1123 Assumption, St Andrew & St George Orthodox Pilgrimage

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Join Very Rev. Archimandrite Christodoulos Margellos - Assumption Orthodox & Fr Dimitri Tobias - St Andrew on a memorable and unforgettable journey to Israel, the Holy Land and to Constantinople. TRAVEL SCHEDULE ON TURKISH AIRLINES (TK): Nov 08: Depart ORD at 10:40pm. Arrival to TLV next day at 7:25pm. Nov. 16: Depart TLV at 12:20pm. Arrival to IST same day at 3:45pm Nov 19: Depart IST at 3:20pm. Arrival same day at 6:15pm The package price per person in a shared room occupancy: $3,795 * Single room supplement; add $897 Deposit due at registration: $450. Balance due in full by August 14, 2023 Plus all elements per “price does not include” paragraph. Final payment due date: August 8, 2023 PRICE INCLUDES: • Airfare ORD/TLV, TLV/IST & IST/ORD * • All transfers in Israel and Turkey • Hotel accommodation in Israel in Istanbul • Luggage handling at hotels in Israel & Istanbul • Hotels taxes and service charges • Breakfast and dinner daily • Complimentary St. Peter’s fish lunch on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Private Bosphorus boat tour • Sightseeing in a private modern coach • Private licensed professional tour guide accompanied by local clergies from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem • Personal wireless earphone for usage during touring days • Entrance fees to sites per itinerary, including boat ride on the Sea of Galilee & private Bosphorus boat tour PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: • * Airlines departure taxes (as of January 2023: $568 per person). Final amount to be determined at time of ticketing • Entry visa to Turkey (to be paid online before arrival www.evisa.gov.tr ) • Gratuities to guides, drivers, and hotel staff (suggested $175 per participant) • Travel/Medical Insurance (check out this link: https://partner.roamright.com/?agencycode=amitravel&agentid=LChung )

  • Day 1 November 08, Wednesday

    Depart on our way to Tel Aviv, Israel

  • Day 2 November 09, Thursday

    Welcome Home! Arrive at Tel Aviv’s airport where our representative greets us and gives us an introduction to the forthcoming program. Proceed to our hotel along the shore of the Mediterranean, for the overnight stay.

  • Day 3 November 10, Friday

    Drive along the Coast to visit Caesarea where St. Paul was imprisoned and Cornelius baptized - see the Roman - Byzantine theater and other remains: the aqueduct and the Crusader ruins. Continue to Mt. Carmel where Elijah confronted the Pagan Gods of Baal ( 1st Kings 18). On to to Mt. Tabor – site of Transfiguration. Continue to Cana of Galilee – site of first miracle. End the day in Nazareth- visit the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, where Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and view the house of the Virgin. Back to our hotel in Galilee for dinner and overnight stay.

  • Day 4 November 11, Saturday

    Today we tour the Sea of Galilee. Visit Capernaum and Simon Peter's House, the Mount of the Beatitudes and Tabgha-the site of the feeding of the multitudes. We then take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee and enjoy a St. Peter's fish lunch in Tiberias. Visit the Monastery of St Peter Tiberias and the recently discovered Magdala. Back to our hotel in Galilee for dinner and overnight stay.

  • Day 5 November 12, Sunday

    Depart the Galilee en route to Jerusalem. Drive south to the Judean Desert to the Jordan River site of the Baptism in the Wilderness; to St Gerassimo - site of the Holy family’s visit on the way to Egypt. Visit Jericho, Zacheus's Tree, and Elisha’s spring visit to the Monastery on top of The Mount of Temptation. View St. George of Choziba Monastery. Ascend to the Holy City for dinner and overnight stay.

  • Day 6 November 13, Monday

    Visit Bethlehem to worship at the ancient Greek Orthodox Church of the Nativity, Manger Square, and view the beautiful Shepherds' Fields. Continue our pilgrimage to the Mount of Olives: Ascension, the Garden of Gethsemane and Tomb of Mary and Church of St Steven. Dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem.

  • Day 7 November 14, Tuesday

    Walk into the Old City of Jerusalem. Experience the various quarters and the underground excavations. Walk to the sacred Church of The Anastasis (The Holy Sepulcher), visit the Greek Orthodox Monasteries of St Nicholas and the Prison of Christ. Later visit the Church of St. Anne and the Pool of Bethesda. Afternoon visit Mt Zion: the Room of the Last Supper and the Tomb of David. Overnight stay in Jerusalem..

  • Day 8 November 15, Wednesday

    Morning audience with His Beatitude Patriarch of Jerusalem. visit Jacob's Well, Samaria. Return to Jerusalem to visit the Monastery of the Cross and Ein Karem- the traditional birthplace of St. John the Baptist and the site of the Visitation.  Enjoy walking in this picturesque village. Before dinner free time in Jerusalem to explore on your own. Overnight in Jerusalem.

  • Day 9 November 16, Thursday

    Morning visit to the Holy Monastery of St George in Lyda. Depart to Istanbul via teh Tel Aviv airport. Arrive at Istanbul - free afternoon. Dinner and overnight Istanbul.

  • Day 10 November 17, Friday

    Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Underground Cistern, Archaeology Museum, Hagia Irene, Grand Bazaar. Dinner and Overnight Istanbul.

  • Day 11 November 18, Saturday

    Orthodox Patriarchate, Chora Church, Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Boat Tour. Dinner and overnight Istanbul.

  • Day 12 November 19, Sunday

    Morning transfer to Istanbul airport for your fight back home. * Itinerary subject to change