704-864-7201

ALL SAINT’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, GASTONIA,NC ~ presents ~

A Journey to the Holy Land Under the Direction of The Rev. Dr. Gary W. Butterworth Local Guide Canon Iyad Qumri

13-Days: June 12-24, 2017 Updated on September 1, 2015 June 13-19 Saint George’s Guest House June 19-21 Sisters of Nazareth June 21-24 Saint George’s Guest House MONDAY, JUNE 12, DAY 1: DEPART U.S.A TUESDAY, JUNE 13, DAY 2: ARRIVE BEN GURION AIRPORT / TRANSFER TO JERUSALEM Arrival to Tel Aviv you will be met by your guide, transfer to our accommodation in Jerusalem Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, DAY 3: WESTERN WALL / DOME OF THE ROCK / HERODIUM We depart for the Western Wall near Elharam Esh Sharif (The Dome of The Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque), St. Anne’s Church and the pools of Bethesda, Depart Jerusalem for Herodium some 12 km. south of Jerusalem, on a hill shaped like a truncated cone that rises 758 m. above sea level, stood Herodium, the palace-fortress built by King Herod. It had a breathtaking view, overlooking the Judean Desert and the mountains of Moab to the east, and the Judean Hills to the west Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House Guest Speaker: Lecture on Islam THURSDAY, JUNE 15, DAY 4: HORIZONS OF JERUSALEM / HOLY SEPULCHER Introductions, walk down to Damascus Gate to get the feel for the distance and our surrounding, afternoon Mt. Scopus, view the Judean desert, Mt. of Olives, City of David, Lunch, Walk the Cardo to the Constantinian Entrance to the Church of the Resurrection to the Holy Sepulcher, Armenian quarter where we will be able to observe the Armenian Vespers Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House Guest Speaker: Contemporary Issues – A Palestinian Perspective FRIDAY, JUNE 16, DAY 5: SHEPHERD’S FIELD / BETHLEHEM We depart Jerusalem for Bethlehem and the Shepherds’ Field, visit a 1st century cave dwelling, Lunch is in Beit Sahour (Shepherds’ Field), ‘ And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night’ , Church of the

Nativity located in Manger Square. It is the Oldest Church in Christendom, constructed by Constantine in AD 326 and the traditional site of the Nativity, visit SUNBULA: Founded in 1996. Its mission is to support Palestinian women’s cooperatives and disabled people’s self help groups by providing marketing and sales opportunities for their products Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House SATURDAY, JUNE 17, DAY 6: HERODIUM / ARMENIAN QUARTER Depart Jerusalem for Herodium some 12 km. south of Jerusalem, on a hill shaped like a truncated cone that rises 758 m. above sea level, stood Herodium, the palace-fortress built by King Herod. It had a breathtaking view, overlooking the Judean Desert and the mountains of Moab to the east, and the Judean Hills to the west, enter through Jaffa Gate and walk to the Armenian quarter where we will be able to observe the Armenian Vespers. Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House SUNDAY, JUNE 18, DAY 7: WORSHIP AT ST. GEORGE’S CATHEDRAL / ISRAEL MUSEUM This morning we will celebrate Eucharist (Arabic) at St. George’s Cathedral ), Lunch, Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. We will also visit a scale model of the Old City of Jerusalem, describing the city as it would have been during Jesus’ time. Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House Guest Speaker: Contemporary Issues- An Israeli Perspective MONDAY, JUNE 19, DAY 8: JERICHO / NAZARETH Wadi Qelt early morning to watch the sunrise also get the feel for the desert, depart for Jericho to hike up Mt. of Temptation and view Tell Jericho, Lunch, in Jericho before we begin our trip up the Rift Valley to Nazareth. In Nazareth we will visit Mary’s Well, the site of the only spring-fed fountain in the city, and most likely the place where Mary would have gone to draw water. We then visit the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation where we will have an opportunity to have an introduction to the Icon, we then follow on foot the path to the Latin Church of the Annunciation, the traditional site of the Angel Gabriel’s appearance to Mary, telling her she would conceive Jesus, the Emmanuel Dinner and Overnight at the Sisters of Nazareth Tel: 972-4-6554304 Fax: 972-4-6460741 TUESDAY, JUNE 20, DAY 9: SEA OF GALILEE / JORDAN RIVER / CAPERNAUM & BEATITUDES Today we depart for the Sea of Galilee-Lake Kinnereth. Stop at the Jordan River from the Northern side for the renewal of Baptismal vows. We then visit Capernaum where we see the Ancient Synagogue and St. Peter’s House. We continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, Lunch is by the Sea of Galilee, followed by a visit to Tabgha (Heptapegon), The Loaves and Fishes Church and the Chapel of St. Peter’s Primacy

Dinner and overnight at Sisters of Nazareth A treat you will not want to miss!!!! WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, DAY 10: BURQIN / NABLUS / TAYBEH Depart for Burqin. Jesus had passed through Burqin on his way to Jerusalem from Nazareth, and as he was passing by the village he heard cries for help from ten lepers who were isolated in quarantine in a cave, Nablus to visit (St. Photini the Greek Orthodox Monastery), St. Photini lived in first century Palestine, she was the Samaritan woman who Christ visited at the well asking her for water, the church built over Jacob’s well where will tour the church and drink from the Well, Lunch in Taybeh, visit Taybeh, the only 100% Christian town in the Palestinian Authority, in the fourth century the Emperor Constantine and his mother St. Helen built the church of St. George in the village, the ruins of the Church are still found on a hill in the town. Taybeh is also the home of the only Palestinian brewery in the Middle East. Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House THURSDAY, JUNE 22, DAY 11: PRINCESS BASMA CENTER / DEAD SEA Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children on the Mount of Olives, the Center is home to the victims of many paralyses, strokes, debilitating injuries and other physical and emotional needs, currently numbering 450 students., Dead Sea, where you will have the option to swim – or really, float (Rocky Beach) Dinner and overnight at Saint George’s Guest House FRIDAY, JUNE 23, DAY 12: BETH-PHAGE / DOMINUS FLEVIT / GETHSEMANE Depart for Beth-phage and Mt. of Olives walk down the Palm Sunday Road ending at the Garden of Gethsemane. Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, this church was built over the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Peter denied Jesus three times, Lunch, Church Dinner in Jericho at the Qumris Overnight at Saint George’s Guest House SATURDAY, JUNE 24, DAY 13: WAY OF THE CROSS / EMMAUS Early this morning we walk and pray the Way of the Cross. depart for Emmaus Nicopolis. We celebrate the Eucharist at the ruins of the Byzantine Transfer to the Tel Aviv airport for our return flight to the USA

Re: Holy Land Pilgrimage Thank you for your interest in scheduling your pilgrimage with me, Iyad Qumri Pilgrimages. I am looking forward to traveling in the Holy Land with you and your group from June 12-24, 2017. The first draft of your itinerary is also attached to this email.

Arrival and Departure Dates: You will need to leave the United States on Monday, June 12th thus arriving at Ben Gurion in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, June 13th.Your departure flight from Ben Gurion will need to be scheduled Saturday, June 24th.

Extremely Important: Your Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date. If it is not, you will not be allowed into Israel. This is true for a number of countries, in addition to Israel.

Land Trip Cost: I have the best price for the land trip (airfare is not included). It is $2100+150 in Tips, based on double occupancy. There are a limited number of single rooms and there is a $560 supplement charged for these rooms. There is one complimentary spot on the pilgrimage for a clergy person. The land cost price includes the following:

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Group Size:

Accommodation on F/B basis (includes Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) Transportation in comfortable deluxe bus Guiding Fee All entrance fees on your itinerary Israeli and Palestinian Speakers Portage at all hotels Tips for restaurant and hotel staff Bus Driver Tips Farewell Dinner at my home Personal expenses such as phone calls, alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, laundry, and medical insurance are not covered.

I have found that the ideal number for travel is 35 with a minimum of 20 people. Personally, I am not comfortable with more than 45 in one group. Please note it is imperative that we receive your group's complete rooming list with names no later than 90 days before the beginning of your pilgrimage. Our hosts at the guest houses understandably demand this in order to secure the proper number of rooms for your group and to be able to release additional rooms for other groups who are waiting. Thank you for your understanding and prompt attention to this.

Final Trip Cost: Many pilgrimage leaders choose to add an extra amount to my charges, perhaps $100.00 or $200.00 to have in reserve. Even when adding this amount, the trip is well priced. This money can be used at your discretion. Some leaders have provided a scholarship for an individual while other groups have made a contribution to a school, or project in the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. It also can be used for any printed materials not paid for by the church or diocese.

Group Deposit and Cancellations: Since I now have groups booked 18 months or more in advance, to be fair to everyone involved, I am asking for a group deposit of $1500 in addition to the regular pilgrim deposit. This $1500.00 deposit is nonrefundable if the group cancels within 5 months of the departure date, however it can be applied toward the pilgrimage costs when there is no group cancellation. When a group cancels it not only affects the hotel, food, transportation and tour plans but it also affects those groups who are waiting a year or more to go on their pilgrimage. They would all like to schedule earlier dates, but once individual pilgrims have begun committing to specific dates, usually based on their family or work schedules, they can rarely change their plans on shorter notice. A group cancellation becomes a loss to everyone.

Payment Schedule:   

A group deposit of $1500.00 is due to hold dates for the pilgrimage A deposit of $ 300.00 per person is due on March 12, 2017 A final payment of $1950 for double occupancy and an additional $560 for single occupancy will be due by May 12, 2017

Individual cancellations: There is a $300 non-refundable deposit paid by each pilgrim. After full payment the cancellation policy is:     

120 days before departure: full refund (minus deposit) 90 days before departure: half refund (minus deposit) 60 days before departure: one/quarter refund (minus deposit) There will be no refunds within 60 days of departure. If I cancel the trip due to safety concerns, there is a full refund.

Wiring Money or Depositing a Check: There is an attachment to this email “Deposit Wire Form” which outlines the best ways to send your money for group deposits, pilgrim deposits and final payments.

Refund Schedule: The $300.00 per person deposit is nonrefundable. • 120 days before departure, a full refund minus the deposit. • 90 days before departure, a half refund minus the deposit. • 60 days before departure is a quarter refund minus the deposit. • If I cancel the trip due to safety concerns, there is a full refund.

Travel and Medical Insurance: Pilgrims must have international medical insurance. Also pilgrims are expected to have travel insurance to cover the cost of flight cancellations and trip cancellations for personal reasons. If I cancel the trip for any reason then all money is reimbursed except for the non-refundable $300.00 deposit.

Accommodations: The price quoted above is based on the following: Saint George’s Guest House Nablus Road 20 P.O.Box 19018 Jerusalem 91190 Email: [email protected] ++972 2-6282627 ++972 2-6283302 ++972 2-6282253 (fax)

Jun 13-19 (6 nights) Jun 21-24 (3 nights)

Sisters of Nazareth Casa Nova Street P.O. Box 50274 Nazareth Tel: 972-4-6553400 Sisters of Nazareth Go to Sisters of Nazareth on Trip Advisor for more information.

Jun 19-21 (2 nights)

Hopefully all the above is clear. However, if you have questions or concerns, please call or email me anytime. I am looking forward to traveling with you and your group as your local tour guide while exploring this beautiful land.

Salaam, Iyad Qumri Canon Iyad Qumri Licensed Tour Guide P.O.Box 21701 Jerusalem 9121502 E.Mail: [email protected] E.Mail: [email protected] www.iyadqumripilgrimages.com Home: 972+2+5851210 Cell : 972+505-216280