This document provides a detailed itinerary for a religious tour of Egypt and Israel highlighting important biblical sites from November 22nd to December 5th. Over these two weeks, the tour visits numerous locations significant to Christianity, such as Saqqara and Giza pyramids in Egypt, and in Israel, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Via Dolorosa, and sites along the Sea of Galilee where Jesus preached and performed miracles. The document includes descriptions, photos and scriptural references for 28 important locations visited each day, providing insight into the religious history and significance of the places on this biblical pilgrimage.

1. Egypt, Israel,
Jordan…

2. Egypt highlights:
Nov 22: Saqqara pyramid; Memphis-Ramses II; Imhotep Museum

3. Egypt highlights:
Nov 23: Cairo – Alexandria City; St Catherine Church; River Nile
St Catherine, largest Catholic Church
in Alexandria

4. Egypt highlights:
Nov 24: Cairo - Hanging Church of Virgin Mary; St Mark Cathedral;
The power of faith can move
a mountain…

5. Egypt highlights:
Nov 24: Cairo - Giza Pyramids; The Spinx…

6. 1) Matthew: 2:13-15 “The Holy family fled to Egypt”…
Nov 24: The Crypt of the holy family under Saint Sargius Church
Saint Sargius Church (the
oldest church in Egypt)
where the Holy Family
lived for some 4 months

7. Egypt: Biblical highlights
Nov 25: Moses miracle; Firan mountain; Red Sea - Moon Beach rest
and Radisson Blue Resort

8. 2) Exodus: 3: 1-22 God Call Moses
(St Catherine’s Monastry - site of the burning bush)
Nov 26-27: There the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses in flames
of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on
fire it did not burn up...

9. 3) Exodus: 19; 20; 34 Mt Sinai and Ten Commandments
Nov 27: Climbed Mt Sinai at 1.30am. Known as Mt Horeb in the
Bible and because God spoke to Moses in these places, this area is
sacred to three world religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

10. Judea and Samaria
- Jericho
- Bethlehem
- Ein Karem

11. 5) Luke 2:8-10 “The Shepherds and the Angels”
Nov 28: Jericho- Shepherds Field Church (near Bethlehem) where
shepherds used to live out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over
their flocks at night. Site where angel appeared to them.
"Do not be afraid. I
bring you good news
of great joy that will
be for all the people."

12. Bethlehem: Church of the Nativity, Jesus’s birth place
Nov 28: Entered into Bethlehem thru’ a security wall built in
2002 due to conflicts between the Jews and Palestinians
According to legend, the low
doorway entrance was built this
way to prevent pagans from riding
their horses into the Church.

13. 6) Luke: 2: 1-52 “Birth of our Lord Jesus”, Nativity Church
(This Church is shared by Catholics, Armenians & Greek Orthodox)
Strong iconic presence
of Mother Mary…
.. as one decends in the
Grotto a Silver Star
marks the birthplace
of Jesus born of the
Virgin Mary - 1717

14. Bethlehem: Church of St Catherine
Adjacent to Nativity Church, is Catholic Chapel of St Catherine where
Bethlehem’s annual midnight mass is held and broadcast worldwide
The church is said to be built on the site of Christ's appearance to St.
Catherine of Alexandria and his prediction of her martyrdom (c.310 AD).
She is buried on Mt. Sinai. St. Jerome was believed to have lived here in
the 5th century and translated the bible into Latin.

15. 7) Luke: 1: 39-56 “Visitation of our Lady”
Nov 29: Ein Karem Church of Visitation, where Virgin Mary visited
her cousin Elizabeth, is the summer home of Zacharias.
The church is reached by steps up
from the Ein karem village.
The courtyard wall has tiles bearing
the words of the Magnificat in 42
languages

16. 8) Luke: 1: 57-66 “Birth of John the Baptist”
Nov 29: Ein Karem -The Church of John the
Baptist, (St John Ba Harim) built over home of John
the Baptist’s parents - Elizabeth & Zechariah.
Star under alter is birth
place of John the Baptist

17. Jerusalem and The Dead Sea
- Bethany
- Mt of Olives
- Mt Zion
- City of David
- Via Dolorosa
- Holy Sepulcher
- The Dead Sea
- Qumran / Masada

18. 9) John: 11: 1-57 “Lazarus”.
Nov 29: Bethany – Church of Lazarus
(home of Lazarus and his sisters Martha
& Mary) and Lazarus Tomb

19. 10) Luke: 19: 1-9 “Jesus & Zaccheaus”.
Nov 29: Jericho – The 2,000 year old sycamore tree, where
Zaccheaus who was the chief tax collector, climbed up to see Jesus
when he was passing through Jericho.

20. 11) Matthew: 4: 1-11 “Mount Temptation”.
Nov 29: Jericho – A stony path on the hill, here Jesus fasted
40 days to resist the devil’s offer to him
Elisha’s fountain at Ahava shop
(dead sea products; dates; tiles)

21. Jerusalum highlights: Holocaust Museum; Gate restaurant
Nov 29: Museum of Holocaust Art - between 1939-1942
during WWII, 6 million Jews were killed all over
the world.
Gate- my favorite restaurant outside
Jerusalam walls…

22. Jericho highlights:Masada; Qumran caves
Nov 30: Morning mass at Good Shepherd Church; Masada National
Park and down to The Dead Sea.
6 jars containing scrolls
dated 2000 years old were
founded in the Qumran
caves by Bedouins; some
of the scrolls are now
housed in Israel Museum

23. The Dead Sea: Joshua 12:3; Joshua 15:2
Nov 30: Ein Bokek - The Dead Sea is the lowest spot on earth (1,300
ft) below sea level. The water has high concentration of salt
(magnesium, sodium, calcium, potassium chlorides and magnesium
bromide). As a result of high density, people float easily.
Sadly, the Dead Sea
(Salt Sea) has been
shrinking, declining,
and evaporating.

24. 12) Luke 11: 1-4 “Our Father” prayer (Latin: Pater Noster)
Dec 1: Dead Sea to Jerusalem, Mt Olives - Church of the Pater
Noster was built over a cave, the place where Jesus hid with his
disciples and taught the "Our Father" prayer.
Multilingual plaques bearing the Lord's
Prayer - 62 tiled panels in different languages,
from Aramaic to Japanese to Scots Gaelic

25. 13) Luke 19:41-44: Jesus weeps over Jerusalem
Dec 1: Mt Olives, Dominus Flevit Church - in the shape of a tear
drop to symbolize the Lord's tears. Also location where Jesus was
welcomed by Palm when he arrived.
"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the
city, he wept over it" because "the days will
come upon you when your enemies will...
dash you to the ground."

26. 14) Luke 22:7-20, Jesus prepares to eat the Passover meal
Dec 1: Mt Zion, Jerusalem – The last supper room (Coenaculum),
on the 2nd storey room known as “upper room”. Also where Jesus
appeared twice to his disciples.
The dwelling place of Jesus, his
disciples and many others. The
upper room is located above
the Tomb of David.

27. 15) Matthew: 26: 26-39 Jesus prays in Gethsemane
Dec 1: Mt Olives, the Basilica of the Agony (Church of all Nations).
After the Last Supper, Jesus led his disciples to the Garden of
Gethsemane and asked them to keep watch while he prayed.
8 large olive trees >2000 yrs
old and the rock of agony.
On this rock,
Jesus spent his
last hours
praying

28. Jerusalem highlights: Western wall, Wailing wall
Dec 1: This retaining wall, is the center of Jewish worship. It is the
holiest of Jewish sites, sacred because it is the only remnant built
by Herod in 20 BC.
Known as "Wailing Wall" because for centuries
Jews have gathered here to lament the loss of
their temple. Petitions are written on a piece of
paper and placed in between cracks.

29. Jerusalem: Church of Hagia Maria Zion (The Dormition)
Dec 1: Mt Zion, this church is dedicated to the ascension of Mother
Mary, with beautiful mosiac floor (in circles) depicting the 12 apostles,
4 evangelists and zodiac signs.
Down to the basement leads to a
sculpture of sleeping Mary.

30. 16) Luke 22:54-62; Mark 14: 72 “Peter denies Jesus”
Dec 1: Mt Zion, the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. Gallicantu
means the cock’s crow, given after Peters triple denial of Christ.
The upper chapel The lower chapel
Undergound crypt where
Jesus was imprisoned

31. Matthew: 26 to 28, Via Dolorosa – 14 Station of the Cross;
Holy Sepulcher…
Dec 2: Jerusalem City - “Hail Mary” as we walked the Via Dolorosa
route (~500m) starting from Ecce Homo where Pontus Pilate
washed his hands.
Entered via Herod’s (Flower) Gate into
Muslim quarter.

32. Jerusalem city: Via Dolorosa; Flagellation Church;
Chapel of Condemnation – 2nd Station of the Cross
Dec 2: Flagellation Church, site where Jesus was scourged.
Chapel of Condemnation, where Jesus was questioned by
Pontus Pilate and given the Cross to bear.
Chapel of
Flagellation Church
Condemnation

33. Jerusalem city: Church of the Holy Sepulcher; Jesus’s Tomb
Dec 2: Walking thru’ all the 14 Stations of the cross until we reach the
Church of the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus was crucified, died and
buried. The last 5 stations are now located inside the Holy Sepulcher.
12th Station 13th Station 14th Station
The Stone of Chapel of the Angel -
Unction entrance Jesus Tomb

34. Jerusalem city: Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Dec 2: The Holy Sepulcher has several praying halls of various
denominations. People queue to enter into the cave (tomb of Jesus);
Below it is Chapel of St. Helena Chapel of the Finding Cross.
Inside the Holy Sepulcher, the main hall has a dome surrounding the
entrance to Jesus tomb.
Chapel of the
Finding Cross

35. Jerusalem city: Sua Aftimos shopping bazaar...
Dec 2: Finally some shopping for sandals, bags, etc…
Entrance of
Sua Aftimos

36. Jerusalem: Mt Olives – Chapel of the Ascension
Dec 2: Jesus ascended to heaven from here after 40 days of
resurrection and appearing 4 times to his disciples. (This place
currently belongs to the Muslims)
Footprint
of Jesus

37. Jerusalem: Israel Museum – The Shrine of the Book
Dec 2: Collection of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest biblical
manuscripts in the world. All books were discovered at Qumran.

38. Jerusalem: St Stephen’s Gate; St Anna’s Church
Dec 2: Called St Stephen’s gate cos’ he was stoned to death outside
this gate. Nearby is St Anna’s Church, birthplace of Virgin Mary.
Ruins: site where Jesus
healed a person who
can’t walk for 38 yrs
Sound is
amplified
inside the
Church.

39. The Coastal Plain
- Mt Carmel
- Haifa
- Jaffa
- Caesarea

40. The Coastal Plain highlights…
Dec 3: Joppa – Haifa – Nazareh; thru’ the plains of Sharon to
Caesarea, built by Herod the Great; Coastal highway via Jaffa
towards Tel-Aviv; Wishing Bridge; Mt Carmel; St Peter’s Church
Overlooking
Tel-Aviv and
a Wishing
Bridge…
Jaffa: Beautiful in
Hebrew, was the
ancient trade route
Haifa: Bahai Terrace Garden and connecting Egypt
the beautiful harbor city is built with Mesopotamia
around Mt Carmel; Monument of and the north.
fallen French soldiers

41. 17) King: 18: 1-45 “Mount Carmel” – Elijah’s cave
Dec 3: Haifa - Mt Carmel for mass at 3pm , Stella Maris
Monastery, a carmelite monastry; Elijah’s Cave
Mass at Mt Carmel, then
visit carmelite monastry…
Inside Stella Maris Monastery, there is
a cave below the altar which is
“Elijah’s Cave” where the prophet is
believed to have lived

42. 17) King: 18: 1-45 “Mount Carmel”- footsteps of St Peter...
Dec 3: Jaffa - St Peter’s Catholic Church; Mediterranean sea coast
St Peter’s Catholic
Church
Coast of Mediterranean
and a view of Tel-Aviv

43. 18) Acts 10: 44 St Peter “The Gentiles receive the Holy Spirit”
Dec 3: Caesarea, was the capital of Roman province of Judea and
governor’s residence including Pontus Pilate. Constructed by Herod
with moat, battlements, cisterns and dwellings
Remains of a Roman theater, Aqueduct, Palace, Amphitheater (where
St Paul made his last speech before going to Rome and was killed).

44. 19) Luke: 9: 29-28-36 “Transfiguration”
Dec 4: Mt Tabor - Basilica of the Transfiguration, site where Moses
and Elijah appeared to tell Jesus what had to take place in Jerusalem.
Mt Tabor, a short ride in a small van to the
church. Site where Jesus was transfigured.
Peter, James and John saw the two standing
with Jesus and his face did shine as the sun”,
his clothing dazzling white. Then came
these words “This is my Son, my Chosen
one, listen to him. Matthew 17:2.

45. 20) Matthew: 4: 12-17 “Jesus begins his work in Galilee”
21) Matthew: 4: 23-25 “Jesus teaches, preaches, heals…
Dec 4: Sea/Lake of Galilee – where people gathered to listen to Jesus
A boat ride on the
sea of Galilee. It’s so
calm and peaceful…

46. 22) Matthew: 14: 13-21 “Jesus Feeds Five Thousand”
(Mark: 6:30-44)
Dec 4: Tabgha – Church of Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes
St Peter’s fish Rock upon which Jesus laid the
bread and fish before he fed the
5,000

47. 23) John: 21: 15-18 “Jesus to Peter, do you love me?”
Dec 4: Tabgha, Sea of Galilee, nearby is Church of St Peter’s Primacy
Site where Jesus appeared
3rd time after resurrection; Statue of Jesus and
showed Peter and others St Peter
who had not caught any
fish. The large Rock, is
the “table” where they ate
breakfast Jesus had
prepared. He reinstated
Peter by asking him 3
times if he love him.

48. 24) Matthew: 4: 18-22 “Jesus calls four Fishermen”
Dec 4: Sea of Galilee – Capernaum, town where Jesus made his
home after Nazareth. Also site where Jesus met his first disciples –
Peter, Andrew, James, John and Matthew (who were fishermen)
Jesus preached
and performed
many miracles
here and in the
surrounding
area.
St Peter’s statue with inscriptions: Thou art Peter
and upon this rock I will build my church

49. 25) Luke: 1: 5-25 “Annunciation”
Dec 4: Nazareth – where Jesus spent his childhood and lived for 28 yrs.
The Church of Annunciation was built over the site where the
Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus.
Baptismal basin
in the crypt of St
Joseph Church
Opposite is the Church of St Joseph,
built over the cave which served as
Joseph’s carpentry workshop.

50. 26) St. John: 2:1-11 “The Wedding in Cana”
Dec 5: Cana, near Nazareth where Jesus performed his first miracle
to change water to wine

51. 27) Matthew: 5: 1-12 “Mount of Beatitudes”
Dec 5: Mt of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached Sermon on the Mount
is located between Tabgha and Capernaum
With a magnificent view of the Sea of
Galilee and the sites which were
frequented by Jesus during his Galilean
ministry.

52. 28) Matthew: 16: 13-20 “ Caesarea Philippi - Peter’s
declaration about Jesus”
Dec 5: Caesarea Philippi – one of the sources of the Jordan river
which Jesus visited shortly before crucifixion. Here Jesus asked his
disciples “And who do you say that I am”?
Simon (Peter) replied “ You are the Messiah,
the Son of the living God” and Jesus said,
“You are Peter (or Rock) and on this rock I
will build my church…”

53. Jordan
- Jordan
- Mt Moab/ Mt Nebo
- Amman
- Petra
In biblical times,
Jordan was home to the
Cannanites, Ammonites
and Edomites.

54. 29) Matthew: 3: 13-17 “The Baptism of our Lord”.
Dec 6: Jordan River – Baptism site Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan
where John the Baptist lived and Jesus was baptized.
Entrance to Jordan River, site where Jesus
was baptized
St. John the Baptist,
Church, Jordan River Israel flag across the river,
right side of the palms.

55. 30) Deuteronomy 34:1-6 “The Death of Moses”
31) Numbers 21:4-9 “The snake made of bronze”
Dec 6 : Madaba & Jordan - Mt Nebo, opposite the northern end of the
Dead Sea. Moses climbed from Moab to the top of Mt Nebo, from Jericho
Bronze snake
on a pole.
Anyone who
was bitten, look
at it and will be
healed...
Moses saw the promised land
from here before he died. Moses saw the
promised land
from here
Madaba, "City of the Mosaics". before he died.
Madaba Map, a 6th-century
mosaic map depicting Jerusalem.

56. Jordan highlight – City of Petra
Dec 8: Petra - a wonder of the world with rose colored monuments
carved out of rock. The Nabateans lived here and was taken over by
the Romans in 106 A.D.
Petra (means rock), the
Ismail tribes lived here for
a few hundred years
Ancient remains of a
natural gorge…

57. ~ End ~