MARCH 2025 tour To Israel & JORDAN

Start your journey at Mukawir (Machaerus), located roughly 45 minutes southwest of Madaba. This fortress, perched on a dramatic hilltop, is believed to be where John the Baptist was imprisoned and executed. After Mukawir, head north for about an hour to Mount Nebo, one of the most significant Biblical landmarks in Jordan. According to tradition, this is where Moses glimpsed the Promised Land before his passing. At the summit, explore the modern-day memorial and the restored Byzantine church with its stunning mosaics.

● After landing in Queen Alia International airport in Amman, we will meet our tour guide, and then we will head to our hotel to check in.
● Mount Nebo is one of the most revered Christian pilgrimage sites in Jordan. According to the Bible, it is where Moses stood to glimpse the Promised Land before his death.
Biblical reference – Deuteronomy 34:1-4
● Mukawir, known as Machaerus in ancient times, is a hilltop fortress steeped in Biblical history. It is believed to be the site where John the Baptist was imprisoned and executed, as described in the Gospels.
Bible reference – Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:17-29.

● Umm Qais, ancient Gadara, is a significant site for Christians due to its mention in the Bible as the region where Jesus performed the miracle of casting demons into a herd of swine. This Decapolis city boasts well-preserved Roman ruins, including an amphitheater, colonnaded streets, and ancient churches.
Bible reference – Mark 5:1-20
● Mar Elias, located near Ajloun. This site is traditionally believed to be the birthplace of the
prophet Elijah. The serene hilltop location features the ruins of a Byzantine church and offers a peaceful atmosphere for reflection.

● Meet and assist at Sheikh Hussein Border
● Western Wall – Wailing Wall. Small piece of a sustaining wall of the Temple platform – what is left from the Temple of God that Jesus and His disciples visited which was completely destroyed by Romans in 70 AD. Today the Western Wall is the most sacred place for all the Jews in the world. It is also a place much visited by the Christians.
● Lunch break.
● Mount Zion. In the biblical times this hill was called the Western Hill, where mostly Sadducees lived. This pretty big area has several important biblical places where the Lord Almighty performed great signs and miracles. The upper room – where Jesus and His disciples had the Passover dinner is there. The Holy Spirit which descended down on the Apostles as flames of fire on the Pentecost was poured down there. The synagogue “King David’s Tomb” is there too. Not far from there, there is the Church of Ingalicante where Peter rejected Jesus three times. The “falling asleep” of the Virgin Mary, believed to have occurred at the site of the Church of the Dormition.
Bible reference – John 13
● Ingalicante – Church of Rejection. The church stands on the property of Ana – father-in-law of the high priest Caiaphas, where Jesus Christ was interrogated. It is here, Apostle Peter being scared, rejected Christ three times, exactly as He prophesied. Underground dungeon of the prison that used to be here in those times.
Bible reference – Mark 14:66-72
Overnight: Ramada Jerusalem Hotel

● Garden Tomb. Most believers from all around the world come to see where The Messiah was
crucified and buried, and to see the empty tomb for He is risen. The best place to sit quietly
reading the Scripture, or to worship the Lord and have Communion remembering what He has
done for us and what price was paid.
Bible reference – Matthew 28
● Mount of Olives. “As mountains surround Jerusalem…” Mount of Olives is one of those
mountains that surround the city from the eastern side. Jusus, while staying in Bethany, made His
way to Jerusalem and the Temple walking back and forth on the mountain slopes. From there He
ascended to heaven, prophet Zachariah wrote that the Messiah would come and put His foot on
the Mount of Olives. Here, on the mountain, King David wept for his son Absalom. We would
study the key places in the city that Christ visited on that Passover festival 2000 years ago.
Bible reference – 2 Samuel 15:30; Zechariah 14:4; Matthew 21:1
● Chapel of Ascension – stands on the ruins of ancient Byzantian church built on the spot where
Jesus ascended up to the heaven in front of people who followed Him.
Bible reference – Mark 16: 9-20; Luke 24: 50-53
● Pater Noster – is the place where Jesus Christ left us the commandment of The Lord’s prayer.
Bible reference – Matthew 6:9-13
● Dominus Flevit – The Lord wept. This is the place mentioned in the Gospels where Christ wept
over Jerusalem.
Bible reference – Luke 19:41-44; Mark 13:2-4
● Gethsemane – in Hebrew means “olive press” is situated at the bottom of the western slope of
the Mount of Olives. After the Passover meal, Jesus went there with His disciples, where He got
arrested and taken to interrogation in the household of Ana – father-in-law of the acting high priest
Caiaphas. Beautiful Church of Agony, or the Church of all the Nations dominates the area there
and commemorates fervent prayer of Christ, asking His heavenly Father to take aside this bitter
cup of sufferings, and His arrest.
Bible reference – Luke 22:39; John 17; Mark 14: 32-42
● Via Delarosa – or the Way of the Cross. The way that Jesus made from the Praetorium where
Pilates finally condemned Him to death to the Golgotha where He was crucified. There are 14
Stations of the Cross that commemorate different events which took place while Jesus was
carrying His cross on Golgotha. It weaves its way through the Old City of Jerusalem from the
Church of Condemnation to the Holy Sepulcher, the church built in 12 AD by Crusaders, and
today is divided between 6 congregations. The place where the Cross stood and the empty tomb
where Christ’s body was put in are in the Church of Holy Sepulcher.
Bible reference – Matthew 27:31; Mark 15:16-25
● Church of the Holy Sepulcher stands on the grounds which once had two hills. One of the hills
was called Golgotha, or Calvary for its resemblance to a skull, that is the place where the
Crucifixion took place. Another hill was nearby, there was a new burial cave in which the Body of
Christ was buried, and from where He was risen. Today the church is divided between Catholics,
Orthodox, Armenians, Syrians, Copts and Ethiopians. This is the most Holy place for the
Christians all around the world.
Bible reference – Luke 23:26-55
● Sababa Restaurant. Typical Middle Eastern restaurant that provides all sorts of cousin. Nice
place for a group to have delicious lunch.
● Shepherds’ Field. The Second Chapter of the Gospel of Luke tells us a story about shepherds
who kept their watch over the flocks at night. Suddenly they saw the Angel of God and the glory of
the Lord, and the Angel said to them that now there is born to you in the city of David which is
Bethlehem a Savior, Who is the Christ the Lord. The shepherds followed the star over Bethlehem
and found new born Jesus in the manger.
Bible reference – Luke 2:8-17
● Church of Nativity. Bethlehem is the territory of the tribe of Judah. Both Mary and Joseph
belonged to that tribe and when there was an order to come to native city in order to get
registered, they came to Bethlehem while Mary was pregnant. There was no place in local hotels
so they settled themselves in a stable when time for Marry to give birth came. Jesus Christ, Lord
of the Lords and King of the King, the Savior of the world was born in manger in a stable in
Bethlehem. Since 6 AD there is the Church of Nativity that stands on the spot where once that
stable stood. The building of the church is the oldest Christian construction in the world. This is
the second holiest place in Christendom.
Bible reference – Luke 2:1-21
Overnight: Ramada Jerusalem Hotel

● Qasr Al Yahud
● Qumran – congregation of hermits in the Judean Desert in the North-West corner of the Dead Sea. It was founded around 150 years before Jesus was born and was active during the Savior’s life-time. Qumran Congregation (or “Sons of Light”) ceased to exist some 140 years after Jesus’ death on the Cross. In 1947 the Dead Sea Scrolls were found at the site; the collection of the scrolls includes copies of the Holy Scriptures and administrative correspondence. John the Baptist might become a member of the Congregation.
● Restaurant in Qumran is a nice place to have a lunch next to the Dead Sea and the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.
● Jericho. Right after the baptism, Jesus was led by Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Two thousand years long tradition claims it happened on the hills to the West from Jericho. Jesus was tempted there for 40 days and nights but overcame it victoriously. Today there is Orthodox monastery at the top of the Mount of Temptation over the city of Jericho. After the conquest of Jericho, Joshua cursed the city and in the Old Testament in original language (Hebrew) it is called “city of dates”. Indeed, Jericho has one of the best dates in the world and a beautiful marketplace for that which is known around the world.
Bible reference – Luke 4:1-13; Joshua 5:13-15
Overnight: Ramada Jerusalem Hotel

● Church of the visitation in Ein Karem. birthplace of John the Baptist. We will visit the church that stands on the ground of the household of Zachariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist’s parents. Mary, mother of Jesus Christ went to see her relative, Elizabeth, while both were pregnant.

Bible reference – Luke 1

● Mount Carmel. The place where prophet Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal. We are going to study this portion of the Book of Kings concerning Elijah, King Ahab and others paying special attention to geography, to the place we are in. We will see how the terrain perfectly fits the biblical narrative and serves as a vivid picture to that story. We overlook the valley of Yizre’el, the natural border between Samaria in the South and Galilee in the North.
Bible reference – 1 Kings 18:16-46
● TABAR RESTAURANT
● Basilica of Annunciation – The Basilica stands on the territory of ancient Nazareth, upon the household of Mary’s family. It commemorates one of the most important moments in the human history. The importance of this place is expressed in the writing on the façade of the church – The Word became Flesh, and Lived Among Us! Here Angel Gabriel came down to Mary with the Good News that she would conceive and give birth to a Child who will save His people from theirs transgressions, and He will be named Jesus.

Bible reference – Luke 1:26-38

● St. Joseph’s Church in Nazareth is a significant Christian religious site located in the city where, according to tradition, the Holy Family lived. The church is dedicated to Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. It is a beautiful and historic place of worship and pilgrimage, characterized by its stunning architecture and peaceful ambiance. St. Joseph’s Church stands as a symbol of devotion to Saint Joseph and is an integral part of Nazareth’s religious and cultural heritage.

Overnight: Golden Crown Hotel, Nazareth

● Mt Tavor. Besides the traditional place of the transfiguration of Christ and meeting Moses and Elijah on the mount, Tavor was mentioned several times in the Old Testament as a spot where great things took place. We would study the place of the Tavor Mountain in the biblical narrative with the accent on the transfiguration of Jesus. Also, we would visit the beautiful Church of Transfiguration built by Italian architect Antonio Berlucci.
Bible reference – Matthew 17:1-13
● Mount of Beatitudes is one of the key places on the path of Jesus in the Galilee. Up top this
mountain, Jesus Christ spoke the words of the Sermon on a Mount, some scholars call it “The Constitution of the Kingdom”. If you read only this sermon you would understand the whole teaching of the Messiah, the immense greatness of His love and grace.

Bible reference – Matthew 5-7

● Tabgha – the place where Christ performed a miracle of multiplication of bread and fish. Also, the parable of a sower was told in these grounds. There is a beautiful Church of Multiplication.
Bible reference – Matthew 13:1; Mark 4:1; Luke 9:13
● Capernaum. The Bible calls this place “town of Jesus”, for Christ Himself chose Capernaum as kind of a base of His ministry around the Sea of Galilee. Many miracles and wonders were performed in Capernaum but not one local guy ever repented. That’s why Jesus, in fact, cursed the whole area around Capernaum: Chorazin, Bet Zaidah… We will read some portions from the Gospels to have wide insight into what happened in Capernaum during the lifetime of the Messiah.

Bible reference – Mark 1:21-28; Mark 2:1-7

● Boat ride with Jordan Francis Holy Water Ltd on the Sea of Galilee.
● Cana of Galilee is a small village on the way from Nazareth down to the regions of Tiberias
where the Savior performed His first miracle, turning water into wine at a wedding ceremony. We would talk about weddings in Israel in Biblical times and learn why it is so important in order to get a deeper understanding of some words of Christ.
Bible reference – John 2:1-12
Overnight: Golden Crown

● Meet and assist at Sheikh Hussein Border
● Overnight in Jordan

● After breakfast, check out from the hotel and transfer to Queen Alia International Airport for