Journey back in time to explore ancient shrines and sacred sites where your faith will be challenged and strengthened. Come and discover the heart and soul of God through His sacred word. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing where Jesus lived, or if you’re just curious, now is the time to book an Israel Christian tour.
Walk the biblical sites of the Promised Land. We’ll take you to the birthplace of Jesus and his first miracle, to what is considered the holiest city in Christendom, and to the other most sacred Christian sites you absolutely need to visit in Israel.
The holiest, sacred Christian sites to visit in Israel that vividly depict the New Testament and bring God’s word to life:
Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem – Where it all started
The Church of the Nativity, located near the eastern end of Bethlehem, is one of the holiest places in Christendom. The crypt under the church marks the spot where Jesus Christ was born. It is also the manger in which he was eventually laid (Luke 2:7). Being the oldest church in the Holy Land, it has been held sacred since the 4th century. The most sacred part of the church is the Grotto of the Nativity. It is a crypt where a 14-point silver star points to the exact location of Jesus’ birth.
Except for Sunday mornings, the church is open during the day every day of the week. Modest clothing is required when visiting the church. With a private guide, you will be able to skip the line and enter the Nativity Grotto.
Church of Annunciation, Nazareth
Nazareth is Jesus’ hometown and the location of the Middle East’s largest Christian church today. The Church of Annunciation is believed to be built over the residence of the Virgin Mary. The site is one of the most revered places in Christianity. It is where Mary became miraculously pregnant by the Holy Spirit. The present Catholic Church is a two-story structure built in 1969 on the site of older churches from the Byzantine, Crusader, and Israeli eras.
The lower level houses the Grotto of the Annunciation, which many Christians believe to be Mary’s original childhood home. The basilica, a historically significant place that is regarded sacred in some circles of Christianity, notably Catholicism, receives a large number of Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox Christian tourists each year.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem
This is considered the Holiest site in Christianity. The church is located in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It is especially revered by Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Coptic, Syrian Orthodox, and Armenian Catholics as the location of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection (at the end of the Via Dolorosa).
On Easter, the historic church’s basilica floor becomes a site for a centuries-old Ceremony of the Holy Fire, in which Orthodox patriarchs enter the church’s tomb and emerge with candles said to have been ignited miraculously. The flame is passed on to guests’ candles.
The Holy Sepulchre is open every day from 5 a.m. until sunset and has distinct chapels for each denomination’s worship.
For more information, go here.
Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu on Mount Zion
According to Christian belief, this place corresponds to Caiaphas’ palace, where Jesus was tried before his execution. The current church was built in the place of an ancient Byzantine church. The new church is on top of the network of old cisterns and storage chambers dug into the bedrock. It is taken as evidence that the location was in fact Caiaphas, the High Priest’s residence.
A series of caverns from the Second Temple era can be found on an even lower level. Because legend places the Caiaphas mansion on this spot, many think that Jesus was imprisoned in one of these underground crypts following his arrest. These underground rooms are accessible to visitors.
Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, Galilee
The resurrected Jesus arrived in Tabgha (sometimes written “Tabha”). It is on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee. At the end of John’s Gospel, Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes here before commissioning Peter to head the church.
The Church of the Primacy of Peter (open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) is a Franciscan chapel built in 1933 that incorporates a portion of a fourth-century church as well as a large portion of the stone “table of Christ,” where Jesus is said to have served his disciples a fish breakfast after they landed on shore.
Six heart-shaped blocks known as the Twelve Thrones memorialize the Twelve Apostles, and a nearby garden for group prayer overlooks a contemporary monument of Jesus symbolically commissioning Peter with his resurrected body.
Baptismal Site
The site provides the beauty of the spiritual waters which baptized Jesus Christ. The site is also said to be where the Israelites crossed the Jordan River to reach the promised land, as well as the location of Elijah’s ascension to heaven. In recent years, a Greek-Orthodox monastery on the hill above the baptism site has been revived to serve pilgrims once more. The state of Israel looks over the baptism site. Pilgrims who want to perform baptism rites in the Jordan River have access to public showers and changing facilities.
This spiritual trip will please your soul. For further information about our Israel Christian tour package.
