|
Holy
LandTour 2009
with
your hosts
Rev
Bob and Wendy Beasley
*The
following is a revised itinerary*
ISRAEL
& JORDAN JOURNEY
03
– 15 SEPTEMBER, 2009
hosted
by
REV.
BOB & WENDY BEASLEY
in
conjunction with
BACK
TO THE BIBLE
THU.
03 SEPT: Departure for Israel
Tonight
we depart from Toronto on our ‘non-stop' flight to Tel Aviv. Group seating
will be pre-assigned by the airline for our flight. Dinner and complimentary
in-flight service will be provided this evening. ( D )
FRI.
04 SEPT: Arrival in Israel
Welcome
to Israel ! Here we are met by our Tour Manager. Once clearing customs
and baggage formalities our journey begins . Our
first day in The Holy Land has us travel to Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean
Sea.
The
Grand Beach hotel provides the perfect setting for our first night in
the Holy Land ( B,D )
SAT.
05 SEPT: Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo
After
our Israeli buffet breakfast we take the short drive to Caesarea then
onward through the Carmel forest to Mt. Carmel. Our day will include the
following:
Caesarea
- The ancient
Roman seaport capital of Israel , where Pontius Pilate made his base.
Here we will tour the Roman aqueduct, restored theater and crusader city.
Mount
Carmel - Overlooking
the city of Haifa with the Mediterranean Sea and Jezreel Valley on either
side we stand where the Prophet Elijah performed his miracle and called
upon the fire of God to conquer the Prophets of Baal. (1 Kings 2; 15:4,25,
Isaiah 33:9; Zechariah 12:12)
Megiddo
- Hebrew
for Armageddon, Megiddo was strategically located on
the main trading routes between Babylonia and Egypt.
Here
King Solomon built a giant fortress and city. With over 20 layers of civilization
Megiddo is a truly fascinating site.
From
our vantage point we can view the beauty of the Jezreel Valley, where
John envisioned that the final war would take place on the Plains of Abraham.
(Judges 1:27; 5:19;1 Kings 4:12; 9:15, II Chronicles
35:22; Zechariah 12:12, Revelation 16:12)
Nazareth
- Here
is where Jesus spent his childhood with Mary and Joseph. Nazareth is also
the site of The Annunciation and where the Nazarenes attempted to throw
Jesus over the cliff. Now a suburb of Nazareth , Cana , is the site where
Jesus performed his first miracle when he changed water into wine at a
wedding. (Luke 1:26-38, John 1:46;2:45-46; Matthew 2:23)
Today's
journey ends with our arrival in Tiberias at the Golden Tulip hotel for
dinner and overnight. ( B,D )
SUN.
06 SEP: Upper Galilee
This
morning we leave our Kibbutz and head towards Galilee but not before visiting:
Tel
Dan - This
beautiful Biblical site will allow us a short walk around one of the rivers
feeding the Jordan.
Caesarea
Philippi - Built at one of the sources of the
Jordan River the city of Panias (named by the Greeks after the goat footed
God, Pan) was later renamed by the Romans as Caesarea Philippi. It was
here that Jesus revealed to the Disciples His purpose, His Church and
where Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah.(Mark 8:27; Matthew 16:13-23)
Golan
Heights - From Mt. Bental we can see Mt. Hermon,
Lebanon and also across into Syria.
Dinner
will be at our hotel. ( B.D )
MON.
07 SEPT: Tiberias, Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes, Tabgha,Boat Ride.
After
breakfast our time in the Galilee begins with a drive through Tiberias,
built by Herod Antipas in honor of Tiberius.
Ginossar
- Here
we will visit the Jesus Boat Museum exhibit. Discovered
by accident during the drought of 1986 this fishing boat would have existed
at the time of Jesus.
Beautifully
preserved it is a timeless reminder of life during that time. The museum
has a gift shop with quality items on sale!
Boat
Ride - Our
journey on the Sea of Galilee will finish at Capernaum .
Capernaum
-The center of Jesus' Galilee Ministry. Jesus
lived here for a substantial period, healing the sick, preaching in the
synagogue and performing miracles. The Greek Orthodox Church, Franciscan
monastery and Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter make for an interesting
kaleidoscope of varying architecture. (Matthew 9:1; 4:13)
The
Mount of Beatitudes - Sit
on the hill where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount. Looking directly
south at the Sea of Galilee the flower filled gardens offer peace and
tranquility.
(Matthew
5:1-8)
Tabgha
- Located at the foot of the Mt. of Beatitudes this is
the site of the Miracle of The Loaves and the Fishes. (Mark 6:34-44; Matthew
14:14-21,16:18-19; John 21:15-19)
Bethsaida
- Also known as ‘The House of The
Fisherman' this is the home of Peter, Philip and Andrew and also the place
where Jesus fed the five thousand and healed the blind man. Here we will
see recent excavations of this old city.
(Matthew
11:21; Luke 10:13; John 1)
After
a truly wonderful day we return to the Golden Tulip hotel for dinner and
overnight stay. (B,D )
TUE.
08 SEPT: Jordan
This
morning we leave the Galilee and cross the border into Jordan. Today we
travel south, through the Jordan valley, visiting the following;
Jerash
- Overshadowed
by Petra, the ancient of Jerash is acknowledged internationally as one
of the largest and best preserved sites of Roman architecture outside
of Italy. Here we shall have lunch before continuing on our journey.
Mt.
Nebo - From here we can see across into the Promised Land,
just as Moses did before being laid to rest. On a clear day we can see
the hills of Jerusalem with Jericho in the foreground.
Bethany
- Extensive excavations
of the surrounding area since 1996 have uncovered many sites. None more
significant than the ruins of ‘Bethabara.' Many believe this is the original
site of John the Baptist's ministry and the location of his baptism of
Jesus.
Dinner
and overnight stay will be at the Grand View hotel overlooking Petra.
( B,D )
WED.
09 SEPT: Petra, Dead Sea
After
breakfast we begin our visit of Petra. Petra was chosen as the capital
of the Nabateans because it was located in a valley surrounded by sandstone
mountains. The main entrance to Petra is called the Siq, with sides as
high as 200m. It was here that Christians escaped from the siege of Jerusalem
by Titus in the 1st century. This gorge and the temple at the end of it
(the Kazneh) were popularized in American culture in the movie, Indiana
Jones and The Last Crusade.
The
Kazneh - Of the 800 carved tombs in Petra, the
Kazneh is the most famous. Its name Kazneh means ‘treasure' and comes
from the Bedouin belief that the Pharaoh chasing the Israelites hid his
treasures in the urn at the top of the Kazneh .
Main
Street - As many as 30,000
people may have lived in Petra during the 1st century. It is a
misconception
that Petra was a city only for the dead. A large earthquake in 363 AD
destroyed at least half of the city. Petra never recovered from this destruction.
The
Monastery - The Monastery
is the largest tomb façade in Petra, measuring 50m wide and 45m
high. Despite its name, it was built as a tomb monument and may have acquired
its name from the crosses inscribed inside. Like the Kazneh, the structure
consists of two stories topped by a magnificent urn.
Monastery
Top - Scholars debate, over
who built and designed the tombs of Petra. They were probably the product
of local workers and artisans brought in from Alexandria and Rome. The
monuments are Nabatean in style, but they incorporate classical, Egyptian
and Mesopotamian elements.
Dead
Sea - No visit to the Dead Sea would be complete
without experiencing the unique buoyancy of these waters. Cover yourself
in therapeutic black mud and float your aches and pains away!(Genesis
14:3;Deuteronomy 3:17 4:49; Joshua 3:16;12:3;15:2,5)
Dinner
and overnight stay will be at the Dead Sea Spa hotel, situated on the
shores of the Dead Sea. ( B,D)
THU.
10 SEPT: Masada, Jerusalem .
From
our Jordan hotel we cross the border back into Israel where we will visit
the following :
Masada
- This Unesco World Heritage site was once Herod's
mountain top palace and fortress. Here we ascend to the site by cable
car and learn about the last Jewish stand against the Romans and the mass
suicide of the 960 Jewish defenders.
Ein
Gedi - This
national park and oasis hosts the caves of David's Gorge where David hid
from Saul and his army. Wade in the pool where David and his army refreshed
themselves in the “ Springs of Living Water.
”(I Samuel 24,Song of Solomon 1:14; Ezekiel
47:10)
Qumran
- Home to the ancient Essenes. It is here that
the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Here we will visit the excavated sites
of Qumran and the view the location where The Scrolls were found in 1947.
(John 1; Luke 1:57-80; Isaiah 40)
After
a fascinating day we leave the lowest geographical place on Earth and
take the drive up to Jerusalem . Once at Jerusalem we will watch the sunset
over Her from Mt. Skopus .
The
Prima Kings hotel will be our resting place for
the remainder of the journey. Dinner will be at our hotel
tonight. ( B,D )
FRI.
11 SEPT: Jerusalem.
During
our time in Jerusalem we shall visit the following sites mentioned in
the itinerary. The order of our sites in Jerusalem may change between
now and the time when we arrive.
Our
first full day in Jerusalem includes visits to;
Mount
of Olives - We begin our day by viewing Jerusalem
from the Mt. of Olives . Photo opportunities abound at this time with
the Golden Dome of the Rock prominent. From here we shall walk down to
The Garden of Gethsemane along the same path as that Jesus took when entering
the city on Palm Sunday
Garden
of Gethsemane -
The site where Jesus prayed at the Rock of Agony in the Garden. -"
My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless
I drink it, may your will be done ."(Matthew 26:36-56;Mark 14:32-50;
Luke 22:39-53; John 18:1-14
House
of Caiaphas- Located under the current St. Peter
of Gallicantu church is the traditional site where Jesus was imprisoned.
Mount
Zion -Assumed by the Byzantine pilgrims as the
original City of David this piece of land would have existed outside the
original city walls.
David's
Tomb - Visit the stone cenotaph laid by Crusaders
in the Church of the Apostles.
Upper
Room - The traditional site where Jesus instituted
a new Passover celebration and the new Covenant in His blood. (Mark 14:15)
Jewish
Quarter .- Here we will walk through the Cardo
Maxima then onto the Herodian quarter.
Dinner
will be at our hotel this evening. ( B,D )
SAT.12
SEPT: Herodian, Bethlehem .
After
breakfast we will drive south to the outskirts of Jerusalem and visit;
Herodium-
Located south from Jerusalem this was one of Herod's
favorite palaces and fortresses. Herodium is the location of the recently
discovered site of Herod's tomb. From this vantage point we can look across
the Dead Sea to Mt. Nebo.
Bethlehem-
Our visit to Bethlehem will include a visit to
Manger Square, The Church of The Nativity and Sheppard's Fields.
Dinner
will be back at our hotel in Jerusalem. ( B,D )
SUN.
13 SEPT: Jerusalem, Free Time Today has been
left open for those who would like to peruse the shops on Ben Yehuda street
or walk to some of the sites f the old city of Jerusalem.
This
afternoon we shall have the opportunity to join King of Kings Community
at the Prayer Pavilion for Sunday worship.
Dinner
will be back at our hotel this evening. ( B,D )
MON.14
SEPT: Jerusalem
This
morning we drive through the new city of Jerusalem to view the Knesset,
plus the Menora on our way to:
Yad
Vashem - The national museum and memorial to the
holocaust.
From
here we return to the old city and visit:
Church
of St. Anne - Located
by the pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the cripple. (John 5, 1-9)
Western
Wall and Tunnels -
Also called The Wailing Wall. The holiest place of pilgrimage for the
Jews. Here we can observe the Orthodox Jews pray relentlessly along with
many Christians. Some of us may wish to leave a hand written note placed
in the crevices of the Western Wall. (I Kings 6:14; Matthew 12:6; Luke
2:46; John 2:19)
Garden
Tomb - Preserved by The Garden Tomb Association
these beautiful gardens surround the traditional site of The Garden Tomb.
Many believe that this was the actual garden of Joseph of Arimathea .
Here we will enjoy Communion and a private service. (John 19:41)
This
evening we enjoy our ‘farewell dinner' before checking-in for our flight
home. ( B,D )
TUE.
15 SEPT: Depart for home
Alas
we must return home! This morning we depart Ben Gurion airport just after
midnight on our non-stop flight to Toronto, where we shall arrive that
very same morning. Complimentary in-flight service will be provided.
(B, L)
B
- Breakfast. L - Lunch. D - Dinner.
The
itinerary is subject to alteration by your group leadership.
For
more information please contact:
GRACE
DIELEMAN
VELLINGAS
TRAVEL
&
CRUISE
HOLIDAYS
PHONE:1
877 352 5150
or
1
519 352 5524
EMAIL:graced@ciaccess.com
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