John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (NIV)

Christian Pilgrimages and Tours of Israel, the Holy Land.

The Pilgrimage Experience “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” (Jn. 1:14)* Pilgrims frequently describe their pilgrimage to the Holy Land as a life-changing experience. They find it difficult to express the absolute bliss they feel during this unique spiritual adventure.

As they literally follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ, some find the journey a way to get closer to Jesus or to discover the roots of their Christian faith. Others recount passionate feelings of being human bridges for peace and reconciliation or of feeling part of the rich tapestry of religious history that inspires every corner of this Holy Land. Despite the deeply personal nature of the Holy Land experience, the pilgrimage itself unites all believers as one. It unites them in Christ, in Faith and in their contribution to preserve the precious Christian heritage in this magnificent land. “And he said to them, "Follow me…” (Matt. 4:19)*

There are many sites for a Christian Pilgrim to visit.

1. Sites in Jerusalem.
2. Sites in Northern Israel.
3. Sites in Central and Southern Israel.
4. Sites under Palestinian Authority Jurisdiction.

3. Sites in Central and Southern Israel Emmaus, located between Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, is marked by the ruins of a 12th-Century church. After his resurrection, Jesus joined two of his disciples on the road to Emmaus: “That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them” (Lk. 24:13-15). The Inn of the Good Samaritan commemorates the setting – "from Jerusalem to Jericho" –that Jesus described in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk. 10). Qasr el Yahud is where St. John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River:

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him” (Matt. 3:13). Qumran is one of the most striking archeological sites in the world and home to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Massada is unique for its striking beauty and eventful history.

Herod’s magnificent mountaintop palace and fortress was the site of the last Jewish stand against the Romans in 73 AD and subsequently where 960 defenders committed mass suicide rather than be killed at the hands of their enemies. The Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth and mentioned several times in the Old Testament, is not only a must to visit for its Biblical connections, but also for the unusual landscape of salt crystals spread along its shores. Sodom and Gomorrah are believed to have been situated nearby.

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