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DAY 1: USA / EUROPE. Tour
members will gather at the ticket counter at the airport two hours prior
to their departure to Europe. Dinner and breakfast will be served
in-flight.
 DAY
2: EUROPE / TEL AVIV. Upon our arrival at the
Tel Aviv airport we will be met and transferred to our hotel in a suburb
of Tel Aviv - situated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner
will be served at our hotel. Weather permitting, we suggest a walk
after dinner on the beach.
 DAY
3: TEL AVIV / GALILEE. After breakfast we
drive through the citrus groves and farms of the rich land of Sharon,
northward to Caesarea, the Roman city of Herod where sights include
Crusader fortifications and the Roman aqueducts and amphitheater.
Driving through the Jezreel Valley to the fields of Armageddon
(Revelation 16:16) and Megiddo. Continuing northward along the
Mediterranean Sea to Haifa and Mt. Carmel - the biblical site of
Elijah's contest with the prophets of Baal (I Kings:18). Traveling
eastward across Galilee we will view Mt. Tabor (Psalm 89:12), Deboriya -
the hometown of the prophetess Deborah - at the foothill of Mt. Tabor
(Judges 4 and 5). Overnight at our hotel on the shores of the beautiful
Sea of Galilee.
 DAY
4: TIBERIAS / CAPERNAUM / CAESAREA PHILLIPI / MT. HERMON / GOLAN
HEIGHTS. This day will be an exciting day in
the Galilee area after a delicious breakfast. We will depart from the
Roman hot springs resort city of Tiberias via a boat ride across the Sea
of Galilee to Capernaum (John 6:24) to visit the ancient ruins of the
first century synagogue where Jesus preached (Matt. 4:13-17). Then on
to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the "Sermon on the Mount"
(Matt. 5-7) and to Tabgha - the chapel dedicated to the multiplication
of the loaves and fishes - (Mark 6:34-44). We will then proceed to
upper Galilee and the site of Peter's confession (Matt. 16:16) at
Caesarea Phillipi and to Mt. Hermon (Psalm 89:12) the probable site of
the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8) and the present day Golan Heights
where Israel, Lebanon and Syria come together. We will follow the fresh
mountain waters of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and to the outlet
passage at the southern tip of the Sea. We will stop at the beautiful
Pilgrims Park at the Jordan River. Return to our hotel for overnight.
 DAY
5: NAZARETH / JERICHO / JERUSALEM. Early
morning departure to Cana and then on to Nazareth, the hometown of
Jesus, where we will visit the Church of the Annunciation (Luke 1:5-42)
and Mary's Fountain (Luke 4:16-22). We continue past Bethshean and then
south through the Jordan Valley to ancient Jericho where the walls came
tumbling down (I Kings 17:1-6 and II Kings 2:19-22) and a commanding
view of the Mt. of Temptation (Matt. 4:1-11) and Elisha's Fountain.
Then up to Jerusalem through the Judean wilderness. Overnight at our
hotel in the Holy City of Jerusalem.
DAY 6: JERUSALEM. After a night of rest and a
hearty breakfast this exciting day will begin with a drive to Mt. Scopus
and the Mt. of Olives (Matt. 24:3) for a panoramic view of the Old City
of Jerusalem, visiting the Chapel of the Ascension, the Church of Pater
Noster and the Dominus Flevit. Walk along Hosanna Road to the Gethsemane
to visit the Church of All Nations which stands on the Rock of Agony
where Jesus was betrayed by Judas (Matt. 26:36-57). See the Pillar of
Absalom, the Eastern (Golden) Gate and the Pinnacle of the Temple. We
then drive to Mt. Zion where we visit the Church of St. Peter in
Gallicantu on the site of Caiphas' House, the Room of the Last Supper
(Luke 22:14-20) and the Tomb of King David. Continue to tour New
Jerusalem: Hebrew University, the Shrine of the Book that houses the
Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Model City of Jerusalem which depicts in
miniature the Holy City as it appeared in the first century. Return to
our hotel for overnight.
 DAY
7: JERUSALEM / BETHLEHEM. Today begins with a
walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Starting at the Western Wall
(Wailing Wall) where the faithful Jews cry their petitions to God.
Continue to the Temple Area of Mt. Moriah. Visit the El Aksa Mosque and
the Dome of the Rock which is built on the ancient site of Solomon's
Temple (Genesis 22:9-14) and over the Rock of Sacrifice where Abraham
offered Isaac (Genesis 22) and the ceremonial sacrifice of animals took
place. After this we walk along the Via Dolorosa to Pilate's Judgment
Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation, the Ecce Homo Arch (John 19:13)
where Jesus was tried before Pilate (Mark 15:6). Then continue through
the Old City bazaars to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Visit the
Garden Tomb and Golgotha - Place of the Skull - for a worship service.
This afternoon continue our tour to Bethlehem. We will visit the Church
of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus, and Shepherds Fields (Luke
2:1-20) then the Field of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17 & 4:13). We
return to Jerusalem passing Rachel's Tomb to our hotel for overnight.
 DAY
8: MASADA / DEAD SEA / QUMRAN / BETHANY. This
morning we drive via the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea - the lowest
point on earth. A beautiful new road takes us south along the shores of
the Dead Sea to Masada, a truly remarkable piece of history. Ascend to
Masada by cable car to visit the magnificent ruins of the fortress where
from 70-73 A.D. the Jewish defenders made the last stand of the Judean
Revolt against Rome and where the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a
sixth century Byzantine church are still on view. Return along the Dead
Sea to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Visit the
remains of the Community Center of the Essenes and the Caves of the
Scrolls. We continue on the Jericho Road viewing the Inn of the Good
Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). On the return to Jerusalem we visit Bethany,
the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John 11:1-46). On to our Jerusalem
hotel for overnight.
 DAY
9: JERUSALEM / TEL AVIV / ROME. Travel to Tel
Aviv for some sightseeing including ancient Joppa. After lunch continue
to the Tel Aviv airport for our departure to Rome, Italy. Dinner served
aboard aircraft. Overnight at our hotel.
 DAY 10: ROME. A morning
visit to the Vatican City includes the Museum, the Sistine Chapel, St.
Peter's Square, Church of St. Peter, Basilica of St. Paul, the ancient
Appian Way and the catacombs of St. Caliztus. Afternoon sightseeing
will include Moses' Fountain, Quirinale Palace, Pantheon, Roman Forum,
Arch of Titus, the Coliseum - site of early Christian martyrdom - and
Mamertine Prison, possibly the final place of confinement of the Apostle
Paul before his execution. Return to our hotel for dinner overnight.
DAY 11: ROME / NORTH AMERICA.
We transfer to the airport for our departure from Rome to North
America. The close of our unforgettable tour - to have walked in the
paths of the Master and the early Christians. |
