"Ancient and Holy in the Holy Land"
October 5-18, 2008
The proposed trip is an Orthodox Christian pilgrimage and educational tour. We combine visits to sites of religious significance with stops at places of historical and archeological importance. The tour will be of interest to all who have an interest in the Early Church, Monasticism and the Ancient Middle East.
If you are interested in joining this tour or have any questions, please contact us!
“Ancient and Holy in the Holy Land” is a unique trip that combines several features. It is first and foremost an Orthodox Christian pilgrimage. Our highest priority is the veneration of the Holy Sites associated with the Earthly Ministry of our Savior, Most Holy Virgin Mary, Apostles of our Lord and a multitude of righteous individuals from the Old and New Testament. Therefore, we will first and foremost visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Mt. Tabor and number of sites in Galilee. At the same time, we seek to provide members of our tour with a better understanding of the ecclesiastical and cultural-historical background of the Holy Land; for this reason, we will visit important monuments of the Jewish and Nabatean past – Masada, Qumran, and Petra, as well as imposing Roman Ruins at Sephoris and Jerash. The trip includes visits to important monuments of the Byzantine past, chiefly active and ruined monastic sites of Israel and Jordan, such as the monasteries of St. Sabbas, St. Theodosius, St. George of Hoziba, and the foundations at Kursi and Um Rassas. While this religious tour is prepared with an Orthodox traveler in mind, anyone interested in Early Church History and in the Antiquities of the Middle East will surely benefit from our voyage.
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ITINERARY:
Day 01 – Sunday, October 5, 2008.
Departure from the US (JFK Airport)
Day 02 – Monday, October 6, 2008
Arrival in Tel Aviv. Transfer to the Holy City of Jerusalem for overnight.On the way (time permitting) stop at the shrine of St. Great Martyr George
Day 03 – Tuesday, October 7, 2008 Today we will follow the footsteps of Christ on His way to Golgotha. We’ll start our journey in the Garden of Gethsemane, the beginning point of Christ’s Passions. Then we continue to St. Stephan’s Gate and will enter the Old City. Our first visit will be to the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos built over the house where the Theotokos lived with her righteous parents Joachim and Anna, then to a sheep’s pool, known from the Gospel story as Bethesda. Then we will continue on Via Dolorosa – the path Christ walked carrying His cross to Golgotha. We will make several stops along the way to visit churches and places marked by Holy Tradition as being related to the last walk of Christ to save all men from death. We will end our journey in the Holy Sepulcher – a Medieval Cathedral built atop of a Byzantine basilica that St. Helen had built to house the places of our Lord’s Saving Passion and Crucifixion – Golgotha, the stone of anointing, the “Garden tomb” – place of Lord’s Resurrection, and several adjacent places depicted in the description of the Lord’s Saving Passion. After a break for lunch in the Old City we will continue to Mt. Zion – to venerate the tomb of the righteous King David, the chapel marking the place of the Mystical Supper, and the Basilica of our Lady’s Dormition.
Day 04 – Wednesday, October 8, 2008
During our second day in Jerusalem we will visit a variety of holy sites that cover the whole spectrum of the Biblical and Gospel stories, and the history of the Christian church even up until the present day. We will visit the Monastery of our Lord’s Ascension on Mt. of Olives, the “tombs of the prophets” (one of the first places in Jerusalem supposedly utilized by Christians for worship), and the Church of “Our Father” – a small and modern house of worship built over a system of tunnels and caves where according to tradition our Lord taught His disciples the prefect prayer to His Heavenly Father. We will also visit the Convent of St. Mary Magdalene – a Russian Imperial foundation that houses the relics of its founder – the martyr Duchess Elizabeth. At the very bottom of the Mountain we will visit the empty tomb of the Virgin Mother and will have an Akathist service to Her Glorious Dormition. Before heading out for lunch, we will stop to see historical monuments in the Valley of Cedars. After lunch we will continue our exploration of the city with visits to the Monastery of the Holy Cross and the National Museum of Israel, where we will visit the Shrine of the Book, which houses the famous Scrolls of Qumran. We will finish the day with a stop at a convent in the “High Country” that marks the place of where “the greatest born from a women” – St. John the Baptist - was born.
Day 05 - Thursday, October 9, 2008
Today we will begin by venturing deep into Judean desert to venerate the most prominent fathers and spiritual leaders of Palestinian Monasticism – St. Sabba the Sanctified and Venerable Theodosios the Sanctified. The Lavra of St. Sabba is open for males only, so we have to warn our female pilgrims that they will be able to observe the monastery only from a “bird’s eye view” – from an observation deck in an ancient defense tower nearby. For lunch we will come to Bethlehem, where after some nourishment we will explore and venerate holy sites linked to the birth of Our Lord – the Basilica of Nativity in Bethlehem (the only surviving foundation of the Blessed Empress Helen), the Chapel Church of the Holy Innocents and a Greek Monastery on Shepherd’s Field.
Day 06 - Friday, October 10, 2008
Today is your day to spend at leisure. You may go to venerate the Holy sites again, buy some souvenirs at exotic street markets, visit some of Jerusalem’s many museums or just stroll along the streets of the Old City. Alternatively, you may go for an optional tour along the Dead Sea to visit the ruins of the ancient fortress of Masada and remains of a Jewish “proto-monastic” foundation at Qumran. If time allows, a visit to Ein Gedi National Historical Park/ Natural preserve and a swim in the Dead Sea may be organized.
Day 07 - Saturday, October 11, 2008
We will go “down” from Jerusalem to Jericho, visiting along the way: the Monastery of St George the Hozebite in Wadi-Kelt, the monastery of St. Gerasimos of Jordan Archeological Park at Jericho*, and the Monastery on the Mount of Temptations*. On the way back, we will stop at the Tomb of Lazarus in Bethany. We will plan for a relatively early return to Jerusalem to attend Vespers in the Church of the Holy Trinity that belongs to the Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in the Holy Land. We will plan to get back to the hotel right after that to get some rest before the Midnight office at the Holy Sepulcher.
* The accessibility of the sites in Jericho is subject to constant change due to the political situation.
Day 08 - Sunday, October 12, 2008
With Our Lord’s will, we will start our day with Matins and Divine Liturgy in the church of the Holy Sepulcher. I want to forewarn all pilgrims that we would have to be in the church of the Holy Sepulcher between 11:30pm and 3am (duration of the entire Midnight office) as the gates will be closed during that entire time. After the Midnight service we will return to the hotel. After late breakfast and check-out from the hotel we will leave the Holy City and will be descend toward the Mediterranean. Our first stop will be in Jaffa, now suburb of Tel Aviv, but once a historical city, closely linked to the mission of the apostles; the tomb of the righteous Tabitha is located in the vicinity of the old city. From there we will continue to an Archeological Park in Caesarea, known from the Scriptures and Classical History as the Caesarea of Palestine, center of the Roman Province of Palestine at the time of Christ. After late Lunch we will visit Muhraka – a place associated with the Mighty Prophet Elias. Here, on Mount Carmel he destroyed a heathen altar and through his prayers the might of one true God was manifested.
Day 09 - Monday, October 13, 2008
Our first day in Galilee will begin in the town of Nazareth, where the good news to the world were announced by Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary and where Christ spent his young years with His Most-Holy Mother and the righteous Joseph. There are two important churches in town that share the glory and importance of the event. One is an Orthodox Church built over a well with a spring where according to local tradition the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. Another shrine is the much large Catholic foundation that is built over the remains of the house of the carpenter Joseph. Later this morning we will stop in the little town of Cana – the place of the first miracle of our Lord (of turning water into wine) that announced the beginning of His service to the world. In the afternoon we will continue to Mt. Tabor, the place of the Lord’s glorious and wondrous Transfiguration. Time permitting; we may visit the ruins of the ancient city of Skythopolis.
Day 10 - Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Our second day in Galilee will be long and awe inspiring. We will start our dayby heading to the Sea of Galilee. We plan to visit a number of sites around the lake. To cover the territory in one day is impossible, but some of the most important sites are definitely on the list: we will visit Capernaum, where Jesus made his home during the years of His earthly ministry; the Mount of Beatitudes where Our Lord taught His followers the New Testament “ten commandments;” Tabgha, with church of multiplication of loaves and fishes; Magdala, with a Russian Orthodox Church; and possibly Beit Saida, with some archeological remains from the time of Christ (the famous ruins of a fisherman’s house are located here).
Day 11 - Wednesday, October 15, 2008
We will depart from our hotel early this morning and will head toward the Jordanian border. After border formalities, we will enter the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan. From the border we will head to the Archeological Park in Jerash, which is the site of some of the largest and better preserved ruins of one of the major cities of the historical and biblical Decapolis. For its state of preservation, this archeological park has gained the nickname of “Pompeii of the East”. After lunch in the great restaurant right at the historical park, we will continue to the site that recently was identifies as the most probable place of “Bethany beyond Jordan” – the place of our Lord’s baptism, also not far from the hill from where according to tradition St. Prophet Elias ascended to Heaven in a fiery chariot. The area is historically very significant and marked with many Byzantine ruins. The vicinity of the site is also closely associated with the Venerable Mary of Egypt and her cult is very prominent among local Christians. For dinner and overnight we will arrive to the Christian Village of Madaba.
Day 12 - Thursday, October 16, 2008
Today we will start our day with a visit to Mt. Nebo. The law-giver Moses observed the Promised Land from this mountain and this is the closest he ever got to the place where he desired to be so much. Then we will visit Madaba – a little village housing Byzantine Churches with very important mosaics, among them, one depicting the map of the Holy Land and Mukawir – site of Herod’s palace, where the sorrowful events of the end days of St. John the Baptist most likely took place. The deserted Byzantine camp-settlement of Um Rassas, with the remains of an important monastic complex where probably the only surviving column of some ascetic (stylite) still stands, is our last stop before our transfer to Petra.
Day 13 - Friday, October 17, 2008
Petra is a most intriguing Nabatean city carved in rock cliffs. This is a historical monument really “one of its kind anywhere in the world.” We will spend most of the day exploring ancient ruins and temples, fortifications, theaters and other buildings carved in the rock. In the afternoon we will explore the site of Al Beidha or Little Petra, located just some miles away from its more famous “neighbor”. For o/n we will return to our hotel in Petra.
Day 14 - Saturday, October 18, 2008
Depart from Petra to Amman. On the way we will stop for a visit at Kerak, to see one of the largest fortresses built by the Crusaders in the Middle East. In the afternoon a casual tour of the capital city of Amman will be offered.
Day 15 - Sunday, October 19, 2008
Our Holy Land pilgrimage is over. We will depart back home, as our journey through time and history is complete till the next time! Departure from the airport in Amman (direct flight back to JFK with Delta Airlines) back to the US.
SINAI EXTENSION:
Day 14 - Saturday, October 18, 2008
Depart from Petra to Aqaba. En-route we will stop at Wadi Rum National Park one of the most important tourist destinations in Jordan. Wadi Rum is the largest desert valley cut into the rocks in Jordan. The Natural beauty of the place is stunning. This Natural Wonder becoming more famous and popular among the Western Tourists. However, in the West, it is best known for its connection with British officer T.E. Lawrence (knonw as “Lawrence of Arabia”), who had bases in Wadi Rum during the Arab revolt of 1917–18. We will transfer from the port city of Aqaba to the resort place of Nuweiba in Egypt. From here, there are only several miles to the world famous Colored Canyon that gets its name after the most colorful and intriguing rock formations, which reach up to sixteen stories. Canyon was created by the erosion of water upon sandstone and limestone. Later in the evening we will reach the vicinity of St. Catherine’s monastery in the heart of the Sinai Peninsula for Dinner and overnight.
Day 15 - Sunday, October 19, 2008
Early in the morning (about 4am) we are planning to attend Matins (Orthros) and Divine Liturgy at the monastery. Please note that only Orthodox Christians who have special permission from the monastic authorities are allowed to attend services in the monastery. After breakfast and some rest in the hotel, we will explore the vicinity of the monastery that is well known for the various famous pilgrim sites – cave of St. John of the Ladder, Hermitage of St. Onyphrios, etc. In the late afternoon we will attend Vespers at the monastery, and then will return to the hotel for supper and rest before the climb on the mountain.
Day 16 - Monday, October 20, 2008
Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Horeb, or Gebel Musa ("Moses' Mountain")is a 2,285 meters (~7,500 feet) high mountain in the Sinai Peninsula. It is next to Mt. St. Catherine that is the tallest peak in the Sinai. According to tradition, this is the mountain where God gave laws to the wandering Israelites. Two routes are leading to the summit of the mountain. It takes about three hours to ascend the mountain by the longer and less steep track. Also, part of the way can be cover on the back of the camel hired from the Bedouin along the way. The steep, more direct and much harder route ascends the 3,750 "steps of penitence" carved by the monks of the monastery directly up the ravine behind the monastery. After some rest at the hotel we will explore St. Catherine’s monastery – the oldest functioning orthodox monastery in existence. In time, when the first record of the monastic life comes to us from the 4th century, present monastery was built by order of Emperor Justinian in mid six century. The patronal feast of the monastery is the Feast of Transfiguration, but it gets its “popular” name from the relics of St. Catherine of Alexandria whose relics have been miraculously transported here by angels. Within the mighty walls of the monastery there are several important pilgrim sites associated with the events of the Old Testament. Church of the monastery houses numerous relics and the collection of the artifacts in the monastery – earliest icons, liturgical vessels and manuscripts is astounding.
Day 17 - Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Today we will continue our exploration of the Holy Sites of Sinai. Our first stop will be at Wadi Feiran oasis – Rephidim of the Old Testament (Book of Exodus). The Wadi Feiran is a beautiful area surrounded by palms and other trees and is one of the Sinai's largest oasis. The Oasis is also one of the first and important Christian centers in the Sinai. In the heart of the oasis there is a functioning Orthodox Monastery, established in the fourth century on the place where according to tradition Joshua defeated the Amalekites. This place was once the seat of the archbishop of Sinai but the oasis Christian community is mentioned as far back as the second century. Christian anchorites started to dwell in the vicinity of the oasis from about mid fourth century AD. Then will travel to Hamman Fara'un, the hot springs of Fara'un or "the pharaoh's bath". A group of hot sulfur springs with a temperature of 72 C at the source is located at the coast of the Gulf of Suez. Later in the evening we will arrive to Cairo for o/n.
Day 18 - Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Our Holy Land pilgrimage is over. We will depart back home, as our journey through time and history is complete till the next time! Departure from the airport in Cairo (direct flight back to JFK with Delta Airlines) back to the US.
Important: itinerary may be adjusted based on the political situation (in case of elevated security precautions some sites may not be accessible) or to satisfy interests of the group to the best extent possible, i.e. services, rest, additional time spent in the most important places of worship and prayer.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOUR:
Financial arrangements:
The current cost of the land portion of the tour is 1600USD per person, based on double occupancy in a group of 30 participants. Round trip air ticket from NYC (JFK-Tel Aviv, Israel, Amman, Jordan - JFK) with Delta Airlines is $1300. Sinai extension (departure from Cairo, Egypt) is $500 per person, based on double occupancy in a group of 30 participants.
Price includes:
• Accommodation in good Tourist-Class Hotels (good 3***) with breakfasts daily
• Second meal daily (Dinner or Lunch)
• Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach for the transfers all along the tour, according to the
program
• Road and local taxes for the tourist bus
• Tours as per the itinerary above
• Entrance tickets to the museums and donations for the entrance at the churches
and monasteries as per itinerary
* The hotels that we offer for this tour are local equivalent of 3*** and in some places the best available. Please note that, the level of accommodations and services may be different from the expectations of similarly rated hotels in Western Europe or North America.
Price does NOT include:
• Meals other than specified
• Beverages during meals
• Entrance fees other than specified
• Porterage, gratuities and extras
• Optional tour to Masada, Qumran, Ein Gedi and Dead Sea swim (about 60USD)
• Anything not specifically mentioned in “Price includes”
• Egyptian Visa (Sinai Extension) – about 20USD
Sign up and Payment:
We would request $400.00 deposit at the time of signing up for the trip. Deposit is non-refundable. The deadline for signing up for the trip is June 30, 2008. The entire amount is requested no later than June 30, 2008.All payments should be made by check to the "Palomnik, LLC". Any returned checks are subject to $20 fee.
Special requests:You can make flight arrangements on your own, if you would be able to find a better deal with another airline. However, in that case it will be your responsibility to arrange transportation to the hotel and back to the airport at the port of entry/departure.All special requests, concerns and suggestions must be submitted in writing to Fr. Ilya Gotlinsky no later then the date of the final payment (June 30, 2008).
Cancellation:
In the unlikely event of cancellation, the charges, in addition to the full amount of the deposit are*:
• No penalties, except air ticket (if issued) over 91 days to departure
• 50% of the tour cost, 90 to 31 days prior to the departure
• 100% of the tour cost 30 days prior to the departure*Air travel cancellation policies are in force in accordance with the regulations of the particular airline once tickets are issued.
All the cancellations must be in writing and sent directly to agent/coordinator - Fr. llya Gotlinsky, and must be received for reimbursement by the dates shown in the cancellation schedule.
Rules on the road:
• It is strongly suggested for a traveler to obtain insurance covering medical needs and coverage regarding personal property;
• be aware that all medical needs will be sole responsibility of the traveler;
• act in a manner consistent with the surrounding environment;
• make arrangement to have sufficient funds to cover personal needs and unexpected happenings.
The places that we will be visiting may not have the same amenities that one may be accustomed to. Medical facilities in some areas are limited. Because of the difference in language and customs, it is expected that the traveler will follow the directions of the Tour Director at all times. The Director reserves the right to restrict a person’s participation in the group’s activities, including exclusion from the group, when, in the opinion of the Director, such action is appropriate.
Please note: The Director of the trip (Fr. Ilya Gotlinsky) does not hold any legal responsibilities concerning any of the arrangements. He plays only the role of an agent/coordinator.
Passport and Visa:
A valid passport is needed to travel to the Middle East. The passport must be issued at least three months prior to the departure and must be valid until your return. US citizens do not need a visa to travel to Israel. Group Visa to Jordan is obtained at the border free of charge. Egyptian Visa can be obtained at the port of entry at a stated rate. If you are not a US citizen, please contact the Embassies or Consulates of Israel, Jordan and Egypt to see if you do need a visa to travel there.
Security:
Israel, Jordan and Egypt generally are safe countries despite the abundance of news about domestic disturbance there. Even in the West Bank tourists are not considered to be targets. In Israel you should be careful around any conservative religious quarters of Muslims and Jews alike. Petty street crime such as pick pocketing is quite widely spread, especially in large cities and in and around “tourist traps”. Don't keep all of your cash in one place, and carry important documents (like your passport) with you in a hidden pocket or secure bag. You don't want to be in a foreign land without money or travel documents. Expensive jewelry and fancy clothes are best left at home.
Medication:
Israel and Jordan have very good health systems (Egypt much less so) and drugs are widely available at many pharmacies. Most of the clerks at the pharmacies speak fluent English. However, we still would recommend you to bring whatever medications that you think you may need, and especially prescription drugs. Please check with your doctor if you need any vaccinations when traveling to that part of the World. Please bring anti-allergen remedies if you have a history of pollen allergy. It is very easy to become dehydrated on trip like this because the climate is hot and dry. Make sure to drink lots of liquids (pure water is the best choice). Mid October still can be very hot, especially in the desert. So, please be prepared adequately and don’t take your chances with heat and sun. In Israel it is safe to drink tap water, unless noted otherwise. In Jordan and Egypt it is advised to use only bottle water for drinking and brushing of teeth.
Church and services:
We are going to visit a lot of churches and cathedrals. While the dress code is generally loose, I want to encourage all to show moderation and respect. People in shorts and open shouldered outfits most likely won’t be allowed in most monasteries and churches. Monastic and clergy will treat tourists and pilgrims very differently. While I understand your desire to wear shorts and something cool in a hot climate, I encourage you not to spoil the visit for the rest of the group. Several services are scheduled during the pilgrimage. However, at this time I’m not giving exact time or place of all of the services as that all is flexible and can change. The very pattern of our days may be changed to fit the services in. Services are open to all who want to attend (except on Sinai where only Orthodox Christians are allowed to attend the services), but are not mandatory. Those Orthodox travelers who would like to receive Holy Communion during the Divine Liturgy must come for Confession on that day (or night before), prior to receiving Holy Communion.
Currency:
Many of the stores in Israel, Jordan and Egypt accept credit cards (mostly Visa or MasterCard, no Discover or American Express). However, if you plan to shop at the markets or at the souvenir stands you will need cash. The easiest way to obtain cash is to use the ATM machine. For ATMs use your debit card because you won’t be charged any interest on cash withdrawals. On your credit card purchase or with your debit card cash withdrawal you get the best exchange rate, that of the day. It is a good idea to let your bank or credit company (the one that you’ll be using a card) know that you are traveling overseas. Without such a notice some companies may “freeze” your account in an attempt to prevent foreign card fraud. Whenever you shop, especially at the markets and in the Arab stores, make sure to bargain. As a rule you can reduce the price by about 30-50% and often you can make even a much better deal. Be persistent and pay no attention to raging emotion – that’s part of the culture and the way of conducting trade business.
Dress code:
Although you will see a lot of tourist wearing shorts and sleeveless t-shirts, in parts of Israel, Jordan and Egypt such outfits may be considered very offensive. Light, but longer pants and dresses are appreciated and buy more respect. Open sandals will be very uncomfortable on the uneven terrain of the Archeological sites and are considered provocative in a non-tourist settings of Jordan and Egypt. (This recommendation applies to both - men and women).
Be sure to bring:
An alarm clock; alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wet wipes; Kleenex; film and extra batteries for your camera (at the tourist places they are widely available but significantly more expensive); comfortable shoes for a lot of walking (do not start the trip with new shoes). Electric outlet adapter is necessary if you plan to use any electric gadgets from the US. Hat or a head cover, sun protection lotion and a bottle of water (can be purchased along the way) are absolutely “must have” things on this trip.
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