Pilgrimage Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Tel Aviv Make your way to Dublin airport and check-in for Turkish Airlines flight to Tel Aviv via Istanbul, with onboard catering and personal entertainment on one of Europe’s best Airlines. On Arrival in Tel Aviv you will be met by our Marian Pilgrimages representative and guide in the arrival hall before boarding your tour coach. Get acquainted with the group on your transfer to Bethlehem where we check into the 4 star Manger Square Hotel for 4 nights with dinner and breakfast. Day 2 - Bethlehem After breakfast we take the short walk to the Church of the Nativity where we spend the morning and celebrate Mass. Here you can visit the birthplace of Jesus, and the Holy Manger as well as the Chapels of St. Joseph, St. Jerome, the Holy Innocents and the Church of St. Catherine. Leaving the Church of the Nativity you can make your way to the Milk Grotto before joining our coach and taking the short drive to the Shepherds Fields. After lunch we continue to Ein Karem and visit the Churches of the Visitation (where Mary met Elizabeth) & St. John the Baptist. Return to the hotel for Dinner. Day 3 - Jerusalem This morning we drive to Jerusalem and enter the Old City to the Church of St. Anne and nearby, see the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed a man paralysed for over 40 years. Close by we begin the Via Dolorosa and follow the stations of the cross through the markets and narrow streets of the Old City to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of Calvary (where Jesus was crucified) and His tomb. Here we will celebrate Mass and take some time to reflect upon this sacred site. Enjoy some free time in Jerusalem for lunch before visiting the Western Wall and returning to the hotel for dinner. Day 4 - Mount of Olives After breakfast we drive to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem where we take our group photo and enjoy the view of the Old City below. We make our way to the highest point on the Mount of Olives to the Ascension Dome that marks the site where Christ ascended into heaven. Continue to visit The Pater Noster Church, Dominus Flevit, Assumption church and Grotto and the Garden of Gethsemane. In the afternoon we celebrate Mass in the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu or “cock’s crow”, where Peter denied Jesus three times and see the dungeon where Jesus was held the night of Holy Thursday. We walk around Mount Zion and visit the church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Tomb of David and the Room of the Last Supper. Return to the hotel for dinner. Day 5 - Jericho & Bethany This morning we leave Bethlehem and visit Bethany for Mass. Drive via the Inn of the Good Samaritan to the Dead Sea. Take some time to relax and float on the water near Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Continue to Jericho to see the Mount of Temptation where Jesus was tempted by the devil, and the Sycamore tree of Zacchaeus. Drive along the Jordan Valley to Nazareth and check into the 4 star Hotel Legacy for 4 nights, dinner and breakfast. Day 6 - Nazareth & Cana After breakfast we will spend our morning exploring the city where Jesus lived as a child. We make our way to the Basilica of the Annunciation to celebrate Mass. Visiting the lower level of the Basilica we see the remains of Mary’s house and where the Angel Gabriel visited her. Here inscribed on the alter are the Latin words of “Here the Word was made flesh”. Adjacent to the Basilica is the St. Joseph Church, we visit the site of Joseph’s work shop and the house of the Holy Family. A short walk from the Basilica is Mary’s Well here you have the opportunity to draw water from the same well as the Virgin Mary. After some time for lunch we take the short coach journey to Cana. Here we visit the Wedding Church, the site of Jesus’ first miracle, turning the water to wine. Couples on the pilgrimage can take part in the special ceremony to renew their Wedding Vows. In the lower level of the church we see artifacts from the site before having an opportunity to taste and purchase some wine from this sacred site. On the way home Visit the ruins of Old Sepphoris and see the Roman Theatre, Crusader Fort, and the Synagogue. Return to hotel for dinner. Return to Nazareth for dinner in our hotel. Day 7 - Sea of Galilee This morning we make our way to the Mount of Beatitudes which overlooks the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum and Tabgha. Here we celebrate Mass in the Church of the Beatitudes and hear the reading of the great Sermon on the Mount. Continue to Capernaum where we see the old Synagogue the site of many of Jesus’ teachings and the excavations of Peters house where Jesus stayed when visiting Capernaum. Visit the site of the multiplication of the Loaves & Fish at Tabgha, and the church of the Primacy of Peter. Enjoy lunch on the shore of the Sea of Galilee before taking a Boat trip on the lake, with relevant Bible readings. On docking of the boat, you have the opportunity to see the “boat of Jesus” a fishing boat from the time of Christ. Before retuning to the hotel we visit the Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene, a prosperous fishing village at the time of Jesus. Day 8 - Mount Tabor & River Jordan After breakfast we drive to Mount Tabor and ascend by taxi for Mass at the church of the Transfiguration where Jesus is transfigured and speaks to Moses and Elijah. Enjoy the view of the Valley of Armageddon before driving to Yardinet - Baptism site on the River Jordan, here we can renew our Baptismal Vows. Afternoon drive to Caesarea, see the Aqueduct, and visit the Roman Amphitheatre. Return to Nazareth for Dinner at hotel. Day 9 - Depart Tel Aviv Early breakfast before taking our coach to Tel Aviv airport for return flights to Dublin via Istanbul.