We departed for the Holy Sepulcher at 10:30pm so that we could arrive in ample time for both the Orthros Service and the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.  The bus made it to our normal stop outside of the Jaffa Gate of the Old City and we began our walk to the Church.  What a difference a number of hours makes in the Holy City; it’s beautiful, tranquil and quiet late at night.  The little walking streets of the market that are normally filled with shopkeepers who are waiting to make a deal as well as thousands of pilgrims and tourists were calm.  The few of us to be found on the streets were headed to the Holy Sepulcher.

After an eventful night, which included a trip to Hadassah University Hospital on Mount Scopos (thank God, all is well, someone was just under the weather), we arose for breakfast, to then depart for the Church of Saint Photini and Jacob’s Well in Samaria.  As we know from Scripture, the Jacob’s Well was the source of water of the region, at which the Samaritan Woman encountered Christ.  It is therefore a sacred place for Jews and Christians alike. 

Our first stop this morning was the Church of the Holy Martyr Stephen.  The Church is located across the street from the Roman Catholic Church of All Nations, in the Kidron Valley.  The Church itself is two levels; on the second level is the Church itself, the first level contains the rock on which St. Stephen was martyred by the Jews shortly after his ordination to the deaconate by the Holy Apostles (the first bishops.  It was a blessing being able to venerate this sacred rock. 

After a bit of confusion, we departed the hotel about 8am for the Sinai Desert (traveling with a group is quite an experience).  Father Demetri gave a very informative talk on the Christian traditions that are found in the Middle East as well a talk on the Crusades.  Both topics were lively and very interesting to all of us. 

This morning, we departed the hotel at 6AM to arrive at the Church of the Tomb of the Virgin Mary for Liturgy.  Fr. Demetri and I were under the assumption (not a pun), that I would be the celebrant this morning and that he would lead our group in chanting the Liturgy.  To our common surprise, I would be one of four priests serving.

Today is the Feast of St. Demetrius; we pray that Fr. Demetri be granted many years in good health and with every blessing from the Lord.  Entering the bus, we said our morning prayers also chanting the Apolytikion of St. Demetrius. 

We departed the hotel at 7AM and arrived at the Monastery of Gerasimos of the Jordan.  The bells of the monastery rang joyously as we arrived to celebrate the Liturgy.  In the courtyard a censor burned incense in front of an icon of St. Gerasimos.  To the side of the courtyard was a beautiful parrot, which greeted our group with Kali Meda (Good morning!) – this was definitely a first.

We packed-up our bags and departed from the hotel in Tiberius at 8:30am.  Joseph, our guide – an Orthodox Christian from Jerusalem – informed us that we are returning to Cana to visit the Church of St George, which is believed to be the spot where the Lord celebrated the wedding Feast.

Today, we boarded our bus at 6:45am so that we would arrive shortly before 8AM to celebrate Liturgy at the Monastery Church of the Prophet Elijah, upon Mount Tabor.  What a way to start a morning; we will receive the Word, both in Scripture and in the Eucharist in a Church constructed upon the very mountain on which Jesus was transfigured in glory. 

We departed our hotel that is situated in Tiberius, which was the capital of Galilee at the time of the Lord. The Jews considered Tiberius a defiled city as it was built upon a cemetery.  It was one of the few cities in the region that Jesus did not visit.