The 3rd Heart of the Holy Land
Women’s Pilgrimage

Led by Deacon Holly Galgano, Episcopal Diocese of New York
with
Sisters Elizabeth R. Broyles and Shane Phelan, Companions of Mary the Apostle
and Ana Hernandez, Vocalist and Sacred Music Leader

February 5 – 17, 2023

Plus an Optional Extension to Jordan February 17 – 20

Heart of the Holy Land Women’s Pilgrimage

… And many women followed him.

Come for a remarkable opportunity to follow Jesus and his life through the Holy Land in the company of women. You will have the chance to visit the traditional places central to the life and ministry of Jesus AND many associated with the women who were close to Jesus. Encounter Mother Mary in Nazareth and at Golgotha. Remember the Visitation — time shared by Mary and her relative, Elizabeth at Ein Karem. Visit Magdala, the purported hometown of Mary Magdalene, beloved companion of Jesus and Apostle to the Apostles. Go to Bethany, home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, his dear friends. Sites such as these are often overlooked by Christian pilgrimages. Experience places and churches whose art reflects women as central, not peripheral to the Christian good news, where the foremothers of our faith are illuminated.

It is said that a pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine is akin to encountering the Fifth Gospel. Together women who come are transformed from traveler to pilgrim; the Gospel is no longer viewed in black-and-white, but in vivid color. The places and the presence of the saints open up new relationships with our foremothers of faith. Worship, meditation, and prayer, to be led by Sisters Elizabeth Broyles and Shane Phelan and musician Ana Hernandez, and the enjoyment of many conversations will change us in ways that we cannot anticipate … and change us they do!  Prayerfully consider joining us for an experience of a lifetime.

We are also offering an optional post-pilgrimage tour to Jordan and Petra. 

The pilgrimage is open to all who identify as women.
We welcome seekers of all denominations—and none.
(The pilgrimage is not exclusive to Episcopalians!)

Host: Deacon Holly Galgano
Holly is an ordained deacon in the Episcopal Church. She has a passion for sacred travel and for sharing her favorite discoveries with others. After going on numerous Holy Land journeys, she created a pilgrimage specifically designed around the stories of the matriarchs of our faith. This will be her third Heart of the Holy Land pilgrimage. In addition, she just returned from co-hosting a pilgrimage with author, Kathleen McGowan. Holly is also a trained women’s circle leader and certified yoga teacher. She  is extremely gratified by the transformation these pilgrimages have brought to women’s lives.

Hosts: Sisters Elizabeth R. Broyles and Shane Phelan
Sisters Elizabeth Broyles and Shane Phelan are the co-founders of the Companions of Mary the Apostle—Mary Magdalene. A monastic community, the Companions is an ecumenical religious community for people of all genders. Elizabeth and Shane delight in accompanying people in their lives of faith through spiritual direction, retreat leadership and serving as Episcopal priests. They look forward to nurturing the connections between the inner and outer journeys through pilgrimage via prayer, the Eucharist, meditations and shared conversation in the Holy places of Israel and Palestine.

Host: Ana Hernandez, Songwriter, Musician and Vocalist.
Ana is an acclaimed theomusicologist, song leader and group facilitator working to strengthen community ties across cultural differences, with a focus on contemplative singing, and racial justice as deep inner work. She has spent 40 years collecting, composing, and recording chants and short tunes, and cannot wait to pray and learn together on pilgrimage. Visit her website.

Pilgrimage Includes:

• Roundtrip air transport from JFK to Tel Aviv
• Airport transfers and entrance fees
• First Class Hotel accommodations
• Daily buffet breakfasts
• Daily lunches (except on arrival and departure days)
• Dinners every evening with a glass of wine
• Fully escorted throughout trip and led by a Christian guide
• Group transportation in the Holy Land by coach
• Sightseeing as per itinerary
  

Some Highlights Include:

• Visit to Magdala and the Magdalene Institute
• Festive dinner with a Palestinian traditional troupe of Dabka dancers in Bethlehem
• The Milk Grotto in Bethlehem
• Worship at St. George’s Cathedral in Arabic
• Sound & Light show in Jerusalem’s Old City
• Sunset meditation over the Judean desert
• Mt. of Olives and Church of the Pater Noster
• Visit to the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Mary Magdalene
• Visit to Cana’s Wedding Feast Church
• Visit St. Anne’s Church & Pool of Bethesda
• Virgin Mary’s Tomb & Church of Dominus Flevit
• Dinner atop the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center Restaurant
• Cable car ride to Mount of Temptation and Monastery
• Walk the Stations of Cross on Via Dolorosa
• Visit to Ein Karem, home of Elizabeth and Zachariah
• A Jesus boat ride on Sea of Galilee
• Visit to Bethany, home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus
• Optional Baptism in Jordan River
• Blessing at Emmaus church
• Tour of Holy Family’s purported Nazareth home
• Taste the “Living Water” at Jacob’s Well, Samaria
• An optional 3-day/2-night tour to Jordan, featuring the ancient city of Petra
• Plus protection by BMSJ’s $1,000,000 per traveler Errors & Omissions coverage

ITINERARY

Day 1- Sunday, February 5: Depart JFK
Departure this evening from New York’s JFK airport for Tel Aviv on our overnight flights.

Day 2-Monday, February 6: Arrive Tel Aviv. To Nazareth (D)
Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we will be met by our special guide and driver. We board our coach for our drive to Nazareth, the homeland of Anna, Grandmother of Jesus. Time to refresh ourselves, and get used to the time change before our welcome dinner and overnight in Nazareth.

Day 3- Tuesday, February 7 (B/L/D)
We start our touring of the Holy Land with a visit to Mary’s Well, or the Fountain of the Virgin, which is situated near the Church of the Annunciation. We will take a private tour of archeological site believed to be the home of Mary and Joseph. Then to St. Gabriel’s Church, where according to tradition, the Virgin Mary first received the news from Gabriel that she would bear the Savior while she was out fetching water. Worship at this holy place. Continue to visit the Church Synagogue of Nazareth, the Basilica of the Annunciation, Church of St. Joseph. We close our touring with a visit to the “Tomb of the Righteous” at the Convent of the Sisters of Nazareth. We will have lunch during our touring.  Dinner and overnight in Nazareth.

Day 4- Wednesday, February 8: To Cana and the Sea of Galilee (B/L/D)
We depart Nazareth for Cana. Our first stop is Mt. Precipice to view Sepphoris, home of Anna and Joachim, Mary’s parents. Josephus called Sepphoris “the ornament of all Galilee.” After lunch, we continue to the Wedding Church at Cana. We climb Mt. Arbel lookout to explore the view of the Sea of Galilee and then arrive later on in Galilee. Our last stop is Magdala, a unique site in the Holy Land where a first century synagogue and a complete first century city have been found. At the dedicated church of Duc in Altum at Magdalene Institute, we will have some personal prayer time to reflect on the power and importance of women mentioned in the Bible.  Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Day 5- Thursday, February 9: Around the Sea of Galilee (B/L/D)
We start our day with a special boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Then we visit the sites associated with Jesus’s ministry. First is a visit to Mount of Beatitudes, believed to be the setting for Jesus’ most famous discourse, the Sermon on the Mount. It is considered one of the most beautifully serene places in the Holy Land.  Onto Capernaum where Jesus made his home during the years of his ministry. Tour the hometown of Peter and archaeological remains of synagogue. Continue to Tagbha, place of multiplication of the loaves and fishes. St. Peter’s fish lunch at Pilgerhaus Taghba retreat center.  After a long day of spiritual sightseeing, we return to our hotel for dinner and our overnight.

Day 6- Friday, February 10: To Bethlehem (B/L/D)
We depart Galilee this morning and first arrive at Shepherd’s Fields, and visit an original manger-like cave. We continue to Bethlehem to tour the Church of the Nativity, the oldest church in Christendom. We will also visit the Cave of the Manger, the Church of St. Catherine and St. Jerome’s Cave. Then walk to Manger Square and the nearby Milk Grotto, with a special reserved meditation time and scripture reading. Following will be a walking tour of the Wall of Separation, and presentation highlighting the plight of the Palestinians in the West Bank. Festive dinner at The Tent with Palestinian traditional Dabka dancers. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Bethelem.

Day 7- Saturday, February 11: In Bethlehem. Touring Jericho, Dead Sea & Qumrun  (B/L/D)
After an early breakfast, we are off to Jericho, reputed to be the oldest town on earth. Both Cleopatra and Herod the Great coveted this lush oasis. We’ll visit its oldest sycamore tree, possibly the one Zacchaeus climbed to view Jesus. Then we’ll take a cable car up to The Mt. of Temptation, where for 40 days Jesus fasted and was tempted — also where Elijah was believed to have taken refuge. Scripture reading in a monastery where ancient icons cover the walls. Continue to the Dead Sea, with lunch along the way at a family-owned Palestinian outdoor restaurant, before we reach the shores that are the lowest point on the surface of the earth for a dip. Continue to the Qasr Al Yahud for an optional Baptism and Renewal of Baptismal Vows. It was here that the Baptism of Jesus of Nazareth occurred and is regarded as being his spiritual birth. Today’s touring concludes with a visit to Qumran, famous as the hiding place of the Dead Sea Scrolls, a literary treasure trove. We end our day at the Judean Desert to enjoy a sunset vista and Eucharist overlooking the “Valley of the Shadow of Death” before returning to our hotel for our dinner and overnight.

Day 8- Sunday, February 12:  To Jerusalem (B/L/D)
We depart Bethlehem for Jerusalem where we will attend worship in Arabic at St. George’s Cathedral. We will have lunch at the beautiful American Colony Hotel. Next, we will be visiting Ein Karem, home of St. Elizabeth, cousin of Mother Mary and mother of John the Baptist. Here we will chant together Mary’s famous Magnificat. We will spend time at this place known for its gardens, the Church of the Visitation and the Gornenskiy Russian Monastery. Our afternoon ends with an exploration to Bethany, home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We’ll visit the Church of Mary and Martha and Lazarus’ Tomb. Walk among ancient city ruins and meditate among the lush olive trees.

Day 9- Monday,  February 13:  In Jerusalem: Visit Samaria, Jacob’s Well –  Sebastiya (B/L/D)
Our morning begins with an exploration to Samaria. Then continue to visit the famed Road to Emmaus, place of Christ’s appearance to the two disciples. We’ll visit the Franciscan church of El-Qubeibeh and have prayers. We continue to visit Sebastiya’s Roman ruins and enjoy a special lunch on the premises before we continue to Jacob’s Well Orthodox Cathedral. Highlight includes opportunity to draw the “living water” from original source of Jacob’s Well. Time permitting, we will stop at Burqin Church, site where Jesus healed the lepers. Return to Jerusalem for dinner at our hotel followed by an evening Sound & Light Show at the Citadel Museum.

Day 10- Tuesday,  February 14: In Jerusalem –  Mount Zion – Mount of Olives (B/L/D)
We begin our day atop the Mount of Olives, claimed to be the spot from which Jesus ascended to heaven. We’ll continue to the Church of the Pater Noster Church, where Jesus taught “Our Father.” We will have a special meditation on the Lord’s Prayer, followed by a walk down the route of the Palm Sunday procession. Onto Dominus Flevit, the church where Jesus wept when he saw the future of Jerusalem. Extra time will be allotted to the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Mary Magdalene and its beautiful gardens. We continue to the Garden of Gethsemene and the Church of All Nations, where Jesus prayed on the night of His betrayal and arrest, ending at Mary’s Tomb at the bottom of the Mount of Olives, revered by the Eastern Orthodox as Mother Mary’s final resting place prior to her assumption to heaven. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 11- Wednesday, February 15:  Jerusalem: The Old City  and Emmaus (B/L/D)
We awaken early for a solemn walk on the Via Dolorosa, the “Way of the Cross” to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The Church was built over what is believed to be the place of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection. We will visit the place of Crucifixion, the Tomb and have an opportunity to light candles.  After coffee and pastry, we visit the church of St. Anne and the Pool of Bethesda for healing/anointing meditation. Join with Ana in heavenly singing at this church, famous for its acoustics. Continue to Abu Ghosh for lunch at the Sisters of St. Joseph (Ark of the Covenant) where we visit the Benedictine Crusader Church for blessings at Emmaus Church.  Return to our hotel for our dinner and overnight.

Day 12- Thursday, February 16:  Jerusalem: The Western Wall and Mt Zion (B/L/D)
In the morning you will head to the Western Wall revered by Judaism. There, after an explanation of the importance of this site and its sensitivity, you will be permitted some time to wander the premises. Onwards you will be taken on a tour in the Western Wall tunnels to examine the sensitive excavations and the findings of the Second Temple. Onwards you will commence touring ascending Mount Zion, the highest point in ancient Jerusalem, which is dominated by the Church of the Dormition. The location is identified by the Roman Catholic Church as the place where the Virgin Mary died – or “fell asleep,” as the name suggests. Then to the Church of God and the Cenacle room where two major events in the early Christian Church are commemorated: The Last Supper and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. Our final stop will be visiting the Israel Museum scale model of Jerusalem at the time of our Lord. We end our Holy Land spiritual journey with a farewell dinner at Notre Dame roof-top wine and cheese restaurant as we enjoy the incomparable views of Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 13- Friday, February 17: Departure for JFK. Or Optional tour to Jordan (B)

After breakfast, those departing for the Jordan optional extension will have an early departure.

Visas will be taken care of by Emmaus tours.

Those returning to JFK will continue to the Tel Aviv airport for our return flight, with the same day arrival at JFK afternoon local time.

Hotels (or similar)

Nazareth: (February  6-8) – Sisters of Nazareth Convent
Tiberias-Galilee: (February 8-10) – Ron Beach Hotel, Tiberias
Bethlehem: (February 10-12)  – The Sunrise Hotel
Jerusalem: (February 12-17) – The Gloria Hotel

Optional Tour to Jordan February 17 – 20

Day 14- Friday, February 17: Depart for Jordan and to Petra
Depart from Israel for an unforgettable visit to the city of Petra, one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, carved into the reddish rock of the region by the Nabateans thousands of years ago and forgotten for generations. We cross into Jordan at the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge with our first stop at Mt. Nebo. There on this mountain, with an overview of the Promised Land, it’s believed that the grand Prophet Moses is buried. Then we head to Madaba, where we will visit the city’s famous church with the oldest surviving map of the Holy Land in it. Lunch and mosaic shopping in Madaba. On our way to Petra, we’ll stop at Mukawir, or Machaerus, an ancient fortified hilltop palace, believed to be King Herod’s and location of the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist, where there is a spectacular view to enjoy. Overnight and dinner in Petra.

Day 15- Saturday February 18: In Petra (B/L/D)
In the morning we start with our tour of the former Nabatean capital city of Petra, engraved into eternity with its unique constructions and rose-colored sand structures. Our tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site will start at the gates of the Siq, the overhead winding fissure in the canyon. While walking through this winding road, we will learn of the brilliant and avant-garde innovative techniques of defense and water collection systems developed by the Nabatean Empire. Our entry into the city will be with the towering Khazhaneh, the famed treasury. Throughout the rest of the day we will be taken around the city with visits to its carved-out houses, buildings and tombs; and of course, the unique amphitheater. For those who would like to try, there is an optional hike up the steps that lead to the High Altar with views of the desert in the Holy Land. Optional light show in canyon. Evening shopping in the ancient bazaar. Overnight and dinner in Petra.

Day 16- Sunday, February 19: Morning in Petra. Evening in Tel Aviv (B/L/D)
In the morning we will head to Wadi Rum. There we will be taken on an off-road excursion to the only canyon desert laying above sea level. Part of the tour will show us their famous caves with Neolithic drawings and some fun rock formations. After lunch, we will be transferred back to Tel Aviv for our overnight.
Note: For those providing their own air, you can also return from the Queen Alia Airport in Amman.

Please read the Terms and Conditions for this program.

** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. These discounted prices are noted in red.

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PRICING

ALL INCLUSIVE PRICES FOR 14 DAY AIR & LAND PILGRIMAGE  
Per Person Double Occupancy: $2,999 by check or money order, $3,159 by credit card
Per Person Single Occupancy: $3,898 by check or money order, $4,099 by credit card

Plus below to be added
– Taxes and airline surcharges: $579 by check, $609 by credit card
– Prepaid gratuities to escort and driver: $120 by check, $125 by credit card

ALL INCLUSIVE PRICES FOR 4 Day/3 Night Jordan Optional
(based on a minimum of 10 participants)
Per Person Double Occupancy: $999 by check or money order, $1,049 by credit card
Per Person Single Occupancy: $1,179 by check or money order, $1,239 by credit card

Deposit Schedule

FIRST NON-REFUNDABLE PAYMENT
(Due as soon as possible in order to ensure a place on the tour)
Per Person: $500 by check, $525 by credit card

FINAL PAYMENT
BALANCE due on or before December 11, 2022

This tour is limited to women & feminine gender-identified participants

This tour is a guaranteed departure.

After you register online you will automatically be re-directed for payment by mail-in check
or securely online by credit or debit card.

Photo credits:
Nazareth front of grotto by Dennis Jarvis
Qumran caves by Effi Schweizer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Cana Wedding Church by FLASHPACKER TRAVELGUIDE licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Magdala Stone: Hanay, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsEn Kerem by Dan Lundberg licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
St. Mark’s Chapel by momo licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
Garden Tomb by Phillip Benshmuel licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Western wall: Golasso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Church of Mary Magdalene by Sustructu licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre:https://www.flickr.com/photos/jlascar/, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dormition Church by Yair Haklai licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
 Petra Monastery by Diego Delso, delso.photo, License CC-BY-SA
Petra camels by Maya-Anaïs Yataghène licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.