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ST. PETERS PILGRIMS
For your Pilgrimage to:-
Fatima, Knock, Guadalupe, Malta, Rome, Assisi, San Giovanni, Finland with Russia, Turkey, Santiago, Holy Land
HOLY LAND
Israel
8 Days (7 Nights) Half Board
Pilgrimage Reference HL8
HOLY LAND TROUBLES
We have had to cancel and postpone a large number of Pilgrimages to the Holy Land through Autumn 2000 and Spring 2001.
We must follow the official advice of the British Government Foreign Office and
although they did not advise Pilgrims against travel to Israel, they did advise us not to go to certain Cities including Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerico and Jerusalem, the very places on which our Pilgrimage is based.
We would not put our Pilgrims in any sort of danger nor would we take Pilgrims to Israel when the Foreign
Office advised against travel to three or more of the Holy Places on our itinerary. We therefore took the initiative ourselves to
very regretfully cancel the Pilgrimages. We refunded Pilgrimage costs in full without any deductions what so ever.
We pray we might soon resume our Pilgrimages. For the sake of those that live in the Holy Land, Pray
that the present efforts will lead to a just & lasting peace.
A
Journey of a lifetime in the steps of Christ
There are so many things to see and
do in the Israel and there is such a wide selection of accommodation from
Five star to ..... You can get a hundred different itineraries at a hundred
different prices. We have aimed not at cheapness, but at getting the best value
for money. We also believe that once you have paid for your Pilgrimage you
should not have to be constantly digging into your pocket for money to cover
hidden extra excursions. We have therefore arranged a programme following the life of
Christ to included everything that most Pilgrims look for in their basic cost.
Items not included are clearly shown. We have also chosen good day flights to
Israel &
middle range tourist hotels where we can be sure you will be comfortable.
In making our Pilgrimage to the Holy
Land, it is well to remember that we are going to a Middle Eastern country where
the way of life is completely different from ours in Europe.
It is also a shock to find that in the very place that Christ lived, we
Christians are very much in the minority.
We Promise:-
1.
Reasonable & sure flight arrangements to Israel as shown which will
be re-confirmed on your invoice.
2.
Reasonable standard accommodation in better three star hotels in Tiberius and
East Jerusalem (equivalent to European two star hotels.)
3.
A good Pilgrimage programme with good local guides and a St. Peters Pilgrims
representative.
4.
A visit to Masada and the Dead Sea. (Normally £30 extra)
5.
Taxi ride to the Transfiguration Church at the top of Mount Tabor and the
Franciscan Hospice at no extra cost.
6. A boat ride from one side of the Sea of Galilee to the and a guided visit to a Kibbutz.
7.
A visit to Israel Yad Vashem
Memorial Park & Holocaust Museum.
8. Pilgrimage Certificate from The Franciscan Custodians of the Holy Land .
Parish & Group Pilgrimages You will find our normal itinerary below but if you are thinking of organising a Parish group we would be very pleased to tailor make an itinerary to suit your needs & on a date to suit your diary. There is one free place in ten for groups to the Holy Land. Call for information. For groups, it is possible to extend the Pilgrimage at a cost of £43 a day using the coach and guide or £32 if we are simply “at leisure”. (Prices based on a minimum of 35 Pilgrims) It is possible to spend the extra time in Netanya, a Mediterranean sea-side resort.
Itinerary
& Programme
Day
1 The Pilgrimage Journey We
meet up at Gatwick South Terminal for an early check-in after which there will
be an opportunity to meet some of our fellow Pilgrims at Mass in the Airport
Chapel. Our flight to Israel takes about four and a half hours and we lose two
hours due to the time change. At Tel Aviv airport our coach, driver and guide
await us. The journey to Tiberius takes just over two hours and we arrive in
time for a late dinner. (Note on Sunday departures when the flight is later, we
will spend the first night in Netanya and start day two from there.)
Day
2 Childhood & Start of
Christ’s Ministry The
theme of our Pilgrimage is Christ’s Life, death and resurrection and our first
visit and Mass is in Nazareth, the Church of the Annunciation built over Mary's
house. We celebrate our Mass within the remains of the 5th century Byzantine
Church now forming the Sanctuary. After Mass we visit the upper part of the
Church then across the courtyard to the House of Joseph, then to the synagogue
where Christ taught. Finally, a short visit
to the Convent of The Little Sisters of Jesus and Charles de Foucauld for a
prayer in their simple but beautiful Chapel.
After a lunch stop we visit Mount Tabor where we take taxis (cost included) up the zigzag road to the beautiful Church. After admiring the tremendous views of the surrounding plains, and listening to the Gospel reading of Christ’s Transfiguration, we can visit the Franciscan Hospice and repository shop. Then to Cana where Jesus performed His first miracle changing water into wine at the wedding feast. It is an opportunity for us to renew and celebrate our own Marriage and Vocational vows.
Day
3 - The Galilean Ministry We
spend today around the Sea of Galilee. Our first visit will be to the Mount of
Beatitudes with it’s marvelous Italian church. Then to Tabgha, the scene of
the miracle of the loaves and fishes where we will celebrate Mass on the Sea
shore. In the church we will find the famous 4th century mosaic has been
incorporated in the beautiful reconstruction of the Byzantine Basilica. A short
ride away is the church of the Primacy of Peter which is built over the Rock
where Christ called Peter to be the rock of His Church. At Capernaum we remember
Christ's Galilean ministry for it was here that it was centred and it was here
that he called Peter, Matthew and Andrew. We see the remains of the Synagogue
where He taught and House of Peter, the first Christian Church.
For lunch by the Sea of Galilee, most Pilgrims try the famous St. Peter's
Fish (with chips!).
Our
afternoon starts with a boat ride across the Sea in a replica Galilean fishing
boat but with an engine! We stop away from the shore for a few moments for
prayer, and then continue to the En
Kev Kibbutz where we will take their ‘road train’ for a guided tour hearing
something about modern Israel. (Fare included) It is then by coach to the
Yardenit Baptismal site on the River Jordan where we may renew our vows and
remember Christ's own Baptism by John.
Day
4 The Desert & Journey up to
Jerusalem An
early start today, packing and heading off for Jerusalem and the second half of
our Pilgrimage. Jericho, is a good place to stop on our way south through the
Jordan Valley. Shops, fruit, refreshments abound. We hear the story of Zacchaeus
climbing the sycamore tree and from a suitable view point we look up at the
Quruntul Monastery on the mountain side and commemorate Christ's forty days in
the desert.
We
continue to the mountain of Masada and the Dead Sea (Usually an optional extra
but included in this itinerary) Masada has two great stories. First, that of
Herod the Great & his tremendous palace. Second the story of the five year
Roman siege of the 900 Jewish Zealots who preferred to die by their own hand, as
free men, rather than become pagan slaves. We take a cable car to the top with
our guide. Afterwards, lunch and a couple of relaxed hours by the Dead Sea at
the Ein Gedi private resort (Cost included). As well as bathing, we can cake
ourselves in the famous, black Dead Sea mud and take the hot sulphur health
baths.
Qumran is a little south and the site of an ancient Jewish religious community whose members spent much of their time copying the Gospels and who left us The Dead Sea Scrolls! We will find a suitable spot in the Desert for an open air Mass to remember Christ’s time in the desert. On the road to Jerusalem we find the Inn of the Good Samaritan. Typical, and the sort of place Jesus had in mind when He gave us this parable. With its well and its Bedouin welcome it is a good place to pause and hear the story. We arrive at our Jerusalem hotel in time for our evening meal. For the energetic, an evening stroll will take us to the walls of the Old City and perhaps the Western (Wailing) Wall.
Day
5 The Jerusalem Ministry
Our day
begins with a coach ride to the top of the Mount of Olives where we visit the
Paternoster Church. Around the Church and garden we find the Prayer in ceramics
in every language under the sun! The Mount of Olives lies across the Kidron
Valley from the Eastern Wall of the Old City and gives us one of the most
spectacular views. The Golden Gate, the Temple Mount, the Golden Dome, the Dome
of the Holy Sepulchre. From here we really understand why Jesus wept over
Jerusalem and we remember that at Mass in the Church of Dominus Flevit. At the
foot of the Mount, down the steep hill, we come to the Garden of Gethsemane and
the Church of All Nations.
Our
coach takes us to Mount Zion on the south side of the Old City.
First we visit St. Peter in Gallicantu built over the prison cell in
which Christ was lowered for the night. Along side the Church we see the Holy
Steps which led up to the High Priests' House. Here we remember Peter's denial
of Christ. At the top of Mount Sion we visit David's Tomb and
The Upper Room of the Last Supper and finally The Dormition Abbey
honouring Mary's 'Falling Asleep'.
Then
by coach to Bethlehem with a stop at a self service restaurant where we may
purchase lunch before we visit Manger Square, The Church of the Nativity. One of
our most precious moments in Israel is the moment spent in the Grotto of
Nativity. Finally we visit the Shepherds Field.
After
dinner there is an optional evening out at the Israeli folk evening at the YMCA
theatre. (Cost approx. £13)
Day
6 Jewish religion, now & in the
time of Christ We
enter the Old City at The Damascus Gate to go to the Crusader Church of St. Anne
for our Mass. Afterwards visit the Pools of Bethesda where the lame man who
could not get to the water was cured by Jesus. From here to the Western
(Wailing) Wall of the Temple Mount where Christ was a frequent visitor. The ramp
takes us up on to the Mount and to the El Aksa Mosque and the Golden Dome of the
Rock over the Rock of Mount Moriah where Abraham was preparing to sacrifice his
son Isaac. Providing we do not intrude on the Moslem Prayers, we may go into the
Mosques. (Cost incl.)
There
are plenty of places to find lunch and the afternoon is at leisure and an
opportunity to do some shopping in the bazaar!
Day
7 Christ’s Death &
Resurrection Today
we enter the Old City by Herod’s Gate and make our way to the Sion Convent for
an early Mass. Here stands the Ecce Homo Arch. Here they cried "Crucify
him". Here we stand on the Roman pavement where Christ was scourged,
crowned with thorns and condemned to Death. Here we commence to follow the Via
Dolorosa, through the narrow streets and markets. Our Way of the Cross and our
Pilgrimage comes to it’s glorious end in The Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre
built over both Calvary and the Tomb where we commemorate Christ’s death and
His Resurrection.
Afternoon
at leisure.
Day
8 Farewell & Thanks After
packing and loading our luggage onto the coach we drive to the Hess Promenade
Panorama to make our farewell prayer and to take a last look at Jerusalem.
We continue to Abu Gosh where we commemorate Christ’s meeting
with the disciples on the road to Emmaus after His Resurrection. After our last
group Mass & lunch near by, we continue to Ben Gurion Airport at Tel Aviv
for an early evening flight from Israel back to Gatwick.
HOTELS:-
Various three star hotels according to dates. In Tiberius we use such hotels as the Restel Hotel, Quite beach Hotel. In Jerusalem our main hotel is the Tulip Inn (Pilgrims Palace), then the Capitol Hotel and sometimes the new Christmas Hotel.
FLIGHTS:-
Are on Monarch Airways London Gatwick - Tel Aviv
The cost includes:- Economy class air travel between London & Tel Aviv. Government Departure Tax of £20
Israel, Tel Aviv airport tax of £8 per person Coaching as detailed. Half board Accommodation in twin bedded rooms with private bathroom. Specially chosen English-speaking guide. All tours by luxury air conditioned coach. Entrance fees to all sites mentioned. Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
Not included:- Lunches en route: We will stop at suitable self-service restaurants. Tips to guide & driver
(£25)
Insurance.
Single-room supplement £15 per night
Hotels named are reasonable priced and good standard. Occasionally we use other hotels of the same standard but will advise in advance.
St. Peters Pilgrims, London, England.
Tel: 020 8244 8844 Fax: 020 8697 2466
For your Pilgrimage to:-
Fatima, Knock, Guadalupe, Malta, Rome, Assisi, San Giovanni, Finland with Russia, Turkey, Santiago, Holy Land
e-mail us at info@stpeter.co.uk