Holy Land Tour 2000
Alma B. Apostol About 700 words 4295 Monte Vista Rd. SE Deming,
NM 88030 Telephone#: (818) 892-7995 e-mail: abapostol@msn.com
HOLY LAND TOUR 2000
By Alma B. Apostol
June 20th, 2000, marked the culmination of the long awaited
tour to the Holy Land. I joined friends and their church group
in New York. We departed for Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv via
JFK in New York. We arrived at Ben Gurion Airport and took a
tour bus to Tiberias for dinner and overnight sightseeing. The
next day, we crossed the waters of the Sea of Galilee aboard a
sailing boat. We arrived in Capermaum where Jesus choose to
center his ministry, traveled to the Mount of Beatitude where
Jesus preached to the Multitude. At Tabgha, we visited the
Church of Multiplication of the fishes and loaves and the chapel
of Saint Peter which recalls Jesus instruction to Peter. We
traveled the ancient caravan route to the well-preserved
archeological site of Tel Magiddo, a fortified urban center
where excavations have revealed remnants of 22 layers of
occupations. Mount Carmel, was the next stop and other
traditional sites where the Prophet Elijah defeated the prophet
Baal. We visited the Roman Aqueduct and Theater at Caesarea, a
center of the early christians. We renewed our baptismal vows at
the Jordan River, then traveled to Beit Shean to visit the ruins
of the ancient city which was under Egyptian rule during the
16th to 12th centuries B.C. Continuously inhabited for 5000
years, this was one of the Roman cities Jesus passed on His way
from Galilee to Jerusalem. Jesus's boyhood town of Nazareth is
revered as one of the holiest town in Christiandom. We also
visited the magnificient church of the Anunciation which
dominates the town center. The small village of Cana is a
remainder of Jesus first miracle at the wedding feast. We
traveled the Jordan desert and descended below sea level for a
visit to Masada, the spectacular mountaintop fortress built by
Herod and famous as the strong hold of the Jewish rebellion
against the Romans. We took a cable car ride to the top to
explore, and peered down upon the remains of the Roman camps and
seige-ramp below. The next stop was the shore of the Dead Sea
where some of us took a dip in the salt and mineral laden
waters. Next day was Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scroll
discovery. We proceeded to Jericho and visited the ruins of
ancient city which was conquered by Joshua. It is also the
oldest known inhabited city in the world and parts of ancient
city walls have been discovered. In Bethlehem, we explored the
caved revered to be the place where Jesus was a boy. The church
which has been constructed on the sites is the oldest
functioning church. We sang Christmas songs at the Church of the
Nativity and the Shepherds Field. In Mount Olives, we enjoyed a
remarkable view of the Golden City of Jerusalem, including the
Temple Mount and Dome of Rock. Next stop was the Garden of
Gethsemane where Jesus prayed for God's will to be done. The Old
City of Jerusalem is where everyday life and customs within
narrow crooked streets have remained much the same over the
centuries. We retraced the events in the final hour of Jesus
life as we walked Via Dolorosa, The Way of the Cross. We visited
the possible site of Jesus death and resurrection, the Church of
the Holy Sepulchre. In Mount Zion, we viewed the site of King
Davids tomb, the Upper Room revered as the site of the Last
Supper. Finally the 7 days tour was over ending the most
exciting and memorable tour of a lifetime.
END