Pilgrimage to the The Holy Land, Jordan & Egypt Under The Spiritual Direction Of Father Renier Siva

Depart for your overnight flights to Amman. Dinner on-board, relax, and anticipate your arrival tomorrow morning.

Upon arrival in Amman, we are met by our representative who will remain with us for the duration of the tour. We continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we depart through the “King’s Highway” to ancient city of Petra. We enjoy a walking tour of Petra. It begins with a walk through the Siq to the Treasury. Continue through the main street with the magnificent structures on each side carved into the mountains, to the colonnaded street, ending at the Petra Museum. Lose yourself in the history of the Nabateans who meticulously carved massive structures out of the rose-colored sandstone. See the influence of the people that followed including the architecture of the mighty Romans and a beautiful Byzantine chapel decorated with ancient, stunning mosaics that have been carefully preserved.

This morning we cross the Jordanian / Israeli border and head to Mt Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus. Later we visit Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine; here we have a chance to renew wedding vows. This evening we continue to Galilee for dinner and overnight.

Some of today's highlights are a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum to see the synagogue and St Peter's house, a visit to the Mount of the Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount was given, to Tabgha to see the splendid mosaic about the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and to the nearby Church of Peter's Primacy where Peter was told " Feed my lambs, feed my sheep." There will be an unforgettable Mass near the shores of the Sea of Galilee at the Primacy or Mt Beatitudes.

We start our morning with a visit to the Basilica of Annunciation in Nazareth where we will celebrate Mass and visit Mary's well and the Church of the Angel Gabriel. We then drive through the Carmel Mountains heading to Haifa, where we visit Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery with the Madonna of Mt Carmel. Visit the Roman and Crusader ruins. Continue to Muhraka where Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal and where the Carmelite Order was started. Next, we head to the nearby city of Jaffa where we will visit the old historic port of Jaffa and the Church of St. Peter. We continue to Bethlehem for dinner and overnight.

Today we head to the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of St John the Baptist and to the Church of Visitation where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and proclaimed the 'Magnificat'. In the afternoon, we drive to the Shepherd's Fields where the angels announced the birth of Jesus. Then we visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem that stands upon the site where Jesus was born. Mass in Bethlehem or the Shepherds Fields. Next we will stop by the Home of Peace Orphanage, which was established in memory of Monsignor Stanislaus T. Sypek to carry on his lifelong passion of working with children. Enjoy a visit to the University of Bethlehem before we continue to head North for the celebration of the Eucharist in the Holy site of Emmaus Niccopolis where the Risen Jesus met the disciples on the road to Emmaus and was recognized through the breaking of the bread.

This morning we head to Mt. of Olives and visit the Church of Pater Noster with the Lord’s Prayer in many languages, and the Ascension from where He ascended to Heaven. Walk the Palm Sunday route stopping at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Then to Gethsemane, the Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed His last prayer before his arrest. Visit the cave of betrayal then the cave of Assumption of Mary to heaven. Continue to visit the Wailing Wall, the most holy place for Jews. Nearby is the Dome of the Rock and the Temple Mount. We exit at Mt Zion. At the Cenacle we visit the Upper Room of the Last Supper. Next, we go to Dormition Abbey where we believe the Blessed Mary died. We end the day at St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Him thrice.

After breakfast we head to Jerusalem and start our visit with St Anne Church (the traditional birthplace of the Virgin Mary). Continue to view the Sisters of Zion, Ecce Homo where Pilate proclaimed “Behold the man.” Next, we retrace the last steps of Jesus as we walk along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow), through the markets of the Old City praying the Stations of the Cross at each station shrine, we reflect on the greatness of His sacrifice. Our walk ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Solemn Entry, where we will have exclusive and private access to the Church. This sacred area is home to the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, known as Calvary, as well as the Holy Tomb of Jesus Christ. We then continue to the Office of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem where you will be able to meet the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the new members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem will receive their very own Pilgrim Shell. Following our visit, we will make our way to the Notre Dame Center in Vatican property, where we will visit the Museum of the Shroud of the Man (three-dimension replica of the Shroud of Jesus).

This morning, we drive to the town of Jericho and visit the excavations of the oldest city in the world and view Mt. Temptation, where Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan. to the Jordan River to remember our Lord's baptism. Afterwards, there is time for a swim (or rather, a float!) in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, renowned for its healing properties. We then continue to the border where we cross. After crossing we transfer to our hotel in Taba for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we continue our pilgrimage by heading to St. Catherine, an Eastern Orthodox monastery located on the Sinai Peninsula. It lies at the mouth of a gorge at the foot of Mount Sinai, near the town of Saint Catherine, in Egypt. The monastery is named after Catherine of Alexandria. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002 for its unique importance in the traditions of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

Optional: Early next morning we have the option to climb Mount Sinai, the mountain where Moses received the tablets of the law of God. The main route to the summit is known as the path of Moses and is lined with remains of various chapels.

After breakfast we visit St. Catherine Monastery. Set beneath the mountain where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments. Saint Catherine Monastery has been one of the world’s great centers of religious pilgrimage for over fifteen centuries. Among its treasures is a library of ancient manuscripts and icons second only to the Vatican. Continue to Cairo for dinner and overnight.

This morning we continue our exploration with a visit to the Egyptian Museum—home to one of the world’s most impressive collections of ancient artifacts, including treasures from the tomb of Tutankhamun. We then head to the Giza Plateau to stand in awe before the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren, and Mykerinos, followed by a visit to the enigmatic Sphinx. After an inspiring day of discovery, we check into our hotel to freshen up. In the evening, we gather for a scenic Nile River Dinner Cruise, enjoying local cuisine and entertainment as we sail along the legendary river.

We start our day by visiting the Citadel and Mohamed Ali Mosque. We then visit Abu Sergha Church. Later we travel to Khan Bazaars. The Khan El-Khalili is one of the most interesting bazaars, not only in Egypt, but also in the whole Middle East. Free afternoon.

Today we board our return flights home with memories and keepsakes that will last a lifetime.