11 Day Group Pilgrimage to the Church of the Assumption
( Sample Itinerary)
(Day 1) - Departure from USA
Depart Denver for your overnight flights to the Holy Land. Meals are served on board.
(Day 2) - Arrival to Tel Aviv
When we arrive to Tel Aviv, we will meet our guide and driver.
Then, we will drive to our hotel in Nazareth for dinner and overnight.
(Day 3) - Caesarea – Nazareth – Cana
After breakfast, we will leave the hotel and start our day with a visit to Caesarea. You will have the opportunity to visit the archaeological remains of this ancient port. Then, we will go to Nazareth where we will visit St. Mary’s Well, and the Greek Orthodox Church of Annunciation. After that, the group will visit Cana of Galilee where we will visit the Greek Orthodox Church site of Jesus' first miracle. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth or Tiberias.
(Day 4) - Sea of Galilee – Mt. Beatitudes
We will start our day with a visit to Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. Then, we will visit the Tabgha, the Greek for seven springs, and the Church of the multiplication of fish and loaves. Then, we will continue to Capernaum, the headquarters of Jesus ministry in Galilee, St. Peter’s house. We will visit the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles. Then, we will have lunch so we try St. Peter’s Fish. We will visit Korazin, which was cursed by Jesus because the people did not follow his teachings. Then, we have a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth or Tiberias.
(Day 5) - Mt. Tabor – Nablus - Samaria- Jacob's Well
After breakfast, we will check out from our hotel and start our day with a visit to Mt Tabor. There, we will visit the Church of Transfiguration. Then, we will leave the Galilee area and head to the Old City of Nablus Samaria at Mount Gerizim. We will also visit Jacob’s Well. Then, we will drive to Taybeh for dinner and overnight.
(Day 6) - Jerusalem – Mt. Olives – Mt. Zion – Bethany – Bethlehem
On this day, we will start our day with a visit to Mount of Olives. We will have a panoramic overlook to Jerusalem. Then, we will visit the church of Pater Noster. Then, continue to the Chapel of Ascension. We will walk down the Palm Sunday road stopping at the beautiful Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene. After that, we will continue to visit the Tomb of the Holy Mother and continue to the Church of all Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane. Later on, we will visit St. Peter in Galicantu. At the end of the day, we will be in Bethany to visit the site of the house of Mary and Lazarus. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.
(Day 7) - Jericho – Dead Sea – Jordan River
We will start our day with a visit to the monastery of St. George, built in a rock Ravine in the Judean desert. Then, we will visit the Mount of Temptation. There, we will try the Jericho Cable Car, where we will visit the Orthodox Monastery. After that, we will visit the Baptismal site in the Jordan River where the group may renew their baptismal vows. Then, we will visit the Dead Sea where we can have a float in the Dead Sea in the Salty water. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.
(Day 8) - Ein Karem – Bethlehem- Beit Sahour
After breakfast, we will start our day with a visit to Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist and see the Russian and the Greek Orthodox Church. Then, we will continue to Monastery of St. Theodosius and Mar Saba. Then, we continue to Shepherd’s Field and Grotto, to see the place where the Shepherds saw the star of the Nativity. Then, we will visit the Church of the Nativity. Sometimes we will be given for shopping. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.
(Day 9) - Jerusalem – Old City – Via Dolorosa
We will start our day with a visit to the Wailing Wall and Temple Mount. Then, we will continue to St. Anne Church and Pool of Bethesda. We will walk the Via Dolorosa, the spot where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. There, we will visit the Ecce Homo. Our next destination will be the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After that, we will visit St. Jacob’s Church and St. James Cathedral in the Armenian Orthodox Quarter. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.
(Day 10) - Jerusalem – Greek Orthodox Church – Farewell dinner in Bethlehem
After breakfast, we will leave to visit the Greek Orthodox Church, the Orthodox monasteries and we will also visit the Holy Cross Monastery and St. Simon, the church in Katamon. We will have free time in Jerusalem for some shopping time and visits on own. This afternoon, we will have a farewell dinner in a local restaurant in Bethlehem.
(Day 11) - DEPARTURE and Head Home!
Free time on your own. Then, we will have transfers to Tel Aviv airport where we can arrive back in the US on the same day.
