Make your way to the airport where you will board your overnight (connecting) flight. Your meals are served on board.

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, you will be met by your 206 Tours Representative and transfer to the Magdala Center Hotel. You will have some free time to spend at your own leisure. In the evening, you will attend Mass, followed by dinner at the hotel. Return to your room for a restful night’s sleep.

Theme: The Annunciation
This morning, after breakfast, we will start the day by visiting Cana where we will go to the Franciscan Wedding Church. Couples will have the opportunity to participate in the ceremony of renewing their Wedding Vows, led by our Spiritual Director. Our next visit will be to Nazareth, where we will walk the pilgrimage trail into the Church of the Annunciation to celebrate Holy Mass, and then a quick tour, including the Archeological Garden where we will see the 1st century remains of houses from the time of Christ. We will also visit the Museum where we see inscriptions left by pilgrims venerating the Virgin Mary, including the 2nd century A.D. inscription showing Xeria Maria ‘Ave Maria’, considered to be the oldest venerating signs of the Blessed Virgin. Following lunch, it is on to Caesarea, which was once the ancient capital of the Roman province. The tour will start by viewing the impressive archaeological remains of the Roman and Byzantine city that once dominated the region. It was at Caesarea that Peter came to understand that the “Good News” was not for Jews only, but for the whole world. Here, He baptized the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, and his family. It was from Caesarea that Paul set sail for Rome, an event that eventually brought Christianity to the World. Return to Tiberias, located by the Sea of Galilee, for a wonderful dinner and overnight. *For the Wedding Vows taking place in Cana: Each couple will receive a “Special” Certificate to commemorate the ceremony

Theme: The Ministry of Christ in the Galilee
After breakfast, we will begin the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. After this, we will view the remains of a boat that dates back to the time of Jesus, found buried in mud. We will then travel to Capernaum, from where Jesus launched his Ministry; see the synagogue which dates to the time of Jesus and the Church built over the site of Peter’s home. We will celebrate the Liturgy here, and then stop for lunch before we arrive at the Mt. of Beatitudes, the scene of Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount. Nearby is Tabgha, where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 and onto the site known as “Peter’s Primacy”. Here, after His resurrection, Jesus met with His disciples and told Peter to “feed my lambs; feed my sheep.” [John 21:9]. Then we will see the Sower Cove, located midway between Tabgha and Capernaum, where Jesus was pushed out on a boat by the crowd and taught from the parable of sower. Our last visit will be the remains of the fishing village of Magdala (Aramaic for “elegant”). During the time of Jesus it was a thriving place that exported dried fish and garum (a fish sauce reduction popular in Roman cooking). Excavations done by the Franciscans in the 1970s revealed the residential area of the village and the docks where the fishing boats would unload the fish caught in the Sea of Galilee. In 2009 a chance discovery revealed a 1st Century synagogue at the entrance to the village from the West. It is also assumed that Mary Magdalene was born here. Then walk to the nearby “Valley of the Doves”, to see “the Jesus Trail”, and the ancient road that was walked by our Lord. End the day at Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Theme: The Transfiguration
Today, after breakfast, we drive to Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration, with time to reflect on Christ’s Humanity and Divinity. Celebrating Mass here will be a good preparation for the journey to Jerusalem where Jesus was to suffer the crucifixion and resurrection. Drive down the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, where we view the Mt. of Temptation, and an example of a Sycamore Tree. Visit the Baptismal site on the Jordan River, and have the opportunity to renew our own baptism (pending weather conditions). We will continue on our way to Jerusalem, where we will check-in to our Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Theme: The Visitation and Nativity
Today we will begin by travel along the Valley of Elah, where the famous encounter between David and Goliath has taken place, before continuing on to the Israel Museum which houses the temple to which Jesus was Presented (Luke 2:22). Our group will visit a model of the Second Temple, as it was in the time of Jesus. After lunch we will make a short drive taking us to the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist, to visit the Church. This will be followed by a stop to the Shepherds Fields in Bethlehem. The caves have soot marks of the fires that shepherd’s lit to keep warm while watching over their flocks. Return drive back to our Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Theme: Palm Sunday and the Agony in the Garden
We will start the day with an early breakfast, and then make our way to Bethlehem. Visit Manger Square, which stands in front of one of the oldest Christian Churches, the Church of the Nativity. Enter the Church and make our way down to the Grotto of the Nativity which marks the spot of Jesus’ birth. Just beneath the Altar, there is a silver star with the Latin inscription: HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS (Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary.) We will celebrate Mass in the Church of the Nativity and then return to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in our hotel.

Theme: Early Years in Jerusalem & the Wilderness
We will start the day by driving to the Mount of Olives, where we will take in the panoramic view of Jerusalem. Then to the Pater Noster Shrine, where Jesus taught His disciples the Pater Noster – The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4). Walking down the Palm Sunday Road, we will stop at the beautiful little Church, Dominus Flevit – “The Lord wept.” It was here that Jesus wept over Jerusalem [Luke 19:41]. Celebrate Mass and then make our way to Gethsemane to reflect on Jesus’ final night (Luke 22: 29 – 53). The Garden contains trees, the roots of which go back to the time of Jesus. Visit the Church of All Nations and pray at the “Rock of Agony,” a section of bedrock identified as the place where Jesus prayed alone in the garden on the night of His arrest. We will then visit the Church of the Assumption, and then make our way to Mt. Zion, overlooking the Kidron Valley. From Gethsemane, Jesus was taken as a prisoner to the house of the High Priest Caiaphas where He was interrogated and imprisoned. Now called ST. Peter in Gallicantu (“Crowing Rooster”), this beautiful Church also commemorates Peter’s denial of Chris (Luke 22: 33 – 34), his repentance and then being forgiven by Jesus. The steps leading down to this Church was also a project funded by the Equestrian Order. We will make a stop for lunch and then continue on to Mt. Zion, the Upper Room (Matthew 26: 17 – 30) where we commemorate the Last Supper. Nearby is King David’s Tomb, and the Benedictine Church of the Dormition. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Theme: The Way of the Cross, The Crucifixion, The Resurrection
Today will be an early morning, as we will depart the Hotel at 5:30 A.M. and make our way to begin the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) at the Antonia Fortress. This is the spot where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate (John 18:28-19:16). Following His condemnation, He was taken (on the Road to Calvary) to His place of Crucifixion. Our group will reflect upon the Stations of the Cross as we travel through the markets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Luke 23: 26-33). This Sacred destination is the site of Calvary (Jesus’ crucifixion place) and, His tomb (Luke 23: 50-55). Our group will be celebrating Mass here at the Tomb of Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Return to our Hotel for breakfast and a little free time. Then continue to the Western Wall, the Holiest site to Jews. After, we make our way over to Temple Mount, also known as the Dome of the Rock, or Haram al Sharif. Then conclude with a visit to the Church of St. Anne’s, the home of Jesus’ maternal grandparents (Anne and Joachim). Nearby, we enter the Old City to see the Pool of Bethesda (John 5: 1 – 9), which supplied the water for the Temple, and where Jesus healed the crippled man. We will have the remainder of the day free to spend at our own leisure. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. Our Guide will address our Group and advise us of our Transfer Time, and when to meet in the Lobby to board the Transfer.

This morning we will pack our bags and leave them outside our room for the Porters to collect and place on
our Bus. Following breakfast, we will meet in the lobby and then board our transfer that will bring us from our hotel to Tel Aviv Airport for our return flight home.

* Visit Masada pending confirmation.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.