Your pilgrimage begins as you depart on your international flight.

You will be welcomed to Amman, Jordan, by our representative and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning you will journey to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. Stroll through the oval piazza and wander along colonnaded streets etched by the wheels of ancient chariots. Stand in the grand theatre where an onstage whisper can be heard in the top row. Visit Mount Nebo, where Moses caught a glimpse of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34). On a clear day, you can see all the way across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, to the rooftops of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Continue to Madaba, the City of Mosaics, to visit the Church of Saint George with its sixth-century, Byzantine, mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites. Continue to the Dead Sea to check in to your hotel for overnight.

Travel to the city of Petra. Its entrance passes through a long, narrow gorge known as the Siq and can only be accessed by carriage, horseback, or on foot. Once inside the city, marvel at the intricate detail of a city that was cut into the cliff sides of rose-colored rock. Return to your hotel at the Dead Sea for overnight.

Enjoy free time this morning at your hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea. Cross the border into Israel and stop at Qasr al Yahud, where tradition says Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. In Jericho, you can see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1). Visit Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery. Learn about the mysterious community of the Essenes, who once lived on the shores of the Dead Sea. Continue to the Galilee for dinner and your overnight stay.

Enjoy a scenic drive to Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry in the Galilee (Matt.4:13, 23). On the Mount of Beatitudes, contemplate the text of the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus preached there (Matt. 5-7). Experience a special onboard worship service as you sail across the Sea of Galilee. Visit the Church of the Fish and the Loaves in Tabgha, the traditional location of the feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17). As you pray in the Chapel of the Primacy, remember how Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ three times (John 21). In Magdala, once home to Mary Magdalene, visit a recently discovered first-century synagogue.

Visit the Franciscan Wedding Chapel in Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle, before continuing on to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Matthew 2:23). Visit the Roman Aqueduct and Theatre at Caesarea, a center of the early Christians, where Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new religion (Acts 10), and where Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial. Continue to the Jerusalem area for overnight.

In Bethlehem, visit the cave where Jesus was born (Luke 2:1-7) and see the Church of the Nativity built over the site. Gaze out over Shepherds’ Field, where the angels first proclaimed the Good News. Visit the Upper Room, is revered as the site of the Last Supper (Mark 14:12-26). Visit the House of the High Priest Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57), where Jesus was imprisoned for a night.

Enter the Old City and walk along the Cardo, the ancient main street. Say a prayer at the Western Wall. Continue to the Southern Wall Excavations of the Temple Mount and the Teaching Steps where Christ would have the temple area. After lunch, wander through the excavations of the City of David. Explore Hezekiah’s Tunnel, an amazing engineering feat that was dug from both ends and met in the middle. (Note: Those who are claustrophobic may want to meet the group at the other end of the tunnel). Visit the Pool of Siloam, which continues to be excavated to its original dimensions.

Stand on the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy a remarkable view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done (Matthew 26:36-39). View the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-18), where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle, and sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne to experience its beautiful acoustics. Visit Herod’s Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1). Walk the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of the Cross,” and end your day at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, reflecting on Christ’s sacrificial love. End your day with communion at the Garden Tomb (Matthew 27:57-60).

Return from Tel Aviv to the USA