Easter pilgrimage to the Holy Land

 

Celebrate Easter in the Holy Land. A Catholic Pilgrimage - a spiritual adventure

 

Experience Easter in Israel

 

This tour is no longer valid -  see valid tours HERE

 

Saturday April 16 – Arrive in the Holy Land
Your spiritual adventure will begin the moment you land in Tel Aviv and your local Catholic guide meets you to take you to your hotel in Jerusalem in preparation for Easter.

 

Sunday April 17 – Jerusalem and Bethlehem
Today is Palm Sunday and we will be joining in the Palm Sunday procession from Bethphage to St Anne’s Church, celebrating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem together with pilgrims from around the world. But first we will visit the Church of The Nativity and the Sheppard’s Fields and partake in Mass in Bethlehem.

 

Monday April 18 – Galilee
Today we travel to the Galilee region, stopping first in Caesarea to visit the Crusader ruins. We continue on towards the Galilee driving through the Carmel Mountains. Stop in Haifa at the Stella Maris Church and then continue on to Sepphoris, the birthplace of Mary. Have dinner and spend the night at a Tiberias Hotel.

 

Tuesday April 19 – The Galilee and Jesus’ Ministry
We will spend the day visiting sights which will include the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, Tabgha which is the traditional location of the loaves and fishes miracle and the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy which is close-by. We will also be taking a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to visit Capernaum and St. Peter’s House. Take part in Mass on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Later on in the day we will travel to Mount Tabor which is believed to be where Jesus underwent the Transfiguration. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

 

Wednesday April 20 - Cana – Nazareth, Jordan Valley and Jerusalem
We start the day by driving to Cana which is where Jesus turned water into wine performing his first miracle. From there we will continue on to Nazareth to celebrate mass at the Church of Annunciation. From there we will go to the excavated Village of Nazareth that dates back to around 1 AD. The houses and synagogue have been restored to resemble the way it would have looked during Jesus’ time. Afterwards we will head for Jerusalem via the Jordan Valley. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

 

Thursday  April 21 – Holy Thursday in Jerusalem

Today we will go to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to take part in the Pontifical Mass. Afterwards we will visit the Monastery of the Flagellation, the Convent of the Sisters of Zion and St Anne’s Church. After lunch we will see the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall and then to Mount Zion to visit the Room of the Last Supper. We will also visit the Garden of Gethsemane and recall Jesus’ last hours before his crucifixion.

 

Good Friday April 22  - Jesus‘ last hours
Travel to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem, with a stop on the way at the Place of Ascension, the Pater Noster Church with its caves of the Teachings and Gethsemane Church.  From there we proceed to the Church of St Peter in Gallicantu built over the House of Caiaphas, where Peter denied Christ. In the afternoon we join in the Way of The Cross procession on the Via Dolorosa in the Old City. In the evening we will take part in the “Funeral Procession” in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

 

Holy Saturday April 23
We begin today where Lazarus was raised from the dead in the town of Bethany. Continuing on to the Dead Sea we visit the Qumran Caves to see where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Swim in the Dead Sea, acclaimed for the healing properties of its mineral-rich water. Continue on to Jericho the oldest city in the world and explore the excavations.
There will be evening prayers in front of the Aedicule at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Later on in the evening there will be a Pontifical Celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours with the Custos of the Holy Land.

 

Easter Sunday April 24
Follow the  Latin Patriarch as he enters the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and attend the Pontifical Mass. Visit the Church of Visitation in Ein Karem the village of the birthplace of John the Baptist

Easter Monday April 25 – Emmaus
In the morning   take part in the Pontifical Mass and the Blessing of Bread with the Custos of the Holy Land. Enjoy the site of Emmaus where Jesus met with two of his disciples after the resurection

Tuesday April 26 – Departure