10 Days Holy Land and Rome

Welcome to Rome, the Eternal City. Depending on the hour of arrival, we will have a short panoramic tour of the city on our way to the hotel, dinner at the hotel.

We begin our morning with an audience with the Pope and celebrate Mass. In the afternoon we will visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major, which contains a relic from the manger. From here, we visit the Scala Sancta, the stairs Christ climbed to stand before Pontius Pilate. Those who wish may climb the stairs, as is the custom, on their knees. The Basilica of St. John Lateran, once the residence for popes, is a marvelous site, as is St. Paul Outside the Walls, which shelters the relics of St. Paul the Apostle.

After breakfast, we will visit the Basilica of St. Peter. We will have the opportunity to visit the Vatican Museums to see centuries of beautiful artwork and artifacts. See the artwork of Michelangelo such as the Pieta and the Sistine Chapel. We will explore St. Peter’s Basilica (built over St. Peter's tomb) in all of its splendor.

Board your flight to Tel Aviv. Your guide and driver will greet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel.

We make our way toward Jericho to see the city ruins that date back more than 10,000 years before Christ. Panoramic view towards The Mount of Temptation, then we will continue to the River Jordan where we can renew baptismal promises and continue onto the Shepards’ Field. In Bethlehem we will visit the Church of Nativity, the Church of St. Catherine and the grottos of St. Jerome. We will also take some time for shopping at a Christian cooperative to help the Christians in Bethlehem.

We ascend the Mt. of Olives, where we gain a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem. We visit Bethany the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. It is here where you will tour the Chapel of Ascension. We arrive at Pater Noster, the location where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord Prayer (Our Father) and Church of Dominus Flavit (where Jesus wept over Jerusalem). We descend the Mt. of Olives to the Church of All Nations and celebrate mass. After lunch, we continue the Church of St. Peter in Gallicanctu (where Peter denied Christ), the House of Caiphas, and the Church of the Dormition of Our Lady, We visit the Upper Room, commemorating the Last Supper.

We rise before dawn and enter Jerusalem through Stephen's Gate. We proceed to the Chapel of the Flagellation (where Our Lord was scourged), then as a group you can choose to carry a cross as we follow the Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross) praying the rosary at each station along the route. We complete the Stations and enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where we celebrate mass. We visit to the Church of St. Anne, marking the place of birth of the Blessed Mother, visiting as well the nearby Pools of Bethesda.

We begin with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We then visit Capernaum, where Jesus began his ministry. We then continue on to Peter Primary the location where Jesus appeared to his apostles and miracle of the fishes. Visit Tabagha to commemorate the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes. Tour the Mt. of Beatitudes and gain a panoramic visit of the Sea of Galilee.

Today we board our return flight back to the USA.