“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”John 1:14
Celebrating the Eucharist in the Holy Land, you hear the Gospels with new ears. On the Mount of Beatitudes the Sermon on the Mount resonates, in Nazareth Mary's Yes, in Gethsemane the anguish of Jesus on the night before his Passion. This pilgrimage therefore deliberately combines visits to the holy places with the celebration of Mass – in the Carmelite monastery of Stella Maris, on the Mount of Beatitudes, in the Basilica of the Annunciation, in the Garden of Gethsemane and in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
The route follows the life of Jesus in its inner order: from the coast with Jaffa and Caesarea, where the message first reached non-Jews, up to Galilee and the lake where Jesus called his disciples, then on via Cana, Nazareth and Mount Tabor to Jerusalem. There the Mount of Olives, the Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre lead to the heart of the faith.
One day is devoted to the desert by the Dead Sea with Jericho, the baptismal site on the Jordan, Masada and Qumran. To conclude, the Israel Museum shows the Dead Sea Scrolls and the large model of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus.
In Joppa Peter raises the disciple Tabitha – her memory lives on in the church in the old town.
In the house of the centurion Cornelius, Gentiles receive the Holy Ghost and baptism for the first time.
Here Elijah's ordeal is remembered, when the fire of the Lord fell upon the altar.
The Beatitudes are read at the place that tradition associates with the Sermon on the Mount.
The feeding of the five thousand stands behind the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves.
At the wedding in Cana Jesus manifests his glory in the first sign.
The Annunciation to Mary is the foundation of the basilica over the Holy Grotto.
According to ancient tradition, Jesus was transfigured on Tabor before three disciples.
On the slope of the Mount of Olives Jesus weeps over the city that did not know the things which belong unto its peace.
The prayer, betrayal and arrest of Jesus – read beneath the ancient olive trees.
The Christmas story connects the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds' Field.
At the baptismal site on the Jordan the baptism of Jesus and the opening of the heavens are remembered.
Tip: bring your own Bible – at each place we open the relevant passage together.
Bible quotations: King James Version.
Ben Gurion Airport → Tel Aviv
At Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv your local guide welcomes you and accompanies you to the hotel. After the journey there is time to arrive and to prepare inwardly for the days ahead. Over dinner together the group gets to know one another, and a first look at the route shows how closely coast, hill country and desert lie together in this small land – and how many biblical memories are attached to every stretch.
Jaffa → Caesarea → Muhraka → Usafiya → Haifa → Tiberias
In the old town of Jaffa, biblical Joppa, you visit the church that recalls Tabitha, St Peter's Church, the artists' quarter and the archaeological park; from the hill the view opens out over the bay. In Caesarea you remember Cornelius and Paul, who stood here before Festus and Agrippa. On Mount Carmel, Muhraka recalls the prophet Elijah. After a stop in the Druze village of Usafiya you celebrate Mass in Haifa at the Stella Maris monastery, before heading to Tiberias with a view of the Bahá'í Gardens.
Mount of Beatitudes → Tabgha → Capernaum → Golan Heights → Sea of Galilee
The day begins with Mass on the Mount of Beatitudes, where the words of the Sermon on the Mount have their place. At Tabgha the Church of the Multiplication stands over the memory of the feeding of the five thousand. Capernaum, the town where Jesus lived and taught and where the house of Peter is shown, is the next stop. Then you drive to a viewpoint on the Golan Heights. To end the day, a boat glides across the lake that still shapes the landscape of the Gospels today.
Zippori → Cana → Nazareth → Mount Tabor → Jordan Valley → Jerusalem
In Zippori (Sepphoris), which one tradition names as Mary's home, you see the famous mosaic of the “Mona Lisa of Galilee”. Via Cana, the place of the first sign, you reach Nazareth: the Basilica of the Annunciation with the Holy Grotto, the ancient village and the workshop of St Joseph. Mass is celebrated in the Basilica of the Annunciation. In the afternoon the way leads up Mount Tabor to the Church of the Transfiguration. Through the Jordan Valley and up into the Judean hills you reach Jerusalem in the evening.
Mount of Olives → Pater Noster → Dominus Flevit → Gethsemane → St Anne's → Holy Sepulchre
From the Mount of Olives the Old City lies spread out before you. On the Palm Sunday path you go down to the Pater Noster Church and to Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Mass is celebrated in the Garden of Gethsemane with its ancient olive trees, the Church of All Nations and the Grotto. Through St Stephen's Gate you enter the Old City, visit the Crusader Church of St Anne and follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where many chapels come together over Golgotha and the Tomb.
Bethlehem → Shepherds' Field → Mount Zion → Jewish Quarter → Western Wall
In the morning you drive to Bethlehem. After the Shepherds' Field you celebrate Mass in the Church of the Nativity, where the Christmas message has its origin. Back in Jerusalem you visit David's Tomb and the Cenacle on Mount Zion, which tradition links with the Last Supper and the encounters of the Risen Lord with the disciples. Through the Jewish Quarter with the Roman Cardo and the Hurva Synagogue you reach the Western Wall. A walk through the bazaar of the Old City concludes the day.
Yad Vashem → Jericho → Qasr el-Yahud → Masada → Dead Sea → Qumran
A quiet visit to Yad Vashem, the central memorial to the victims of the Shoah, comes first. Then you descend to the Dead Sea, some 423 metres below sea level. After a view of Jericho you stop at the baptismal site of Qasr el-Yahud, which recalls the baptism of Jesus and Elijah being taken up into heaven. By cable car you reach Masada with its palace, synagogue and baths. After a swim in the Dead Sea there follows, if time permits, a stop at Qumran.
Israel Museum → Abu Gosh → Ben Gurion Airport
At the Israel Museum you see the Shrine of the Book with the Dead Sea Scrolls, including texts of the Hebrew Bible that are more than two thousand years old. The large model of Jerusalem shows the city as Jesus knew it. At midday you drive to Abu Gosh on the edge of Jerusalem, a village known for its Middle Eastern cuisine and good neighbourliness. Afterwards the transfer takes you to Ben Gurion Airport for your journey home.
The tour price depends on dates, group size and room allocation. You will receive your personal offer – free of charge and without obligation.
Enquire →⛔ No shopping stops: carpet, jewellery or leather showrooms are not part of this tour.
The price is available on request. You will receive a personal offer tailored to group size and travel date – free and without obligation.
No, flights are not included. On request we will enquire about suitable connections to Tel Aviv for you.
The pilgrimage is designed for the celebration of Mass at five holy sites. Please get in touch so that we can coordinate the services together with your celebrant.
Yes. The celebrations of Mass are a focal point, but the sightseeing programme to the sites of the Gospels is open to all Christians.
There are walks in the Old City of Jerusalem and on the Mount of Olives; a cable car goes up to Masada. A normal basic level of fitness is sufficient.
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Holy Mass – on the Paths of Jesus
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