south along the Jordan River to view Jericho, the most ancient settlement in the world, and the Mount of Temptations. We continue along the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, to Qumran, where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947. We take a short hike to King David’s Waterfall at the Ein Gedi Oasis, where King David fled and hid in a cave from King Saul. We continue south to our spa-hotel on the shore of the Dead Sea for dinner and overnight. 

Day 7: Masada – Jerusalem 

Morning is at leisure to enjoy the spa facilities or take a float on the Dead Sea, the lowest and saltiest lake in the world. In mid-morning, we drive to Masada, one of the World Heritage Sites as declared by UNESCO. We ascend by cable car to visit the palaces, the storage halls, and the bathhouse, built by King Herod. We see the synagogue built by the Jewish Zealots, who rebelled against the Romans. We walk down on the Roman Ramp, built 2,000 years ago. Afterward, we enjoy a special experience riding camels and partaking in a show of Bedouin hospitality called Hafla. We drive into the Negev Desert, viewing Tel Arad, one of the ancient cities conquered by Joshua, and the Ella Valley, where the Philistine Goliath was defeated by David, the young shepherd who became King of Israel. Our bus then climbs back up to Jerusalem, passing the Biblical town of Beit Shemesh, where we have a special visit! As we enter the city of Jerusalem, we stop for a vista point overlooking the Old City and make the traditional blessing of arriving at the Holy City. We check into our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. 

Day 8: The Old City of Jerusalem – Mount of Olives – Hezekiah’s Tunnel 

Today we explore the Holy City. We start our visit at the top of the Mount of Olives, with its breathtaking view of the Old City. We visit the ancient olive trees at the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed on the night of his betrayal, and the Basilica of Agony. We visit the new excavations of the City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, and the Pool of Siloam. We enter the Old City via an underground ancient street, running beneath the Old City Wall. We visit the Davidson Center, the Wailing Wall, St. Ann’s Church, and the Pools of Bethesda. We walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. We visit the Jewish Quarter and see the Burnt House (a high priest’s house from the second Temple era), the Cardo, and the Herodian Quarter excavations. On to Zion Gate and Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room and David’s Tomb. We visit the prison where Jesus was held, at the foundations and basement of the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, built on the site of the House of the High Priest Caiaphas. We drive back to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. In the evening, after dinner at the hotel, we enjoy the fascinating Sound and Light Show at the Tower of David. 

Day 9: Jerusalem – Bethlehem – Yad Vashem 

After breakfast, we drive to Bethlehem, if it is open (it usually is). Otherwise, we visit the Shepherds’ Field. We then visit the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are exhibited. There, we see the Model of Jerusalem as it was 2,000 years ago, in Jesus's time. We continue to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial. After a complimentary lunch, we conclude our Pilgrimage by visiting the Garden Tomb, where we have a memorable service at the empty tomb. In the evening, we celebrate with a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant with the ELCJHL Bishop Ibrahim Azar. 

Day 10: Fly back or optional Jordan extension 

Early morning transfer to the airport for our flight back to the USA. Arrive back home. 

OPTIONAL POST-TOUR EXCURSION TO JORDAN 

Day 10: Worship in Jerusalem – Old City – Jordan – Mt. Nebo – Petra 

After worship, we 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 Leaders and Guide’s discretion.