Day 1      Monday, 10 May

We fly from LAX to Atlanta on Delta, changing planes in the evening to connect to our international flight to Tel Aviv.

Day 2      Tuesday, 11 May

We land at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport late afternoon, and after clearing formalities will be transferred to our Pilgrim House situated on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where we will stay for three nights. We will arrive there in time for a late dinner.

Day 3      Wednesday, 12 May

Our pilgrimage gets under way with a theme of revelation, as we visit Nazareth, the place of the Annunciation, Cana, the site of Jesus’ first Sign, and Mount Tabor, believed by many to be the mountain of the Transfiguration. As well as reminding ourselves of these biblical revelations of God’s Word and purpose, we will encounter members of the local Anglican communities in the Galilee, visiting an Anglican High School in Nazareth and taking lunch at the Anglican pilgrim hostel there.

Day 4      Thursday, 13 May

Today we will explore the sites associated with Jesus’ ministry around the Sea of Galilee, visiting the Mount of Beatitudes, the Churches of Peter’s Primacy and the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, and the excavations of Capernaum, where Jesus based himself for much of his ministry. We will have the opportunity to sail on the lake ourselves, as well as seeing the First Century fishing boat discovered during a period of low water at the lake. Finally, we will visit the Jordan River to renew our baptismal vows to prepare ourselves to journey south towards Jerusalem, and ultimately towards the Way of the Cross.

Day 5      Friday, 14 May

After breakfast, we leave the beauty of the Sea of Galilee, to journey south along the Jordan Valley to the oasis city of Jericho, the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world. Here we will break for coffee and a chance to buy Dead Sea mineral products and traditional glass from Hebron. From there we turn west ascending through the Judean desert towards Jerusalem, stopping at Bethany for lunch, and for a chance to visit the church associated with the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. At this point we will see first hand the devastating effect of the Separation Wall, which cuts off Bethany from the rest of Jerusalem, elongating our journey to and around Jerusalem as we head towards Bethlehem, which is also ringed by the Wall. On arriving in Bethlehem, we will check in to our pilgrim hotel, situated in Manger Square, adjacent to the Church of the Nativity.

Day 6      Saturday, 15 May

Today we will learn more about the implications of Incarnation, as we visit the Shepherds’ Fields and the Church of the Nativity, and consider the events which took place there, alongside visits to the Holy Family Maternity Hospital and the International Center of Bethlehem, founded by the famous Lutheran Pastor Dr Mitri Raheb.

Day 7      Sunday, 16 May

This morning we leave Bethlehem for Jerusalem, to worship with our sister and brother Anglicans at St George’s Cathedral in East Jerusalem. Late morning we will have a chance to visit the Western Wall Plaza. After lunch, we return to Jerusalem, to visit the beautiful village of Ein Karem, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of John the Baptist, and setting of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. Here, in a simple evening service, we will have the chance to sing Magnificat in the place where Mary first uttered those words. We will also have the opportunity to visit the world-famous Hadassah Hospital, to see the stained glass windows depicting the twelve tribes of Israel by Marc Chagall, and the model of Jerusalem at the time of Christ at the Israel Museum.

Day 8      Monday, 17 May

This morning we ascend to Bethphage at the summit of the Mount of Olives, traditionally believed to be the starting place of Jesus’ triumphal entry to Jerusalem. From there we walk down the Mount, stopping at the churches of Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit, before we reach the Church of All Nations, situated in the Garden of Gethsemane. After lunch we will visit the offices of Sabeel - an ecumenical theological movement founded by the Anglican priest Canon Naim Ateek, dedicated to pursuing an end of the occupation through peaceful means and theological dialogue.

Day 9      Tuesday, 18 May

We begin our day by visiting the Temple Mount (if permitted) on which are situated the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque. Descending from there, we continue up to Mount Zion, to visit the Abbey of the Dormition, the Cenacle, and finally the church of St Peter in Gallicantu, built over the probable location of the High Priest’s Palace, where Jesus was held captive overnight before his crucifixion.

Day 10      Wednesday, 19 May

This morning we will spend in the Old City, visiting the Crusader-built church of St Anne, adjacent to the pools of Bethesda. After this we come to the climax of our pilgrimage, to walk the Way of the Cross around the narrow streets of the Via Dolorosa until we come to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. In the afternoon, there will be a chance to enjoy some free time to shop or revisit sites of special interest.

Day 11      Thursday, 20 May

Our last day will begin with a celebration of the resurrection as we visit one of the possible sites of Emmaus, situated in the village of Abu Ghosh, where we will celebrate a final Eucharist together, before returning to Jerusalem to enjoy a last chance to revisit the Old City, before packing our bags and preparing to return to Tel Aviv airport for our late night flight back to the United States. An early dinner will be served before we leave Jerusalem, and our flight leaves at 11.35pm.

Day 12      Friday, 21 May

We land at Atlanta early in the morning, in good time to connect to our flight to Los Angeles, arriving home shortly before noon.