This is the second part of Trip to The Holy Land. The first part in Jordan is here. These are my pictures from Israel. As I mentioned in my previous post, my phone screen shattered and so my pictures are a bit hazy. For those who didn’t read my previous post, we were a group of 48 traveling with Paul from Zion Tours.
Before I left for my trip I had grand plans about doing a Vlog. I took my tripod and stuff. However, I found that I couldn’t enjoy myself while filming. So I chucked that idea and the tripod. I decided to just soak in the place and allow myself to have fun. Vlog recording is very timing consuming. Hats off to people who do it. How do people do that and enjoy their vacay anyway? 🤔
Journey Across the Border
Jordan was pretty cold. I had taken winter clothes with me so I was prepared but we were traveling during a period where the winter was on its way out and summer was coming in. So I just took along something to cover all the seasons.
Crossing the border was a smooth process. You get a lot of strange questions at Border Control. No photos are allowed. And things are pretty strict. We crossed the Sheikh Hussain Bridge to cross the border. Even as we were driving here, you can see the landscape change. Lots of trees and greenery. After completing the customs & immigration formalities we officially entered Israel.
Capernaum- Sea of Galilee
The first place in Israel we visited was Tiberias/ Sea of Galilee area. This is a beautiful place. Then we went to Tabgha, the traditional site of the multiplication of loaves and fish, followed by a boat ride on the
Sea of Galilee. We stayed overnight in Tiberias. The Sea of Galilee is pretty big. In fact, the day before, when the strong winds were gusting, all boat tours were cancelled. Thankfully, we were in Jordan at Mount Nebo.
The Primacy of Peter is where Jesus appeared to his disciples after the Resurrection and where he performed the miraculous catch of the 153 fish and conferred Church authority upon Peter. This is believed to be the place where Jesus dined with his disciples.
The flat rock known as Mensa Christi or Christ’s table commemorates this event. Capernaum was the center of Jesus’ ministry after he left Nazareth, there we visited Jesus synagogue and the House of St. Peter.
After our visit we went to eat St. Peter’s Fish. A whole fish is served to each individual with salad and khabus.
Nazareth
The first place we visited is the Basilica of the Annunciation. It is built over the grotto where Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she would bear a son, Jesus. We also stop by Mary’s well and St. Joseph’s Workshop. The town of Jesus is so small. It’s said that Joseph and Mary were neighbors.
A huge church is built above it in the shape of a boat.
Right beside the town is the old synagogue where Jesus grew up.
The church of the annunciation is another beautiful sight with each country donating expensive mosaic work of their interpretation of Our Lady. The most expensive one here, that of Japan with gold water.
Mount Tabor – Mount of Beatitude
Mount Tabor is where Jesus was transfigured with Moses and Elijah. Later proceed to Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount.
We celebrated mass here at one of the outside altars. Fr Regan Fernandes was our priest accompanying us. And this place is so peacful and calm that its no wonder, Jesus used this place to teach.
Day 5 -Mount Carmel-Haifa-Tel Aviv-Jerusalem – Bethlehem
After breakfast we visited Mt. Carmel and Elijah’s Cave (Stella Maris Church). We also went to the Bahai Gardens and for some reason the place was closed. Haifa is super clean and a very beautiful city. One of the best I’ve seen. Its a very nice place for a visit.
We then drove through Acre and Ceaseria along the coastal road where the old city of Jaffa (Joppa) is
located where the miraculous healing of Tabitha took place. We traveled via Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
We visited the Milk Grotto that is entirely white and the Church of Nativity – the Birth Place of the Lord Jesus.
Bahai Gardens
The visit to Cana was a highlight for many in our group. There was one couple celebrating 47 years of marriage. There were many who were above 30 and 20 years of marriage. So they all renewed their marriage vows at the place where Jesus performed his first miracle of changing water into wine. Look at the size of the jar! Fr Reagan had a very beautiful message here. Invite Mary into your circumstances and she will notice what is missing and tell Jesus about it. I loved this message.
After the wedding vows in the evening, we all had a sing along with some famous Cana wine and the guitar.
Bethlehem
The Church of the Nativity is a Greek Orthodox church where there is a constant crowd of people going into the small underground cave where the Lord was born. To get inside you have to bend low as a sign to humble yourself before the Lord.
Day 6 – Mount of Olives – Gethsemane
Mount of Olives gives you a panoramic view of Jerusalem. This was a really busy day where we visited the Church of Ascension, which commemorates the ascension of Jesus into Heaven. The Pater Noster Church is believed to be the place where Jesus gave his disciples the Lord’s Prayer.
We walk along the Palm Sunday road down to the Chapel of Dominus Flevit where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. This is a very long downhill walk. Then we visited the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed while Judas betrayed him to the Romans. The Basilica of the Agony (Church of All Nations) is right beside the garden. The Garden has six trees from the time of Jesus.
Then we went to the Last Supper Room, where we remember the Last Supper and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on Pentecost.
Mount Zion – Calvary
We walked to the Dormition Abby and the traditional site of the Tomb of King David (visit other Upper
room). We also visited the Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu which symbolizes Peter’s denial of Jesus
as he had prophesized at the Last Supper.
We went to the traditional House of Caipas where Jesus was kept in the dungeon. He was lowered into the hole where he stayed in that position all night. This was a tremendous moment for me. I realized that nothing we go through in life is as severe is what Jesus has been through for us. Here Paul prayed over each of the group and a nun who was praying here in tongues. Some people received a prophecy and others words of knowledge.
Then we went to Jerusalem where we entered the Old City through St. Stephen’s or Lion’s Gate. We continued on foot to the Church of Condemnation and Flagellation, where we began the Via Dolorosa (Way of Grief). The Via Dolorosa is a very busy marketplace but still bears the signs of the station of the Cross. We did the stations with hymns and it was and a long tiring road. Imagine carrying a cross.
The last five Stations of the Cross were situated inside the Holy Sepulcher. We followed the footsteps of our Lord Jesus on his way to Calvary, culminating the journey to Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified.
Finally, we visited “The Tomb” widely believed to be the part of the stone that covered Jesus Tomb.
We ended the day with the visit to the Western Wailing Wall considered to be the holiest site for the Jews Overnight stay at Jerusalem/Bethlehem. I placed my petitions in one of the crevices here like all the other people visiting here did. The Wall is the only remnant of the Old Temple which housed the Ark of the Covenant.
Ein Karem – Bethany –
We traveled to Yardenit where we renew our baptismal vows right at the Jordan River.
We also visited Ein-Karem-the city of Judah and birthplace of John the Baptist, son of Elizabeth & Zechariah. The rock is the stone behind which Elizabeth is said to have hidden with John the Baptist and so his life was spread while all other 3 year old males were killed.
Our next stop was the church of Visitation, where Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth. We also stop by Mary’s spring where the water gushes and is so cold.
Jericho – Dead Sea
From there we went to Bethany, the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (Lazarus Tomb). Then it was onto Jericho to see the Mount of Temptation (outside view) and Sycamore Tree where Zacchaeus was asked to come down.
Then we drove to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth (1305 ft. below sea level), float in the salty buoyant water, rich in minerals. The Dead Sea area is a tourists paradise. The place is teeming with big malls, all the fast food, the restaurants and outlets.
On to Egypt
After our morning breakfast the next day, we headed to Egypt. That will be another post. I honestly have a ton of pictures of Israel but the post won’t support it and there’s too many places we’ve visited. I haven’t even touched on some of them because it would be so confusing. Often we’d have mass at a particular location and then visit a set of different places. So there are a lot of churches here.
I shared the most important places so that maybe you will be inspired to visit the land of Jesus someday. It will change your life.