CAZENOVIA — St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (12 Mill St. Cazenovia) will offer a 14-day Advent Holy Land Pilgrimage in Israel from Dec. 6-19, 2021.
The trip is scheduled through Qumri Pilgrimages and directed by the Reverend Robert G. Trache, interim rector at St. Peter’s, and the Reverend Eliza R. Ragsdale.
“I have been involved with the Christian communities in Israel/Palestine (West Bank) since about 1985 in a variety of ways,” said Trache. “Additionally, over the years we have taken more than 25 groups on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.”
According to Trache, the goal of the trip is to help travelers enrich their faith, broaden their understanding of scripture, encounter people whose families have been living in the region as Christians since the first century, and have a once in a lifetime experience.
“It gives them the opportunity to see and feel the Middle East,” he said. “Because both Eliza and I have lived for a time in Jerusalem, we have a number of contacts and we often are able to visit historical sites and archaeological sites that are not open to the public.”
Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, the travelers will meet local guides Canon Iyad Qumri and Rami Qumri.
The group will stay at St. George’s Anglican Cathedral Guesthouse in Jerusalem and at a Roman Catholic pilgrimage house in Galilee.
Throughout the trip, participants will visit a number of well-known biblical sites.
“[We will see] the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — the site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus — and the new discoveries under the Sisters of Nazareth Convent in Nazareth, which is remarkable and may contain the house of Joseph,” said Trache. “We will visit the Temple Mount where the Jewish Temple was constructed and where the Muslim Dome of The Rock now stands. We will interact with Jewish, Christian and Muslim scholars. We will swim in the Dead Sea and travel to [Qumran, the site] of the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls, and a host of other important places.”
According to Trache, the basic cost for all inland expenses is $3,150 per person. The price covers all meals, all transportation in Israel, and lodging (single rooms require additional costs). Airfare is not included.
As of June 21, four to six spaces were available on the journey.
“We expect this to be a small trip of roughly 20 people, because smaller groups allow us to reach more places and to have a more intimate response to the people, places, and each other,” said Trache. “Usually we go in the summertime with a larger group, but we have a splendid opportunity to go this year in Advent with a smaller group. [At that time,] the lines are short and travel is easier.”
For more information on St. Peter’s Advent Holy Land Pilgrimage, visit stpeterscaz.org.
