The magical Old City of Jerusalem, like no other city on Earth a wonderful tapestry woven from Love and Hate, destruction and resurrection war and peace.
Home to the most sacred holy sites of the Christian Jewish and Muslim faiths.
The glory and beauty of Jerusalem also comes from it's stunning and ancient buildings, colorful markets, winding alleyways and dynamic history.
Jerusalem
This day begins with a panoramic view from the Mount of Olives.
โAnd as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the worldโ (Matt 24:3).
Overlooking the walls of the old city and the ancient Jewish cemetery. Visit the Church of All Nations which was once called โThe Basilica of the Agonyโ, and see the Garden of Gethsemane. Proceed to Mount Zion to see the tomb of King David and the nearby Room of the Last Supper.
โGo into the city, and there you will meet a manโฆ โThe Rabbi says, โWhere is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?โ (Mark 14.13-14).
We will enter the Old City to begin exploring the wondrous city of Jerusalem. Walk through
the Roman Cardo, one of two main streets. View the Temple Mount and the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) where Jews from around the world turn their eyes to; Believers can leave notes and prayers in the cracks between the wallโs stones. Walk along the Via Dolorosa (Latin: โway of sorrowโ), the traditional pilgrimage route in Jerusalem commemorating Jesusโ journey carrying the cross (Mark 15:20-23) to Golgotha.
Continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher the holiest Christian site in Jerusalem and Israel, the place of Jesus Christโs burial and resurrection.
โAnd there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulcherโ (Matt 27:61)โ
No visit to Jerusalem is complete without a walk through the Arab bazaar โSukโ interesting, and full of color. Optional to end the day by visiting the Garden Tomb.
Next a visit to the Israel Museum Israelโs finest and most extensive museum. See the new Holy Land model โ a small scale representation of Jerusalem as it was during the second temple period. Next, the Shrine of the book, whose famous roof is shaped like the ceramic jar covers in which the Dead Sea scrolls were first discovered.
Continue to Yad Vashem โAnd to them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name ( "Yad Vashem")... that shall not be cut off." (Isaiah, chapter 56, verse 5)
Israelโs official memorial and museum dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust. We enter the site by walking along the Path of the Righteous Gentiles. This path is dedicated to the non-Jews that risked their lives in order to save their Jewish friends and neighbors.
Traveling on to Ein Karem and a visit to a Spanish style church which commemorates the birthplace of John the Baptist.
โNow the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son His mother answered, โNot so; but he will be called John.โ (Luke 1.57-60). See Maryโs well where Mother Mary met her cousin Elizabeth. โMary arose in those daysโฆ and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabethโ. (Luke 1.39-40).
Proceed to Bethlehem the birthplace of Jesus Christ and visit the Church of the Nativity.
โNow when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalemโฆโ (Matt 2:1-16)โ
**The above tour is our suggested tour, below are some other sites of interest which can also be visited or combined with the Jerusalem tour.
The Garden Tomb โ considered by some to be the site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus.
The churches on the mount of olives โ Pater Noster, Dominus Flevit, The Convent of Saint Mary Magdalene and the Tomb of the Virgin Mary.
Bethlehem โ Birthplace of Jesus, the church of Nativity & Following the Magiโs visit.
Mount Zion โ Hagia Maria Zion is formerly known as the Abbey of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.
NOTE: Passports will be required when crossing into Palestinian territory.
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