11 Days, 10 Nights, Israel & Rome Pilgrimage

Welcome to Tel Aviv International Airport. Upon arrival, meet with local guide and transfers to hotel for check-in. Later, visit the Shepherd’s Fields, spoken of in the Bible where an angel of the Lord appeared to announce the coming of Jesus Christ. Visit also Jerome’s Cave & Milk Grotto where a collection of letters from pilgrims who experienced its miracles can be displayed. Return to hotel for dinner.

Breakfast at hotel. Visit the Church of Nativity, one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The structure is built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Jesus. Visit also Jerusalem’s Old City from St. Stephen’s Gate (The Lion’s Gate) stopping at St. Anne’s Church, regarded as the birthplace of the Virgin Mary and the Home of St. Anne and Joachin. Continue to the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus told the lame man to take up his bed and walk. Have the chance to carry a cross while meditating as you go through the 14 Stations of the Cross (Via Dolorosa). starting at Ecce Homo where Pontius Pilate wash his hands. Proceed to Flagellation until the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the burial place of Jesus. It was built over the site of the place called Golgotha, which means “ a place of skull “. Drive to Jericho which is one of the oldest city in the World. Continue to see the famous Sycamore Tree which is believed to be the same tree that was climbed by the tax collector Zacheus. Head onto Qumran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found for a short film showing and visit of the site. Last stop will be a visit to the Dead Sea.

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Mt. of Olives from which Jesus ascended to heaven after his resurrection. We visit the holy shrines including the Chapel of Dominus Flevit (where Jesus wept) enroute to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations where Christ prayed on the night of his betrayal. Visit Pater Noster Church where Jesus have taught the Lord’s Prayer. Short stop at the Western Wailing Wall, the retaining wall of Herod’s Temple. Drive towards Mt. Zion the highest point in ancient Jerusalem. Visit the Upper Room (Last Supper Room ) which according to tradition is the place where Jesus and his disciples held the Passover feast – the last supper before he was taken away to be tried. Also visit the tomb of King David, the site traditionally viewed as the burial place of King David, the second king of Israel. Visit Church of the Dormition. The location is identified in Christian tradition as the place where the Virgin Mary died or “fell asleep”. Continue to Church of Galicantu, the place of the palace of high priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was brought to jail after his arrest.

Breakfast & hotel check-out Drive to Ein Karem in Jerusalem to visit The Church of the Visitation which honors the visit paid by Mary, Jesus’ mother, to Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s mother. (Luke 1:39-56). This is the site where tradition tells us that Mary recited her song of praise, the Magnificat, one of the most ancient hymns to Mary. Nearby, also visit St. John the Baptist Church, contains the grotto in which the birth of St. John is believed to have taken place. Drive to Haifa for a visit to The Stella Maris Monastery or Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a 19th-century Carmelite nunnery located on the slopes of Mount Carmel. Colorful paintings on the dome depict episodes from the Old Testament, the most dramatic being the scene of Elijah swept up in a chariot of fire. The statue of the Virgin Mary, carved from cedar of Lebanon, is also notable. The cave situated below the altar, which you can walk down into, is “Elijah’s Cave,” where the Old Testament prophet is believed to have lived. Next will be the viewing of Bahai Shrine, a place of worship of the Bahai Faith located in Haifa. Proceed to Cana, the most popular tradition identifies it with the modern village of Kefr’ Kenna, about 7 km northeast of Nazareth. The Franciscan “Wedding Church” celebrates the miracle of Cana. Here, couples choose to renew their marriage vows as part of their Holyland Pilgrimage. Transfer to hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.

Drive to Nazareth, the hometown of Mary and Joseph. It was here that Mary was visited by the angel Gabriel and told she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit. Lk 1:26- 38. Visit the Church of Annunciation which stands on the traditional site of Gabriel’s announcement to Mary. Continue to Mt. Tabor, a hill rising above the Jezreel Valley has been identified as the Mount of Transfiguration. There are Franciscan and Greek Orthodox churches at the top. Proceed to Mt. of Beatitudes which is the place where Jesus gave his important sermon on the mountain (Mt 5, Lk 6:20) to the multitude that assembled to see and hear him. Continue to Capernaum, a spaceship-like modern Franciscan church stands on the site of the House of St. Peter in Capernaum, where Jesus lived, healed a paralytic, and healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Then onto Tagbha, where the famous miracle of multiplication is commemorated by the Church of the Loaves and Fishes. The church features 5th-century mosaics, including one basket of bread with two fishes. Drive to nearby Church of the Primacy of Peter (Mensa Christi), a modest Franciscan chapel that incorporates part of a 4th-century church. It commemorates Jesus’ reinstatement of Peter after a fish breakfast on the shore. Enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. It was here that Jesus met SimonPeter, James and John, His first disciples, and it was here that He performed many miracles like when He stilled the raging storm, that was about to swamp their boat, when He walked on the stormy water and many. Continue to Yardenit where Jesus was baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist on the shores of the Jordan River. Here John identified Jesus as the Lamb of God, and a dove was seen to land on Jesus as he came up out of the water

Breakfast at hotel, then transfers to Tel Aviv airport for your flight Israel – Rome. Upon arrival in Rome, transfers to hotel for check-in. FREE Time.

Arrival at Fiumicino Airport (Rome ). After the immigration and customs formalities, proceed immediately to your morning guided Rome City Tour, visiting: Piazza Navona is an elongated oval-shaped public square in Rome, was paved in the 15th century and used as a market place and a venue for special events including mock naval battles. The Pantheon was built as a temple to all the Roman Gods. Later, the church became the final resting place for several Italian kings and the artist Raphael who was buried here together with his fiancée. One of the fascinating qualities of the Pantheon architecture is the proportion of the dome which, if flipped upside down would fit exactly into the Rotunda. The Trevi Fountain is a triumphant example of Baroque art with its soft, natural lines and fantasy creatures embodies movement as the soul of the world. The fountain is a true wonder, a jewel of water and stone that is nestled between the palaces of the historic centre of the city. After lunch, hotel check-in. FREE Time to rest. Assemble again at the lobby in late afternoon to continue your tour visiting: The Colosseum is the most iconic monument of Rome. The colosseum was used for bull fights, gladiator fights, chariot races, official events and various public forms of entertainment. At capacity the arena could hold 50,000 to 80,000 spectators on the marble benches. In 404 the colosseum saw its last gladiator fight when the Christian Orthodox Emperor Theodosius banned all forms of paganism and customs. The colosseum was recently chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Roman Forum gives us a glimpse of the ancient Roman Empire, the site of their marketplace , political and social activities. It is also where criminal trials, gladiator matches and triumphant procession took place in 6th century BC. After dinner, return to hotel. Overnight in Rome.

After breakfast, we will visit the Roman Basilicas. In the 16th century, Saint Philip Neri started the Rome Pilgrimage tradition visiting the 4 major Roman basilicas and the significant 3 minor Roman basilicas. It is believed that after visiting the 7 Roman basilicas, the pilgim is granted a plenary indulgence :

4 Major Basilicas

Saint Peter’s Basilica & The Sistine Chapel – Find yourself lost in the amazing architecture and artworks created during the Renaissance period. The building which was designed by the famous Michelangelo himself is filled with art from famous Italian artists. This is the heart of the Catholic Church for the whole world. The most important relic found here is the tomb of St Peter who was crucified upside down and martyred on the Vatican Hill. Located just at the entrance of the Basilica is Michelangelo’s famous sculpture, Pieta. The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums. Michelangelo was commissioned to paint 12 apostles and ornamental motifs, constructed a scaffold and painted the masterpiece while lying on his back. He ended painting 9 important events from the Book of Genesis down the center of the  ceiling, the most famous being God giving Adam life with the touching of their two finger tips.

Basilica of Saint Mary Major – One of the oldest and most important shrines in the world dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary built upon her request. According to tradition, the Roman Patrician Giovanni and his wife who prayed for an heir, had a vision by which the Blessed Mother told them she wished a church for her to be built at Esquiline Hill with the design of a snow. This is in the month of August, the hottest season in Rome. When Giovanni told his friend Pope Liberius he has surprised when told by the Pope that the Virgin appeared to him as well on the 4th os August , 352. The Virgin said that a miraculous snowfall would happen where the church will be built. The next day, August 5th , snow indeed fell at Esquiline Hill in the middle of a heat wave in Rome.

Basilica of Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls – The 2nd largest church in Rome and where you will find the tomb of Saint Paul under the main altar. You will also find the chains used to bind Saint Paul as a prisoner in Rome from 61-63 AD set in a gold reliquary near the Apostle’s tomb and are open for public veneration.

Basilica of Saint John Lateran – Also known as “Mother of all Churches on Earth” this is the seat of the bishop of Rome, who is the Pope. The Basilica houses magnificent artworks and the remains of many saints and Popes like Saint Secunda, Saint Rufina and Pope Innocent III and Pope Leo XIII who had the vision of Lucifer challenging Our Lord that he will destroy God’s Church in 100 years. Pope Leo XIII thus composed the Prayer to St Michael the Archangel which is presently recited in almost every mass. The Basilica also hold a portion of the table used at the Last Supper, now placed above the altar of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

3 Minor Basilicas

Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem – Contains several significant artifacts brought from the Holy Land by Saint Helena ( Emperor Constantine’s Mother ).Originally built in 320AD, the small chapel was attached to Saint Helena’s home and the floor contained some soil brought back from the Holyland. The most important relic here are 3 fragments from the True Cross & a nail used in the crucifixion and small pieces of the scourging pillar, the Holy Sepulchre and the tomb of Jesus. It has also reliquary of two of the thorns in the crown of thorns.

Sanctuary of our Lady of Divine Love – in the 17th century, a man was traveling to Rome and was almost killed by a group of angry dogs. This man prayed and saw up above in the town’s tower the image of the Blessed Virgin and he cried out for help. All of the sudden, the dogs ran away. Thereafter, the image was moved down from the tower to the nearby estate where a small church dedicated to St Mary ad Magos stood. Later a church was built where the tower once stood and the Blessed Mother was returned.

Minor Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls – one of Rome’s oldest churches with a very simple architecture of the earlier Christian churches, making it so different from the other Basilicas. It houses the relics of Saint Stephen, Saint Justin & Saints Lawrence. This church was built by Emperor Constantine who made an oratory here in honor of the site where Saint Lawrence was assumed to be martyred

Depart early morning with a box breakfast and proceed to the Vatican to visit: Saint Peter’s Square. In the 1600s the plaza was designed by Bernini who managed to create a trapezoid shaped plaza of grand proportions. It is a masterpiece in architecture and balance which inspires a feeling of reverence and spiritual peace. He also designed the adjacent basilica. Papal Audience. The Papal audience is not a Mass. It is an opportunity to listen to the Pope give an address in Italian, followed by prayers, a homily, and perhaps some singing. At the end of the ceremony, the Pope will bless religious articles. So if you have any rosaries, medallions, bibles or other religious objects, bring them along! Lunch at local restaurant then transfers to airport for departure flight.