In March of 2020, Ron and Helen Slechta embarked on a tour to Israel. Little did we know at the time of booking the trip that we would be facing a worldwide pandemic of COVID-19 virus as we launched our journey to Israel.

Our trip to Israel went well without any issues because of COVID. And there were not many concerns about COVID during our tour and no one wore masks. Our return trip was a little more challenging and were shocked to find everything pretty much locked down when we got home.

During this easter season, we wanted to share with you some of the journey through the Holy Land along with a few of the  photos  in the book we published..  The 162-page book is free on blurb.com if you want to see more of the story and the 262 photos taken in the Holy Land. 

Our adventure through the Holy Land of Israel began on March 3 when we met our tour guide from Globus Travel, Tal Segal, for a walking tour in the restored ancient port of Jaffa where medieval pilgrims started the strenuous two-day trek to Jerusalem. 

Next on our journey was a visit to ancient Caesarea along the Mediterranean coast where we learned about the Roman and Crusader presence in the country. We visited the archaeological site with the Roman Amphitheater and the impressive medieval Crusader Fortress and Herod’s Stadium and harbor.

We are told that the Disciple Philip preached in Caesarea (Acts 8:40, 21:8-9). Peter also preached to Cornelius in Caesarea.  Jonah (Jonah l:3) was also in Caesarea.

Next, we visited Mt. Carmel, which means Fruit Garden, and is a wedge-shaped mountain of limestone 13 miles long. It divides the Plains of Acco to the north from the Plains of Sharon to the south. Mt. Carmel is green the year around and is the center of pagan deity Baal in the time of Elijah and the prophets (1 Kings 18:20-39).

We then traveled on to Megiddo which overlooks Jezreel Valley. Here you can see Mt. Gilboa where Gideon tested his men who were to accompany him to war. Megiddo is another name for Armageddon where the final battle between the forces of good and evil took place: Revelation 16:16.

The Jezreel valley is known for its fertile land and still is considered Israel’s breadbasket.

That evening we stayed in Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. Tiberias is the capital of Lower Galilee. Tiberias together with Jerusalem, Hebron and Safed became one of the 4 Holy Cities of Palestine.

On Wednesday March 4, we took a bus to Nazareth and Cana where we were told that 70% of the territory are of the Muslim faith with less than 30% being Christian.   Our first stop in Nazareth is at the Church of Annunciation. The church was finished in 1969.  It is the fifth church built on the spot where the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce she would give birth to Jesus. Excavations have revealed a small cistern with the inscribed plastered stone (Luke 1:26-28).

This is the Virgin Mary’s home village (Mary’s Well). Jesus grew up in Nazareth (Luke 2:39, 51-52). St. Joseph Church is built over St. Joseph’s stone carpentry workshop.

Our next stop was in Cana at the church where Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water into wine at a wedding. Ceramic jugs similar to those in which the water was turned into wine sit above the gate to the church (John 2:1-11).

Sailing on Sea of Galilee

After lunch at St. Peter’s Restaurant where you could get fish fried whole with eyes (which we chose not to eat), we sailed on a “Jesus” boat on the Sea of Galilee for a short time. The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake that is about 14 miles long and 8 miles wide. It is 130 to 158 feet deep and is 686 feet below sea level.

We visited the Mount of Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-12) where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount. Next, we visited the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and fishes at Tabgha as well as the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy where Jesus instructed Peter to feed lambs and tend my sheep.”

There is a statue of St. Peter and a mosaic commemorating where Jesus fed the Multitudes.  There is also a Muslim church built over the ruins of St. Peter’s dwelling.

We visited the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus appeared after resurrection (John 21:1-23; Mark 14:28).

Then it was on to Capernaum, where Jesus recruited his first followers among the fishermen.

We continued on to Magdala, a city dating back to the first century and where Jesus taught in the synagogue (Luke 4:31-33). It is said Jesus performed more miracles here than anywhere.  Via the ruins of Kursi, which memorializes two of Jesus’ miracles, we arrived at the Jordan River and visit a Baptismal site where several of our fellow tourists were re-baptized. It is said this is where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. This location has the largest source of water in Galilee.  The Jordan River flows into the Sea of Galilee.

On the way to Jerusalem we stopped for a breathtaking panoramic view of the Holy City considered to be one of the places in the world with history dating back as far as 4000 BC. Old city of Jerusalem was crammed inside the ancient walls for thousands of years.

On Sunday, March 8, we went on an optional excursion that included a visit to Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book and the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Holocaust Memorial at Yad Vashem and the Inn of the Good Samaritan where we viewed the ruins of a synagogue and a mosaic museum.

Bethlehem

On the way back from the Good Samaritan’s Inn, our guide learned that there were COVID-19 cases in Bethlehem and that gates to that city would close that evening.  We decided to visit the Church of the Nativity that day before the gates to Bethlehem were closed due to cases of COVID in that city.

The Church of Nativity was built on the site where Jesus was born. We entered the Church of Nativity through a 4 ft x 4 ft. square opening. The Church of the Nativity was built above the Grotto of the Nativity which is where Jesus was born. On the eastern side of the grotto is a circular recess containing a large silver star which designates the spot where, as tradition has it, Jesus was born. The star has 14 points with a Latin inscription which trans: “Here Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary.”

Above the star is a remnant of a Crusader mosaic depicting a revelation on the birth. Next to the circular recess is the Holy Manger. The manger is hewn out of stone and covered with marble strips.  Next to it is an alter devoted to the Three Wise Men who saw the star in the east and came to worship the baby Jesus.

As we were leaving the Church of the Nativity, the doors were closed and no one was allowed in for over three months because of COVID. We then visited a gift shop nearby and as we left Bethlehem, a city of 50,000, we also passed by the Shepherd Field where angels announced the birth of Jesus. Bethlehem means House of Bread, City of David, Story of Ruth.

Jerusalem

We spent day six in Jerusalem which for thousands of years consisted of only the area inside the walls. Jews form the majority of the population, and they are crammed within the walls. Beginning on the Sabbath at 4 p.m. the Jews don’t allow anything to go on.

The city walls are back to the time of King Herod. There are eight gates to the city. The Golden gate was closed in 1167 by Muslims awaiting the return of Jesus so he can’t get in!

We visited the Garden Tomb outside the walls of Jerusalem just outside the Damascus Gate with a view of the Hill of Golgotha. The rocky face in the resemblance of a skull, could be Golgotha. The evidence of a site of the execution near a large cistern and a Herodian tomb,  meets all the details mentioned in the Gospels (John 19:41).

Next, we visited the Western Wall which is a retaining wall built by Herod in 20BC surrounding the entire eastern hill.  It was on this elevated plaza that the Temple stood at the time of Jesus. Jews gathered in pilgrimage and prayed at the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. Cracks in the wall were stuffed with pieces of paper  on which prayers were written.

We also placed prayers on small pieces of paper in the Western Wall. Men and women were directed to separate places and the men had to wear caps that were provided.

After visiting the Western Wall, Tal guided us to nine of 15 stations of the cross, marking the pathway Jesus traveled, carrying his cross, on the way to his crucifixion. 

Stations of the Cross trail led us to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The Holy Sepulchre itself is covered by a smooth marble slab which has been in place since 1555.  Over the Tomb are three reliefs symbolizing the Resurrection, each belonging to one of the principle communities, and 42 lamps burning day and night (Matthew 27:39-60).

We were not able to get a good view of the traditional Tomb of Jesus as we were ushered out of the Church of Holy Sepluchre by clergymen with gates to allow priest from all faiths to enter the church for prayers to control COVID-19.

The Chapel of Ascension is a small building at the top of Mt. Olive marking the traditional spot where Jesus ascended to Heaven. A round shrine built over the spot in 380 was partially destroyed in 614.

On the eighth day of our tour of Israel, we traveled through the Judean wilderness on our way to the Dead Sea, the world’s lowest point on dry land. We traveled by the Caves of Qumran, where the precious Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

A short bus trip from there, we ascended by cable car to the spectacular clifftop Fortress of Masada. We learned how 960 Jewish rebels made their last stand against the Romans. This was an amazing fortress with a view of the Dead Sea. 

This is a condensed version of what was covered in the Blurb book “A Holy Land Journey, March 2020” which is available free on the blub.com website.

Some of the sites we visited included the dungeon in which Jesus was kept the night before his crucifixion and room built above the Upper Room where The Last. Supper was held.

We will be forever thankful we met the challenges of COVID to enjoy our journey through the Holy Land.  We found the footing throughout Israel to be a challenge, so we would recommend you wear good shoes  and  a walking cane may be helpful.