Egypt, Israel, Jordan Pilgrimage with FR. ELIMAR ABAD

Upon arrival at the Cairo airport, we will have a half-day guided tour to visit the Crypt of the Holy Family and the Hanging Church. Proceed to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Grand Egyptian Museum, one of the richest museums in the world. Proceed to the Pyramids and Sphinx. Stop at the Papyrus factory and the perfumery. In the evening, we will have Dinner Cruise at the Nile River before returning to the hotel for overnight stay.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Take a long-distance drive to Sinai, passing by the Moses Spring and Suez Canal. Proceed to the hotel in St. Catherine for check-in, dinner and overnight stay. 

Take an optional early morning climb to Mount Sinai. Upon return, we will have breakfast at the hotel prior check-out. Visit St. Catherine Monastery. Drive to Taba Border for crossing to Israel. Check-in at the Bethlehem hotel for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Church of Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus. Visit also the Basilica and Grotto of the Nativity, the Manger Square and the Milk Grotto. Continue to the Shepherds Field, the site where the star appeared to the shepherds which lead them to the manger where baby Jesus was born. Drive to Ein Karem to visit St. John the Baptist Church and Church of Visitation (Magnificat) where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth. Transfer to the Old City to visit the Pool of Bethesda and Church of St. Anne. Then proceed to Via Dolorosa starting at Ecce Homo where Pontius Pilate washed his hands. Start from the Flagellation until you reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was crucified, died and rose from the dead. Then back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast at the hotel. Visit to the Mount of Olives to visit the Ascension Chapel where Jesus ascended into Heaven. Visit the Church of Pater Noster to see the “Lord’s Prayer” written in several languages. Proceed to the Church of Dominus Flevit (God Wept) where God wept over Jerusalem. Move on and continue by walking down the Palm Sunday Road to the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane to see the Rock of Agony, the place where Jesus prayed before the Roman soldiers came for Him. Visit the Wailing Wall. Then continue to Mount Zion to see the Dormition Abbey, then visit the Upper Room where Jesus and His disciples had their last supper. See also King David’s tomb. Proceed to the church of St. Peter of Gallicantu. Return to the hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Enroute to Mount Carmel to visit Stella Maris Church. Then pass by Haifa where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Bahai Gardens. Drive down to Caesarea, which was built by Herod the Great to catch sight of the Aqueducts and the Roman Theater. This is where St. Paul was imprisoned. Proceed to Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle, turning water into wine. A renewal of vows for married couples will be celebrated.   Drive to Nazareth and visit the Basilica of Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel announced to Virgin Mary the birth of Jesus Christ. Visit also St. Joseph’s workshop and Home of the Holy Family. Transfer to the hotel in Nazareth for check-in, dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.  Drive on to Tabgha, where the Miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes took place. Then continue to St. Peter’s Primacy Church. Proceed to Capernaum, the town where Jesus made His home after leaving Nazareth. View the remains of the ancient Synagogue in which He taught. Move on to Mount of Beatitudes. This is the site of the Sermon on the Mount. Visit Mount Tabor in the Basilica of Transfiguration.  Proceed to Qumran, the caves of the Essenes where Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a wandering shepherd boy. Drive to Jericho to view the Mount of Temptation where Jesus Christ spent 40 days fasting and where he was tempted by the devil. Pass by the “Sycamore Tree”, where Zaccheus, the tax collector, climbed the tree to see Jesus. Continue to the Dead Sea for a quick dip in the lowest and saltiest sea on earth. Transfer to the hotel in Jericho for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check out at the hotel. Drive to “Qasr Al Yahud” or most commonly known as the Jordan River, the baptismal site. There will be a renewal of Baptismal vows. Proceed to the border for the crossing to Jordan. Transfer to your hotel in Amman for check-in, dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will have a long-distance drive to enjoy and visit the lost city of Petra with optional horseback ride through the picturesque SIQ. Visit the Treasury. Shop at Holy Land Gifts. Return to the hotel in Amman for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast and check out at the hotel. Drive to Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land before he died. Continue to Madaba to visit the Monastery of St. George, which hosts the unique mosaic Map of Egypt, Jordan and Holy Land. The map is believed to be the first one for this area. It was built in the 6^th century A.D. Proceed to Amman airport for your flight back to Manila.

“HOME SWEET HOME!!!”