Coptic Orthodox Church Tour of the Holy Land

Hosted by Mrs. Afaf Menias

October 22ndOctober 31st, 2016

Day 1 Saturday October 22nd - Arrival Tel Aviv - Bethlehem

Arrival in Tel Aviv, where our Christian English speaking guide greets us. We then transfer to Bethlehem
where Jesus lived for most of His life and settle into our hotel for a night of well-deserved rest.
Dinner and overnight Bethlehem
Day 2 Sunday October 23rd - Bethlehem Shepherd Field (Orthodox Church) Ein Karem Orthodox
Church, Jerusalem

Following a buffet breakfast in our hotel we depart for Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity the
place where Christ was born and then Shepherds Field where the Shepherds heard the Good News.
Some time will be given for shopping in Bethlehem Christian store to support the local Christian population.
We then visit the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist and place of the Visitation, where
Mary visited Elizabeth to bring her the good news of Christs birth. We continue to the Church of St
George the Dragon Killer the burial place of the Patron Saint of the Holy Land, St. George. visit Jaffa
to include the Coptic Church where the house of Simon the Tanner stood as well as St. Peters Church.
Dinner and Overnight Bethlehem

Day 3 Monday October 24th - Tabor Caesarea Haifa

After breakfast depart to Mt Tabor visit the Mt of the Transfiguration (transportation included). We drive
about an hour and a half to visit Caesarea (Entrance Included), where we will see the aqueduct of the city
Lunch on your own
We carry on to Haifa to visit Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery (Entrance to Muhraqa is included)
Dinner and overnight Tiberias

Day 4 Tuesday October 25th - Sea of Galilee Cana & Nazareth

The morning begins with a buffet breakfast in our hotel. Begin the morning with a boat ride (included) on
the Sea of Galilee then we visit the Church at Capernaum; followed by a visit to the ancient Synagogue
where Jesus preached (entrance included). Our visit continues to the Mt of Beatitudes and then the Church
of the Multiplication of Fish and Loaves in Tabgha, where we see the fabulous Byzantine Mosaic
showing the 5 loaves and the 2 fish.
Lunch on Your Own
On to Cana of Galilee and the Wedding Church where we see two of the six jars that Jesus used in his very
first miracle of turning water into wine for the wedding feast. Here we renew our wedding vows before we
return to Nazareth. We continue to Nazareth visiting St. Marys Well, and the Church of the
Annunciation. Open buffet dinner at hotel.
Dinner and overnight Tiberias

Day 5 Wednesday October 26th - Jericho Bet Arava Baptismal Site & Dead Sea

After breakfast depart to Jericho en route stopping at Bet Arava, for visit of the Baptismal site renewal
of Baptismal vows. On to Jericho the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, where we take the
cable car to the top of Mt. of Temptation to visit the Orthodox Monastery there (cable car included). We
also visit Coptic Monastery Mar Zakka (St. Zaccheus).
Lunch on your own.
The day ends with a swim in the mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea (Entrance Included), be sure to bring
your bathing suit. Changing rooms and showers are provided as are lockers for your belongings.
On to Jerusalem. Before arrival in Jerusalem stop for a magnificent panoramic view of the Holy City, as
you enjoy a Genesis welcome to Jerusalem.
Dinner and Overnight Jerusalem

Day 6 Thursday October 27th Mt of Olives Mt Zion

Our morning begins with breakfast and then a visit to the Church at Bethany, marking the place where
Jesus met the Sisters at the entrance of the town. We then carry on to visit the Lazarus Tomb (entrance
included). We ascend the Mt of Olives visiting the Pater Noster (entrance included) where you can read
the Lords Prayer in over 150 languages including Serbian and the Ascension (entrance Included). Walk
down the Palm Sunday Road (Willow Road) stopping at the Church of Mary Magdalene a beautiful
Russian Orthodox Church where you can see part of the original road, which descended the Mt of Olives
2000 years ago. On to visit Garden of Gethsemane, the Garden of Agony and the Church of the
Assumption of the Virgin. En route to Mt Zion we pass St Stephen Church marking the area where St
Stephen was stoned to death.
Dinner and Overnight Jerusalem
Day 7 Friday October 28th Via Dolorosa Holy Sepulcher Old City Jerusalem

After our buffet breakfast we walk down the Via Dolorosa The Way of the Suffering to the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher, which is so large, that both the Golgotha (the site of the crucifixion) and the Holy
Tomb of Christ are located. Then we walk to Ecce Homo (entrance included), where Pontius Pilate
presented the body of Christ to the crowds and washed his hands of Him. We see the prison where Christ
Our Lord was tortured and humiliated with a crown of thorns before He was forced to carry His cross along
the Via Dolorosa. Following lunch on your own, we walk to St. Marks Church where the Orthodox
faithful believe the Last Supper took place and where you pray before the Miraculous Icon. Rest of the day
is at leisure to shop and explore Old Town Jerusalem.
Dinner and Overnight Jerusalem

Day 8 Saturday October 29th Samaria Emmaus

After breakfast we depart for the ancient Shechem, todays Nablus, and the Jacobs Well, where Jesus
asked a Samaritan woman for a drink and offered her living water. After the Exodus, the Lord commanded
Israel to go to Shechem and recite the blessings and the curses of the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 27:4).
Joshua did this, and dividing the nation, Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in
front of Mount Ebal (Joshua 8:33). Shechem stood in the valley between. This afternoon we will visit the
site to be known as a biblical Emmaus, the church located on spot where Jesus met his disciples after His
Resurrection.
Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

Day 9 Sunday October 30th Meeting at Patriarchate & Coptic churches

After breakfast we will start our day with visit at the Monastery of the Cross. Continue to the Old City of
Jerusalem, entering St. Stephens Gate. We visit the Church of St. Anne (entrance included) where Blessed
Virgin was born. Today we visit the Patriarchate of Jerusalem (upon confirmation). Later on this day we
will have a chance to see the complex of the Coptic churches to include: St. Anthonys Monastery, St.
Bishoys Church, St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church where the Virgin St. Mary appeared and St.
Helenas Church with the cistern. At the end of the day we will walk to the Western Wall where you can
tuck a prayer into the wall.
Dinner and Overnight in Jerusalem
THE VISIT TO THE PATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM WILL BE SUBJECT TO
CONFIRMATION WHEN WE COME CLOSE TO THE DATE
Day 10 Monday October 31st Departure

Transfer to Ben Gurion airport for your journey back home.

Hotel Information
Date (overnight)

City

Hotel Name & Address

October 22nd- October 23rd

Bethlehem

Jacir Palace Hotel

Or similar
Golans Hotel
Or similiar
The Dan Hotel
Or similiar

October 24th - October 25th

Tiberias
th

October 26 - October 30

th

Jerusalem

Masses
Place

Shrine/ Chapel

Date

Cana

Cana Garden / St. Simon the

Cananite
(Renewal vows)

Tuesday, October 25th

Time
Will confirm closer
to departure date

Price per person Double Occupancy: $1500.00

Single Occupancy $750.00 addition

Included:

Hotels on HB basis (open buffet breakfast and dinner)

Full days and Transfers in an Air conditioned motor coach (max 53-seater)

English speaking guide

Entrance fees: Capernaum Boat Ride St. Anne church Pater Noster church Ascension St.
Ecce Homo church Taxi Tabor Lazarus Tomb Tel Jericho Jericho Cable Car- Caesarea
national park Muhraqa Dead Sea entrance- Emmaus

Portage Included at all hotels

Meeting assistance at Airport arrival hall

Parking fees

Not included :

Personal expenses

Lunches

Medical Insurance

Visas

Drinks at meals

Anything not mentioned above

Gratuities for staff and hotels (We recommend $6 7 pp per day for guide / $ 4 - 5 pp per day for
driver / $1 for dining room per day) / $1 pp for porters (even though the Porterage is included
porters still expect tips at hand).

Booking Conditions & Other Important Information

AIR TRANSPORTATION: Exclusively with IATA/ARC scheduled transatlantic carriers.
AIRFARES: Because Travelers originate from a variety of home cities, airfare will vary. We are happy to reserve
flights in the class of service you prefer, and to arrange for your airport transfer arrival. Based on advance purchase,
excursions, Apex and contract airfares. Rules and regulations as applicable at the time of booking, and subject to
change with or without notice. Cancellations/changes are subject to penalties as per the rules of each individual
airfare and airline. Airfares guaranteed only upon full payment otherwise subject to change with or without notice.
Reservation/Deposit/Final Payments: A deposit of $400 per person is required 10 days after booking. No
reservation can be considered firm and no land prices guaranteed until a deposit has been received. This is nonrefundable. Last day for final payment will be due 90 days before departure, can be made by cash, all major credit
cards (4% surcharge), and personal checks. Once payment is made, it is non-refundable.
REFUNDS: Cannot be made for missed or unused sightseeing trips, transfer, and hotel accommodations.
CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations within 90 days before departure will not permit a refund.
INSURANCE IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED INSURANCE: Trip, Health, accident, baggage or cancellation
insurance is highly recommended. Insurance is optional.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS: All participants require passports. No visa is required for U.S. citizens visiting Israel.

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