Day 1 : Arrive to Israel Our representative will meet you and walk you through customs. We’ll then drive you to the hotel in Haifa and visit Mount Carmel, where the biblical story of the confrontation between Prophet Elijah and the Ba’al prophets took place and overlook the Jezreel Valley. We’ll visit the Baha’is Gardens and the Stella Maris monastery and then have dinner at the hotel in Haifa DAY 2: Beth She’an, Gideon Spring, Cana, Nazareth We’ll start our day at Beth She’an, upon whose walls the Philistines nailed the head of King Saul after his defeat on Mount Gilboa. As we visit the city’s remains, we’ll not only learn about the dramatic end of the last war between King Saul and the Philistines, but also how the residents of Jabesh bravely removed the corpses of the King and his son from the wall of the city in order to bury them (1 Samuel 31). Then on to Gideon Springs, where the Judge Gideon selected 300 warriors to go into battle with him against the Midianites. (Judges 7) After visiting Cana, where the Lord performed the Wedding Miracle, we’ll continue to the biblical village in Nazareth to experience the sights, sounds and aromas of Jesus’ time. Time permitting, we’ll visit the Church of Annunciation in Nazareth. DAY 3: Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, Caesarea Philippi On this day we will sail on the Sea of Galilee, visit Capernaum, the town of Jesus, visit the Church of Multiplication in Tabgha (where the Lord preformed the miracle of the Loaves and Fishes), and visit the Mount of Beatitudes (where Jesus taught “The Sermon on the Mount”). We will then continue to a baptism in the Jordan River, a truly unforgettable experience. After visiting Mt. Hermon, we’ll continue to Caesarea Philippi, where Peter confessed Christ: “You are the Christ, the son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:15-16). Dinner and overnight stay in Tiberias. Day 4: The sea of Galilee This day will be dedicated to the Sea of Galilee. We will sail on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum and visit St.Peter’s House and the Synagogue, the center of the Lord’s ministry. We’ll drive on to the Church of Multiplication where the Lord performed the miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. We’ll continue on to Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount and the Lord’s Prayer was said for the first time. We will then proceed to the church of the Holy Apostles. Dinner and Overnight at the Dead Sea. Day 5: Eilat We’ll drive to the southern most part Israel and reach the blue waters of the Red Sea and the city of Eilat. In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy some R&R on the beach, by the pool, or in the outside promenade. Dinner and Overnight stay in Eilat. Day 6: The Negev We’ll make our way north to Jerusalem via the Negev. According to the Book of Genesis (Chapter 20), Abraham lived for a while in the Negev near Kadesh after being banished from Egypt. Hagar and Ishmael were exiled out into the Negev by Sarah (Genesis 21:14). Both Isaac and Jacob lived for some time in the Negev (Genesis 24:62, 37:1) and David included the Negev in his kingdom, and when Solomon succeeded his father. He also established fortresses in the area. Dinner and Overnight stay in Jerusalem. Day 7: Bethlehem – Jerusalem We will start the day by visiting the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, the site where Jesus was born and then continue to Shepherd’s Fields to visit the monasteries of St.Saba, St. Theodosiusand and St. Elias. In the afternoon, we will tour Jerusalem, visit the monastery St. Symeon, and visit the Monastery of the Holy Cross, where according to tradition, the tree of the Holy Cross was planted. Dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem. Day 8: Jerusalem We will start the day with a breath taking panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives and then visit the Chapel of the Ascension. From the Church of Pater Noster (Our Father), we’ll walk the Gardens of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations, where Jesus is said to have prayed the night of his arrest. We’ll visit the tomb of the Virgin Mary and St.Stephan’s Church. We’ll continue to St.Anne’s Church, the birthplace of the Theotokos and visit the Pool of Bethesda, the Prison of Christ, the Praetorium, the fortress of Antonia, the Lithostrotos, the “Ecce Homo”Arch (Idou o anthropos – Behold the Man). We will walk the Via Dolorosa -”Way of the Cross”- to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Nao tis Anastaseos) which contains Golgotha, the site of Crucifixion, and the holy Tomb of Christ. Dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem. Day 9: Jericho, Mount of temptation, Bethany We will visit Jericho and visit the Monastery of St. George Hozevitis and the Mount of Temptation where Jesus was tempted for 40 days. Our tour will continue to Jericho, Elisha’s Fountain, and Zaccheus’ Tree. Then we’ll continue on to visit St. Gerasimos Monastery where St Mary of Egypt and other saints have walked and also where the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus stayed upon returning from Egypt. Lunch in Jericho. In Bethany, we will visit the Monastery of Martha and Mary on our way to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel in Jerusalem. Day 10: Jerusalem On this day, we will visit the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and have a private audience with the Patriarch His Beatitude Theophilos III (subject to confirmation). On Mount Zion, we will visit the Tomb of King David and the room of the Last Supper, the site that commemorates Jesus’ last meal with his disciples and the place where God sent the Holy Spirit on the disciples at Pentecost. We will visit the house of St John the Theologian and visit the site where the Theotokos is said to have fallen asleep. Afterwards, we will have the opportunity to shop at the Old City markets. Depending on our schedule, we will try to visit Jacob’s Well in Samaria during our tour.