God willing, we shall meet in the Holy City on 8 September 2008 for a twelve day pilgrimage led by Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia concluding on Sunday 20 September (which is the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady Theotokos on the Old Calendar).

Then all... gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month...

Ezra 10 v 9

 

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

Saint Luke 13 v 34

Our base shall be at St George's College, in East Jerusalem who have helped us draw up a special programme for our Orthodox pilgrimage.  The compound in which the college is centred is also the location of St George's Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and Guesthouse.  It is a continuing education centre in East Jerusalem.

St George's Cathedral and Guesthouse

And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem

Acts of the Apostles 21 v 15

The fees for the pilgrimage will total $1,650 (the college's working currency is the US dollar) that is around £825.  This covers all meals, accommodation and transport (but not the cost of pilgrims' individual travel to and from home to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport and the transfers between the airport and St George's in Jerusalem). 

Further details are posted below and the programme will be updated here in the coming months so do come back and visit.  

To express an interest at this stage to ensure priority bookings after 9 September 2007 please e-mail: jerusalem2008 @sky.com.

General Bookings open 1 October 2007

 

And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there...

Acts of the Apostles 20 v 22

ORTHODOX PILGRIMAGE TO JERUSALEM SEPTEMBER 2008 DRAFT PROGRAMME (JULY 2007)

 

THROUGHOUT THE PILGRIMAGE THERE WILL BE TIME FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTIONS LED BY METROPOLITAN KALLISTOS OF DIOKLEIA

 

Monday  8 September:   Afternoon arrival in Jerusalem via Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)

 

The Damascus Gate into the Old City

 

Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

Psalm 122 v 2

 

Tuesday 9 September:  Walking tour of neighbourhood and audience with His Beatitude Theophilos III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem to receive his patriarchal blessing for the pilgrimage

 

                                                 

                                      His Beatitude Theophilos III                                               Priest at Footwashing ceremony                                            l                                     The Patriarch of Jerusalem                                                           Holy Week 2006                                 

 

And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church...

Acts of the Apostles 15 v 4.

Wednesday 10 September:  Visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and Vespers at Ein Karem Patriarchal convent (site of the home of St John the Forerunner)

 

Church of the Nativity, Bethelhem

 

Has not the scripture said, That Christ comes of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

Saint John 7 v 42

 

Thursday 11 September:  A day in the Judean wilderness and a visit to Jericho and the Mar Saba Monastery for the men and one of the Jerusalem Convents for the women

           photo of Mar Saba Monastery courtesy of www.bibleplaces.com

But as for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness...

Deuteronomy 1 v 40

Friday 12 September:  Free Day to explore Jerusalem with some optional excursions

The Church of the Ascension of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ

And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east...

Zechariah 14 v 4

Saturday 13 September:  Travel to Galilee, Vespers at St Gabriel's in Nazareth.  Overnight in St Margaret's Guest House

 

photo of St Gabriel's Church Nazareth courtesy of www.BibleWalks.com

 

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth...

St Luke 1 v 26

 

                

Sunday 14 September:  Divine Liturgy at St Gabriel's in Nazareth.  Boat trip on the sea of Galilee, visit to the Jordan River, and the Mount of the Beatitudes

 

photo of St Gabriel's Church Nazareth courtesy of www.BibleWalks.com

 

 

 

Monday 15 September: Divine Liturgy at St Elias, Mount Tabor (site of the Lord's Transfiguration)  return to Jerusalem

photo of Mount Tabor courtesy of www.BibleWalks.com

Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name

Psalm 89 v 12

Tuesday 16 September: Free morning in Jerusalem, visit to "the Upper Room" at the Cenacle (part of the ancient Byzantine church Hagia Sion), "the tomb of David" and "the Pentecost rooftop"

 

 

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James

Acts of the Apostles 1 v1 13

 

 

Wednesday 17 September:  Early morning visit to the Kotel (the Wailing Wall), the Temple Mount (Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa) the Golden Gate (where the Lord entered into Jerusalem) and the birthplace of the Theotokos and the pools of Bethesda

 

 

 Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives

...put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city...

Isaiah 52 v1

Thursday 18 September:  Bethany and Bethpage and the tomb of Lazarus, the mount of Olives, The Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit churches, the Garden of Gethsemane and the tomb of the Theotokos in Gethsemane, the ancient steps walked by the Lord to the house of Caiaphas and St Peter Galicantu Church

 

Ancient Olives in the Garden of Gethsemane

 

And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.

Saint Mark 14 v 32

 

 

The Lord's Prayer in Cornish in the Pater Noster Church where the Lord's Prayer is translated into hundreds of languages

 

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

St Luke 11 v 12

 

 

Friday 19 September: Morning in the Church of the Resurrection (the Holy Sepulchre) free afternoon.   Farewell dinner

 

  

photo of the Church of the Resurrection courtesy of www.bibleplaces.com

...He is risen, He is not here.. 

St Matthew 16 v 6

 

 

 

The Stone of Unction - Church of the Resurrection

 

 

Saturday 20 September:   Departures - or move to the College Guest House for those wishing to stay for the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos on Sunday (Old Calendar)

 

 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem...

     St Matthew 20 v 18

 

 

PHOTOS OF JERUSALEM TAKEN DURING GREAT AND HOLY WEEK 2006

Church of all Nations built over part of the Garden of Gethsemane - where the disciples fell asleep

 

"I will comfort you, and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem and ye shall see..."

Isaiah 56 v13

 

The view across the Kidron valley beneath the Eastern Wall over the Jewish burial ground

 

And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

Jeremiah 31 v 40

 

                                             The 'Angel' of Pater Noster                                British Mandate post box still in use

For they call themselves of the Holy City and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The Lord of HOSTS is His Name

Isaiah 48 v 2

Jerusalem Cross

4

St Mary Magdalene Russian Orthodox Church and Dominus Flevit Roman Catholic Church

Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem...

Jeremiah 5 v1

The Edicule built over the place where the Saviour was buried and rose again on the third day

...and came out of the graves after His Resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

St Matthew 25 v 53.