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.
*It is our intention to follow the itinerary as outlined above, however due to many factors like local holidays, traffic or weather conditions it may be necessary to make changes to the order of events or even the cancelation of certain events.
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