Pilgrimage Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Tel Aviv Check-in for Turkish Airlines flight to Tel Aviv via Istanbul. In the arrival hall of Tel Aviv airport you will be met by our Marian Pilgrimages representative and guide before boarding your tour coach to Nazareth where we check into the 4 star Legacy Hotel for 4 nights with dinner and breakfast. Day 2 - Nazareth & Cana After breakfast we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation to celebrate Mass. On the lower level of the Basilica we see the remains of Mary's house and where the Angel Gabriel visited her. 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 time for lunch we take the short coach journey to Cana. Here we visit the Wedding Church, the site of Jesus' first miracle. 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. Return to Nazareth for dinner in our hotel. Day 3 - Sea of Galilee This morning we make our way to the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum and Tabgha. Celebrate Mass in the Church of the Beatitudes and hear the reading of the great Sermon on the Mount. Continue to Capernaum and see the old Synagogue and the excavations of Peters house. 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. Before retuning to the hotel we visit Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene, a prosperous fishing village at the time of Jesus. Day 4 - 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. 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. Return to Nazareth for some free time. Dinner at hotel. Day 5 - Jericho & Bethany We leave Nazareth and drive south along the Jordan Valley into Jericho. Here we can see the Mount of Temptation and the Sycamore tree of Zacchaeus. Continue to the Dead Sea and enjoy a �dip� near Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Drive by the Inn of the Good Samaritan, to Bethany to celebrate Mass and visit the tomb of Lazarus. After we drive to Bethlehem and check-in to the 4 star Manger Square Hotel, located just a stone's throw from the Church of the Nativity for 4 nights, with breakfast and dinner. Day 6 - Bethlehem After breakfast we take the short walk to the Church of the Nativity 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. 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. Return to the hotel for Dinner. Day 7 - Jerusalem We drive to Jerusalem and enter the Old City to the Church of St. Anne and nearby, see the Pool of Bethesda. 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. Return to Jerusalem to the Garden of Gethsemane for Holy Hour. Day 8 - Mount of Olives 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. 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 9 - Depart Tel Aviv Early breakfast. Drive to Tel Aviv airport for return flights to Dublin via Istanbul. There will be quite a bit of walking on this pilgrimage. Please talk to the tour leader or call the Marian Pilgrimage office for advice if you are at all concerned.