Itinerary*

Day 1: Depart USA
Your spiritual pilgrimage begins as you depart on your flight to the Holy Land. Meals and drinks will be served aloft.

Day 2: Arrive Tel Aviv / Netanya
Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we will be met by your local guide and drive to our nearby hotel in Netanya for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Netanya / Tiberias - Mass at Stella Maris on Mount Carmel
This morning, depart Netanya for Tiberias. Drive along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, a center of the early Christians where Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new religion and Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial. Visit the Roman Theater, Crusader's Moat, the Byzantine Churches, and the Aqueduct. Continue to the sparkling port city of Haifa and ascend Mt. Carmel, home of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, for a scenic view of the city and the port. After celebrating Mass, continue to your hotel in Tiberias.

Day 4: Tiberias - Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation
Following breakfast, drive to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed the first miracle - changing water into wine at the wedding feast. Here, couples will be invited to renew their wedding vows. Continue to Nazareth. Following Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation, visit Joseph's Workshop and the Cave of the Annunciation. Afterwards, take an excursion to the summit of Mt. Tabor to visit the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus and the beautiful scenery of the Valley of Jezreel.

Day 5: Tiberias / Jerusalem - Mass on the Mount of the Beatitudes
This morning, take a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias to Kibbutz Nof Ginosar to see the perfectly intact 2,000 year old boat recently uncovered on its shores. Proceed to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry. After visiting the Synagogue where he taught, drive on to Tabgha, the site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Continue to the Church of St. Peter's Primacy and then to the Mt. of the Beatitudes for Mass at the site of the Sermon of the Mount. Following Mass, drive along the Sea of Galilee to visit the Baptismal Site at the River Jordan and then drive through the Jordan Valley to Jericho and see the ruins of the ancient city which was conquered by Joshua. From the top of the ancient "tel", you'll have an excellent view of Elisha's Fountain and Mt. of Temptation. Continue to your hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 6: Jerusalem - Mass at the Garden of Gethsemane
This morning, drive to the top of the Mt. of Olives for a spectacular view of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of Pater Noster, the Chapel of Ascension, and then walk the "Palm Sunday Road" to Dominus Flevit, where Our Lord wept over Jerusalem. Continue to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations for Mass on the Rock of Agony. This afternoon, enter the Old City of Jerusalem through St. Stephen's Gate. Visit the Church of St. Anne, the Pool of Bethesda, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and Arch of the "Ecce Homo". Follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Visit Golgotha and the Tomb of the Risen Savior.

Day 7: Jerusalem - Mass at the Nativity Church in Bethlehem
Drive to Bethlehem for Mass. Above the traditional Grotto of Jesus' birth, visit the Nativity Church, built by the Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. Also tour the Manger, Grotto of St. Jerome, the Church of St. Catherine, and the Shepherd's Fields. This afternoon, drive to Mt. Zion to visit the Cenacle or Upper Room. Then survey the Dormition Abbey and St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Jesus three times.

Day 8: Jerusalem - Mass at the Holy Sepulchre
After an early morning Mass at the Tomb of Our Lord, drive back to the hotel for breakfast. At the New City of Jerusalem, see a scale model of this ancient city as it was during the time of Jesus. Then, by way of the Knesset (Israel's Parliament), drive to the Shrine of the Book to see where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. Continue to Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist, to see the Visitation Church where Mary proclaimed her famous "Magnificat".

Day 9: Jerusalem - Mass at the Chapel of Flagellation
After Mass, visit the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Temple Area, the Dome of the Rock, el Aqsa Mosque, and the Wailing Wall. Enter the restored Jewish Quarter and walk along the excavated Cardo, once a main street of ancient Jerusalem. Enjoy touring the Herodian Mansions, a complex of villas from 2000 years ago before returning to your hotel. The remainder of the afternoon will be free. This evening a special "Farewell Jerusalem" dinner will be arranged in your honor at a typical Middle Eastern restaurant.

Day 10: Jerusalem / Santa Katerina - Mass at Bethany
This morning depart Jerusalem for Egypt. Drive to Bethany to visit the site of the House of Mary, Martha & Lazarus and to visit the Tomb of Lazarus. Continue through the Judean Wilderness and along the Dead Sea to Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. An exciting ascent by cable car will take you to this last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. Continue to Eilat, the Riviera of the Red Sea, and cross the Israeli Egyptian border at Taba. Drive through the barren wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula to Mt. Sinai where God spoke to Moses through the burning bush.

Day 11: Santa Katerina / Cairo - Mass at St. Catherine's Monastery
This morning visit the isolated and magnificent monastery which contain a great collection of sixth-century Greek icons and treasures. Tour the unrestricted portions of the monastery. Next, embark on a day's drive through the Sinai Peninsula and via the Suez Canal to Cairo.

Day 12: Cairo
Your private Egyptologist tour guide and driver will pick you up and start your tour highlighting the monuments of Egypt. Drive to Giza and visit the Pyramids. See the Great Pyramid of Cheops and the Sphinx. Continue to Memphis, capital of the Pharaohs during the Old Kingdom. Visit the recumbent statue of Ramses II and the 80-ton Alabaster Sphinx. Lunch en route. Continue to Sakara to see the prototype of the pyramids, the Step Pyramid, built for the 3rd Dynasty Pharaoh Zoser by the exalted architect Imhotep. Continuing south, visit the Pyramid of Dahshour. This Pyramid, also known as the Red Pyramid, was built by King Senefru, father of King Cheops, approximately 4,600 years ago. Visit a papyrus institute on the way back to your hotel.

Day 13: Cairo
Drive to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities for a detailed, guided tour of the treasures of ancient Egypt. Among other fascinating exhibits, see the contents of the treasures of the Tomb of Tutankhamen which fill the Mohammed Ali, an all impressive landmark. Then visit Old Cairo and walk backwards in time, visiting the Old Coptic Church, the Ben Ezra Synagogue, the Khan el Khalili Bazaar, and the Abu Serga Church, where tradition says the Holy Family lodged on their flight into Egypt. Return to your hotel for overnight.

Day 14: Cairo / USA
Transfer to Cairo Airport for your return flight to the States.

*Please note that this is only a sample itinerary. Actual trip itinerary may vary slightly in length and in activities. For specific information please contact:

Tekton Ministries
Pilgrimage Office
9924 Cedar Ridge Dr.
Carmel, IN 46032
toll free (866) 905-3787