Christian Pilgrimage Logo White Centre

Duration

18 days

Starting

17 Oct 23

Overview

Join The Rev. Patrick King & Fr. Duncan Gorwood on the signature 18-day pilgrimage 17 October – 03 November 2023. Titled: Jesus Footsteps.
-Start your Pilgrimage in Jordan, where Christianity began. Explore biblical and historic sites.
-Explore Biblical and historic sites in Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Territories.
-Optional extension to Egypt.

ITINERARY

Meet at Airport and fly overnight to Amman – Jordan

Arrive in Amman ancient Philadelphia Biblical Ammon and meet our local rep, transport to hotel. After getting settled in, we will enjoy a panoramic view of Amman then proceed to the ancient Roman Amphi theater located in theheart of Amman. Amman (D) (O).

We will visit the oldest and one of the best preserved Roman ruins in the world, Jerash. We will then travel to the Jordanian town of As-Salt to experience the charitable work that local Churches are doing within the community and have lunch with local clergy in The Holy Land Institute for the Deaf . Amman (B)(D)(O).

Visit “Bethany Beyond the Jordan”, a UNESCO World Heritage List and the original baptismal site of Christ. Then continue to Mt Nebo, where Moses stood and viewed the Promised Land of Canaan. Then you continue to Madaba, the biggest Christian city in Jordan, where we will visit “St. George Church” and the remains of the oldest known map of the Holy Land, assembled
from more than a million pieces of coloured mosaic. We will proceed to Petra that evening.
Petra (D)(B)(O).

Today we explore one of the 7 wonders of the world, Petra. Renowned for its charm & ancient cultural heritage, Petra marks the achievement of an impressive civilization, the Nabateans, who carved the city into its mountains. Then we head visit Petra The “rose-red city” of Petra in southern Jordan, famous for its rock-cut monumental buildings and water systems and where it is believed that Moses’ brother Aaron died and was buried – Depart to Wadi Rum – Wadi Rum Camp (D)(B)(O).

Today, we visit Wadi Rum (Including Jeep tour) It is the “Mars on Earth”! The blood red sands and the unworldly sandstone mountains create an uncanny Mars-like landscape and environment, making you truly feel like you are stepping foot on
another planet, though you are right here on Earth. A place where lots of Hollywood movies have been shot, example Lawrence of Arabia, The Martians – Transfer to Allenby Bridge crossing the Jordan River & continue to Bethlehem. Bethlehem
(B)(D)(O)

We visit Bethlehem the city of Jesus’s birth there we visit the Nativity Church “And so Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to David’s town of Bethlehem — because he was of the house and lineage of David – to register with Mary, his espoused wife, who was with child . She gave birth to her first-born Son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place where travellers lodged.” (Luke 2:4,7 We visit Beit Sahur the Shepherds Field. Nestled along the slopes of Bethlehem, this holy sight was where angels first announced the birth of Christ. Pilgrims then enter the Church of Nativity in the heart of Bethlehem, believed to be birthplace of the Lord.  After lunch we will explore the streets of Bethlehem and the city’s market for shopping and free time. Bethlehem (D)(B)(O).

We will journey to Taybeh, a Christian village in Palestine , biblical Ephraim where Jesus sought refuge shortly before his crucifixion (John 11:54) . We will explore the ancient Church and visit the towns world famous brewery. We will head to visit Jacob’s well, (John 4:5-14) we hear the story of a Samaritan woman. The city is also famous for its soap, we will view the city’s
traditional soap making in one of its oldest soap workshops the Stop to have Kenafah the sweet that this city is very for. We end the day in Nazareth (D)(B)(O).

After Breakfast, you travel to Cana, the location of the wedding feast where Jesus turned water into wine ( “On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee” John 2: 1 ) . Then we continue to Caesarea Philippi in the Golan Heights, where Jesus announced he would establish a church and gave authority over it to the apostle Simon – whom he renamed Peter (Matthew16:13-16) Dinner & overnight. Nazareth (B)(D)(O)

Today we visit Magdala, by Christian tradition it is also the home of Mary Magdalene before continuing to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Christ gave his Sermon on the Mount. We continue to Tabgha on the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee which is best known for Christ’s miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish St. Peters Primacy. We will visit Capernaum,
Jesus’ home town and the scene of many of his miracles. The afternoon will end with a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee and mass at Capernaum in the chapel along the sea. Nazareth (D)(B)(O).

We head to Mount Tabor, rising dome-like from the Plain of Jezreel, is the mountain where Christian tradition places the Transfiguration of Jesus. (Mat 17:1-13).Continue to Mount Carmel Stella Marris Church built over Prophet Elijah’s
cave according– then across to the Baha’i Gardens. We Continue to Caesarea Maritima narrow pass to the Mediterranean Sea visiting the aqueduct, the ancient Herodian harbor, the remains of the seaside palace of Pontius Pilate and the theatre. With the conversion of Cornelius by St. Paul (Acts 10),this impressive Roman city became the beachhead of the Christian mission to
the Gentiles.On our way to Jerusalem we visit Jaffa, mentioned four times in the Old testament: as the northernmost city by the coast, bordering the territory of the Tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:46); as port-of-entry for the cedars of Lebanon for Solomon’s Temple (2 Chronicles 2:16); as the place whence the prophet Jonah embarked for Tarshish (Jonah 1:3); and again as port-of-entry for the cedars of Lebanon for the Second Temple of Jerusalem (Ezra 3:7). We visit Simon the tanner’s house. Then we head to Jerusalem (D)(B)(O)

After Breakfast we visit Mt of Olives to visit the Chapel of the Ascension believed to mark the place where Jesus ascended into heaven the ‘Pater Noster’ Church where Jesus taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:7–15). We will walk down the Palm Sunday Path as pilgrims to the Dominus Flevit Church built on the site where Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Lk 19:41–44). We
continue to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of the Agony, Church of all Nations , containing the rock upon which Jesus prayed before his arrest. Prepare for a memorable experience as we gain private group access inside the adjacent ‘Garden of Betrayal’, for prayer and reflection surrounded by ancient olive trees dating back to the time of Christ. We continue back to Mt Zion, to the House of Caiaphas and into the Church of St Peter in Gallicantu, commemorating Peter’s denial of Jesus. We enter the Cenacle room of the Last Supper where we commemorate the institution of the Eucharist and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Continue to the Church of the Dormition where the Virgin Mary passed into Heaven. Jerusalem (D)(B)(O).

After Breakfast, Worship at St George’s Cathedral Jerusalem at 9.30am: bi-lingual mass is celebrated (Arabic & English). Afterwards, visit the wailing wall then continue to the Israeli Museum to view the Model of Second Temple Jerusalem – Shrine of the Book –Then visit Ein Karem The birth of John the Baptist: Luke 1:5-24, 39-66 Mary visits Elizabeth: Luke 1:39-45 The Magnificat: Luke 1:46-55 Church of the Visitation This is believed to be the site of Zechariah and Elizabeth’s summer house, where Mary came to visit her cousin. On the wall opposite the church, ceramic plaques reproduce Mary’s canticle of praise, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) in some 50 languages. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem (D)(B)(O)

After an early breakfast, we begin the Stations of the Cross, following in our Lord’s footsteps along the Via Dolorosa. We culminate at the site of Calvary where you will celebrate Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Walking up the stairway we will reach the site where the Cross of Jesus once stood. We then enter the Tomb of Christ and continue to the Church of St Anne with its magnificent acoustics and said to be built over the birthplace of the Virgin Mary. While walking the paths of the old city, we will pass the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralysed man (John 5:2–9). We end the day at the Mt of Olives to pray in the Chapel of the Ascension, where Jesus is believed to have ascended into heaven. Dinner over Jerusalem city scape – Jerusalem (D)(B)(O).

Our last stop before we leave the Holy land is a stop in Bethany for Lazarus Tomb then Jericho to view the Mount of temptation and Qumran then head to Allenby Bridge – Meet and assist – Transfer to the Dead Sea – Dinner and overnight at the Dead Sea (D)(B)(O)

Free day at leisure at the Dead Sea – also to have quality time for reflecting & a group get together for prayer and reflection. Dinner and overnight at the Hilton Hotel in Dead Sea BD. Dead Sea (D)(B)(O).

After breakfast Transfer to Amman Airport for departure

Key Sites

Map

FAQs

We specialize in smaller groups. We book on first come first served.
Please fill up the Booking Form (one form per pilgrim) and pay the deposit to secure your place.
After receiving the booking form and deposit, an invoice will be issued and emailed to you.

Meet your fellow pilgrims:
Few weeks before the pilgrimage, we arrange a get together for all pilgrims to meet with the Spiritual leader and coordinator. 

Few weeks before the pilgrimage, we will email you the “Pilgrims Kit” which will include all the information that you need while on the pilgrimage including all the emergency phone numbers

We encourage you to visit our FAQ page where most of the questions are answered. 
If there are any other questions, you are always welcome to phone us on 1300 pilgrim (1300 54 74 54) or the direct mobile number of the pilgrimage coordinator or email us via the contact page

The price is per pilgrim in a twin or double.
Single Room Supplement is AUD $ 2,275.- and subject to availability