In the Homeland of Jesus of Nazareth with Father Terence Blackburn and Father Robert Counselman November 7 - 17, 2011 "Our Feet Shall Stand Within Thy Gates, O Jerusalem." (Ps. 122:2)

Tour Highlights:
Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience!
If you desire to draw closer to Jesus of Nazareth, come, as we follow in His footsteps. Each day of your pilgrimage you will have time to renew and affirm your faith; to pray and reflect. The Scriptures will come alive as you visit Our Lord's homeland. You will be inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape, in addition to its rich historical heritage It is an encounter that has changed the lives of many pilgrims, an act of faith and prayer. Pilgrims have been traveling to the Holy Land for hundreds of years, and as part of your pilgrimage, we include many of the rich traditions that permeate our faith.  

Round trip Air from EWR Airport to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel One of Israel's Top Tour Guides and Drivers will be with you the entire trip 8 Full days of touring - Arrival and departure group transfers. All Breakfasts and Dinners as per itinerary Grand Beach Tel Aviv , Kibbutz Nof Ginosar and Grand Court Jerusalem.

Welcome orientation, Ancient Joppa, Tabita, Caesarea Maritima, Roman Theater, Herod's Palace, Mount Carmel, Monastery of the Muhraka, Jezreel Plain, Druze villages, Bahai Gardens, Acre, Sea of Galilee, Ginnosar, Ancient Boat from the time of Jesus, Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, Church of the Loaves and the Fish, Capernaum, Golan Heights, Banyas, Ancient Caesarea Philippi, Jordan River. Nazareth, Megiddo, Beit Shearim, Zippori, Church of the Annunciation, Beit Shearim, Gideon Springs, Yardenit Baptismal site, Mount of Olives, Old City of Jerusalem, Temple Mount. Church of Dominus Flevit, Garden of Gethsemane, Dung Gate, Old City, Celebrate Mass together in the Private Garden, Kidron Valley, Western Wall, Gaze upon the ancient stairs that Jesus descended in approaching the Temple Mount. Via Dolorosa, Exotic bazaar, Lithostothan game, Salatimo's Sweet Shop, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jewish Quarter and the Roman Cardo, Yad Vashem, Hadassah Hospital, Church of the Nativity, Mount Zion, Church of St. Peter Gallicantu, Dormition Abbey, Israel Museum, Shrine of the Book, Dead Sea Scrolls, Model of Jerusalem, Knesset, Massada, Dead Sea, Qumran, An Inspirational Pilgrimage and Much Much More!!!  

  Itinerary

Monday, 7 November
Depart on overnight flight to the Holy Land 

Tuesday, 8 November - Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport
To be met by a CHT representative; transfer to your hotel.
Overnight and dinner in Tel Aviv. 

Wednesday, 9 November - Jaffa / Caesarea / Mount Carmel / Druze Villages / Acre
After breakfast, visit the ancient Joppa ( Jaffa ): here was the house of Simon the Tanner (Apostles 10: 9-16) and the place of the Miracle of the resurrection of Tabita (Apostles 9: 36-43). After the visit drive North to Caesarea Maritima. Visit the Roman Theater, the Herod's Palace, the Palace of the Roman Procurator (Apostles 23: 23 and Apostles 26: 23 - Paul; Apostles 10: 20-48 Peter and Cornelius), the Amphitheater and the Crusaders' City and Harbor. Proceed to Mount Carmel to visit the Monastery of the Muhraka, where Elijah fought with the Baal priests. From the roofs of this Monastery, we have a beautiful view of the Jezreel Plain. Through the Druze villages, Daliyat el Carmel and Usifiya, we proceed to Haifa for a panoramic view of the city and harbor. Then we proceed to the beautiful Bahai Gardens for an overlook. Proceed to Acre to visit the old city with its city walls, the Knights' Halls and the Harbor (time permitting).
Through the Galilee proceed to Tiberias for overnight and dinner.  

Thursday, 10 November - Galilee
After breakfast, boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on the water (Matthew 14: 22-23). The ride will end at Ginnosar, to visit the Ancient Boat from the time of Jesus that was found nearby. Drive to the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 7) where we shall visit the heptagonal church that was built by the Italian architect Berluzzi. Proceed to Tabgha, for a visit of the Church of the Loaves and the Fish (Matthew 14: 14-34). Driving along the Northern shores of the Sea of Galilee we shall reach Capernaum, the town of Jesus, where he lived in the house of Peter performing from there his miracles and healings (Matthew 4: 13, Matthew 8: 14-15). Through the Golan Heights, proceed to Banyas, the ancient Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16: 13-20) one of the main sources of the Jordan River.
Return to the hotel for overnight and dinner.  

Friday, 11 November Nazareth /Megiddo / Beit Shearim / Zippori
After breakfast, drive to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation (Luke 26: 28), then through the Jezreel Plain on to Megiddo, named also Armageddon - the place where the last battle of mankind is due to take place (the Apocalypse of St. John) where we shall visit the Museum and this 5,000 year old city with the Gates from the times of King Solomon, the old Canaanite temples and the water tunnel from the time of King Ahab. After the visit proceed to Beit Shearim, an old Jewish cemetery and the site of the Jewish Sanhedrin, and to Zippori, also a site of the Sanhedrin, and one of the richest cities in the Northern part of the country with its beautiful mosaics.
Return to the hotel for overnight and dinner.  

Saturday, 12 November - Galilee / Beit Shean / Gideon Springs
After breakfast, drive to the Southern part of the See of Galilee to visit the Yardenit Baptismal site. Proceed to the ancient town of Beit Shean with its new excavations of the Roman and Byzantine periods. Drive on to Gideon Springs, where Gideon gathered the sons of Israel to fight the Medianates (Judges 7: 1).
Proceed to Jerusalem for overnight and dinner. 

Sunday, 13 November - Jerusalem-the Old City
After breakfast, ascend the Mount of Olives for a wonderful panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem with the Temple Mount. Walking down the Mount of Olives, we shall reach the Church of Dominus Flevit (Luke 19: 41-44) and proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane, the place where Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26: 36-58). There we will celebrate Mass together in the Private Garden. Driving through the Kidron Valley, we shall reach the Dung Gate, enter the Old City, and gaze upon the ancient stairs that Jesus descended in approaching the Temple Mount. Then visit the Western Wall (or Wailing Wall) - the holiest place for the Jews. As we walk a part of the Via Dolorosa, via the exotic bazaar, we see the lithostothan game, etched in stone, which Roman soldiers probably used when casting lots for Jesus' garment. After enjoying a stop at Salatimo's Sweet Shop, see the original city wall from the time of Constantine. Then visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Proceed through the newly rebuilt Jewish Quarter and the Roman Cardo.
Return to the hotel for overnight and dinner. 

Monday, 14 November - Jerusalem-the New City / Bethlehem*
After breakfast, Proceed to Yad Vashem, the Memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, and then to the Synagogue at the Hadassah Hospital, where the famous stained glass windows of Marc Chagall may be seen. Proceed to Bethlehem * to visit the Church of the Nativity (Luke 2: 1-7).
Return to the hotel for overnight and dinner. 

Tuesday, 15 November - Jerusalem
After breakfast, we drive to Mount Zion to visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu and Dormition Abbey. Then proceed to the Israel Museum with its Shrine of the Book, to see the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Model of Jerusalem as it was at the time of the Second Temple. Then see the Menorah in front of the Knesset the Israeli Parliament. This afternoon is free for shopping and exploring Jerusalem on one's own.
Return to the hotel for overnight and dinner. 

Wednesday, 16 November - Massada / Dead Sea / Qumran
After breakfast drive via the Good Samaritan Inn (Luke 8: 25-37) to the mountain fortress of Massada, strong hold of the Jews in the war against the Romans. Ascend to the fortress by cable car to visit the palaces of Herod the Great with its Roman baths and pools. Descend for a possible "dip" and "float" in the salty water of the Dead Sea, the worlds lowest place. On the way back to Jerusalem, stop in Qumran-the city of the Essenes-where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in a cave by a shepherd.
Overnight and farewell dinner in Jerusalem.  

Thursday, 17 November - Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure flight. 

Saturday, 18 November Flight bach home
Arrive back in USA. The blessed memories last forever! 

Itinerary Subject to Change