Our flight to Tel-Aviv was comfortable with no hassle, but when we got to the coach to take us to Jerusalem three of our party had disappeared! Thankfully, after just(!) one hour, they were released, so we arrived at the hotel for a very late supper and the instructions for an early start the following morning.
A drive to the Mount of Olives was followed by a walk to the Dominus Flevit chapel, where Fr Brownsell celebrated mass, and we drank in the panorama of the Old City of Jerusalem, just as Our Lord did. We then made a steep descent to Gethsamene, followed by entry into the Old City itself where we had lunch. Afterwards we followed by Via Dolorosa marked by the stations which ended in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where we had the opportunity to reverence the place of Jesus’ death and explore this unique church, shared between six denominations.
Friday began with a visit to St Peter Gallicantu (where after a five-year wait I finally obtained the twenty-decade rosary!) followed by the Upper Room and the Dormintion Abbey. The coach took us to Ein Karem, the hill country where Our Lady visited her cousin Elizabeth (we can vouch for it being hilly!) where Fr Bushau celebrated mass. After a visit to the tomb of Lazarus, we visited the Jeel Al Amal Boy’s Home, a very moving experience. We rounded off our day by a visit to the Wailing Wall.
Saturday was arguably the highlight of the Pilgrimage with a visit to Bethlehem. Mass in the Shepherd’s Field was followed by a visit to the Church of the Nativity with the descent to the very cave where is marked HIC DEVIRGINE MARIA IESUS CHRISTUS NATUS EST. Here indeed the world was changed. Finally, a small amount of free time allowed me to experience the Saturday evening Armenian liturgy in the Holy Sepulchre.
On Sunday we said goodbye to Jerusalem, but not before receiving a very warm welcome from the Arabic-speaking congregation at St George’s Anglican Cathedral for their Sung Eucharist. Lunch at Jericho was followed by a paddle in the Jordan and a dip in the Dead Sea. A long coach journey to Tiberias marked the start of the quieter part of the Pilgrimage.
Monday’s visit to Mount Tabor gave us magnificent views over the plain of Armageddon (unlike my last visit which was shrouded in cloud!). In the bustling city of Nazareth, we visited the Greek Orthodox Church of Mary’s Well, the Franciscan Basilica of the Annunciation and the Greek Catholic Synagogue Church. A visit to Cana rounded off the day with an opportunity to take some wine home for friends and family.
.Tuesday was the perfect conclusion to our Pilgrimage. Mass by Lake Galilee, lunch at the Convent of the Beatitudes and the river trip straight back to the hotel over Lake Galilee. Followed by lots of time to swim in the Lake.
If Tuesday was the conclusion, Wednesday was the coda. Mass at the Carmelite Stella Maris followed by a visit to Caesarea. A sad day, but we cannot be on pilgrimage for ever.
I have so much to grateful for: the sights, sounds and experiences of Our Lord’s homeland, together with the fellowship of my fellow pilgrims. I cannot wait to go back!
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