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The orthodox pilgrim on the Holy Land

Home About the project Travel Israel with a private guide Photographs News History of the Holy Land Tradition Tour Guide in Israel, Paul Platonov Individual one-day excursions from Jerusalem and other cities of Israel 2023 (34 routes) 1. Christian Jerusalem
2. Jerusalem of 3 religions
3. General outlook tour of the Old City of Jerusalem
4. The first Jewish neighborhoods outside the walls of the old city of Jerusalem
5. Jerusalem in the centuries. Archaeological parks of ancient Jerusalem with an underground tunnel
6. Gethsemane and Christian shrines of the Old city of Jerusalem
7. Gethsemane and general sightseeing tour of the Old city of Jerusalem
8. The Old City of Jerusalem and the Basilica of Nativity in Bethlehem
9. The Basilica of Christmas in Bethlehem, the monastery of the Cross, Ein Kerem, the convent of St. John the Baptist
10. Gethsemane, the tomb of the Vigin Mary, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, the monastery in mount Olives in Jerusalem and the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem
11. Monasteries of Jerusalem
12. Biblical foothills
13. Mini Israel, Latrun monastery, the Old City of Jaffa
14. Mini Israel, Latrun Monastery, Armored Troops Museum, the Old City of Jaffa
15. Mini Israel, the Latrun Monastery, the Emaus-Nikopol Monastery, the Old City of Jaffa
16. Mediterranean coast: Lod, the Old Sity of Jaffa, Caesarea
17. Caesarea, Haifa, Akko
18. Archaeological parks of the Judean Desert: Mosaic Museum, Qumran, the monastery of Gerasim of Jordan. Visit to the site of Baptism on the Jordan River (Bethabara)
19. Archaeological Parks of the Judean Desert: Herodium, Mosaic Museum, Qumran, Masada
20. Dead Sea, Masada Fortress, Ein Gedi Nature Park
21. Journey to Galilee: Place of Baptism, Lake Galilee, Mount of Beatitudes, Tabha, Capernaum
22. Journey to Galilee: the sacred river Jordan (Yardenit), Lake Galilee, Magdala, a place with radon springs, Tabha, Capernaum
23. Journey to Galilee: Nazareth, the place of the Annunciation, Lake Galilee, Tabha, Capernaum, the sacred river Jordan (Yardenit)
24. Journey to Galilee: Mount Tabor — place of the Transfiguration of the Lord, monasteries on the top of the mountain, Cana of Galilee, Nazareth — place of the Annunciation
25. Journey to Galilee: Archaeological Parks: Beit She'an, Megiddo, Sepphoris
26. Journey to the Galilee: Archaeological Parks: Megiddo, Beit Shearim, Sepphoris
27. Journey to Galilee: Archaeological Parks: Beit She'an, Kursi, Bethsaida, Tel Hazor
28. Upper Galilee: the sources of the Jordan River, archaeological parks - Tel Dan, Banias, Golan
29. Museums of Jerusalem. Museum of Israel: a model of Jerusalem of the II Temple period, a museum of Bible countries, a museum of antiquities of the Holy Land (Rockefeller).
30. Museums and sights of Jerusalem. Museum of Israel: a model of Jerusalem of the II Temple period, the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem
31. Jericho and its surroundings. Monastery of Temptation on the Forty-Day Mountain, the monastery of the prophet Elisha, the tree of the publican Zakhei, the monastery of Gerasim of Jordan. Visit to the site of Epiphany on the river (Bethabara)
32. Jericho and its surroundings. Archaeological excavations of the ancient Jericho (Tel-as-Sultan), the Russian museum and park complex in Jericho with the tree of Zakhey the publican, the monastery of the prophet Elisha, the monastery of Gerasim
33. Monastery of St. George Hozevit in the Judean Desert (viewing platform), Jericho and its surroundings. The Monastery of Temptation on the Forty-Day Mountain, the Monastery of the Prophet Elisey, the Monastery of Gerasim of Jordan, the place of
34. Monastery of the Monk Hariton Confessor in the Judean Desert. Source Ein Farah. Jericho and its surroundings. The Monastery of Temptation on the Forty-Day Mountain, the monastery of the prophet Elisha, the monastery of Gerasim of JordanArticles by Pavel Platonov on the Holy Land
Home / Individual one-day excursions from Jerusalem and other cities of Israel 2023 (34 routes) / 18. Archaeological parks of the Judean Desert: Mosaic Museum, Qumran, the monastery of Gerasim of Jordan. Visit to the site of Baptism on the Jordan River (Bethabara)

Excursion number 18

Archaeological Parks of the Judean Desert: Mosaic Museum, Qumran, Gerasim of Jordan Monastery.

Visit to the site of Baptism on the Jordan River

Individual one-day excursions from Jerusalem and other cities of Israel with Tour guide Pavel Platonov 
Bethawara - the true place of Baptism on the Jordan River
© Photo by Tour Guide Paul, December 12, 2013

 
The museum of mosaics called the Museum of the "Good Samaritan" is unique and one of the largest museums in the world with a collection of unique mosaics of different periods found in the Holy Land. The museum opened relatively recently on June 4, 2009, but since then it has become very popular in tourist and pilgrimage routes. The exposition of the museum is filled with unique artifacts of mosaics found in the ruins of ancient synagogues, churches and monasteries in the territory of Judea, Samaria and Gaza. In the Byzantine period, this place was an inn, which is mentioned in the "Parable of the Good Samaritan" (Luke 10: 25-37). The museum is in a convenient location near the highway on the way from Jerusalem on its way to the site of the Epiphany on the Jordan River.

Qumran is a unique archaeological park one and a half kilometers from the northwest coast of the Dead Sea on the west bank of the Jordan River, not far from the Israeli kibbutz Kalia. The first settlements during the time of the Hasmonean reign of John Hyrcanus were known as early as the period 134-104 BC. Qumran became world famous after finding a cache with scrolls in caves in steep cliffs and in lower marl benches. Scrolls of the Dead Sea or the Qumran scrolls are the subject of close study of scientists. Between 1947 and 1956, around 900 scrolls of varying degrees of preservation were found here, mostly written on parchment, as well as on papyrus, as well as elements of kilns for ceramics and a tower. Some scholars associate the ruins of the Qumran archaeological complex with the Jewish sect of the villages that lived here in the 2nd century BC.

Monastery of St. Gerasim of Jordan is located on the site of the ancient Byzantine Kalamon Lavra, known since the 5th century AD. In the Monastery, by the renewed efforts of the Jerusalem Orthodox Church in the second half of the XIX century, mosaics and frescos of different periods survived. The fortress walls of the monastery have been preserved since the 12th century, when the monastery was rendered by the Byzantine emperor Manuel Komnin. In the monastery there is the miraculous image of the Mother of God of the Mammal in the lower church.

Bethwara - (Hebrew בית עברה - house of the crossing, place of the ford) - a place on the Jordan River, 10 kilometers north of the confluence of the Jordan River to the Dead Sea, where the ferry crossed the river. According to an ancient tradition, in this place the sons of Israel crossed the Jordan together with Joshua, leaving an altar of twelve stones at the site of passage, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, and then entered the promised land.

The Old Testament describes this event in the book of Joshua in the following way:
"So when the people moved from their tents to cross the Jordan, and the priests carried the ark of the covenant to the people, then only those who carried the ark entered the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark sank into the water of the Jordan - the Jordan stands out from all the shores all the days of the harvest of wheat, the water flowing from above, stopped and became a wall for a very long distance, to the city of Adam, which is near Zartan; and the current in the sea of ​​the plain, in the Salty Sea, has left and dried up. And the people passed over against Jericho; But the priests, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, stood on dry land in the midst of the Jordan with a firm foot. All the Israelites crossed overland until all the people crossed the Jordan. (Rev. 3: 14-17) "
This place in the Christian tradition is revered as a true place of Epiphany on the Jordan River.

The New Testament tells about the baptism of Jesus Christ as follows:
"When all the people were baptized, and Jesus, being baptized, prayed: the sky was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove, and there was a voice from heaven, saying:" You are my beloved Son; in You I am well pleased! (Luke 3: 21-22)
The excursion begins at the place of accommodation of the tourists in Jerusalem (the address and time of the excursion beginning is indicated in advance by the guide). On the tour you need to have comfortable shoes, drinking water and a hat from the sun. Clothes should be like when visiting temples (men should not visit temples in shorts, women should have clothes with closed shoulders, do not have a neckline, short skirts and shorts, you can wear trousers). To perform ablutions in the sacred waters of the Jordan River, you need to bring special christening shirts that you can also purchase along the route. Also, you need to have swimsuits and towels for the convenience of bathing on the Jordan River. At the request of tourists to the tour, you can add a visit to the city of Bethlehem, subject to departure from Jerusalem. To cross the border post between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, tourists need to have a passport with them.
 
The price for all participants of the excursion on our car with departure from Jerusalem or the Dead Sea is $ 550 (with the number of up to 6 people in the car), and $ 750 (with the number of participants from 7 to 15 people).
 
When you leave for a tour from Tel Aviv and its environs on our car, the price for up to 6 people is $ 750, and from 7 to 15 people - $ 950.
 
If the tourists have a rented car, the price is $ 350 for all participants of the excursion, provided that the excursion begins in Jerusalem.

We wish you a pleasant stay and an exciting journey and pilgrimage!
Prices are quoted in USD

 
The price does not include the cost of paid entries along the route.
 
The tour starts from Jerusalem.
 
In case of accommodation of participants of excursion in Tel Aviv and its vicinities or in other cities of Israel, we can help to get to Jerusalem by public transport.
 
There is a possibility of delivery on excursions and back on our transport from the area of ​​Tel Aviv and its environs and the Dead Sea for an additional fee.
 
The program provides an overview of the main attractions.
 
The program takes into account the wishes of the excursion.
 
A detailed program, taking into account the wishes of the excursionist, is made after consent to the cost of the services.
 
The tour is accompanied by Tour guide Paul
 
(License of a certified guide in English from the Ministry of Tourism of the State of Israel No. 10103)
 
You can order the tour by e-mail paul@vizitisrael.com
 
And also by calling: + 972-545-336-297 (Wats up / Viber / Telegram), (in Israel: 054-5336-297)
 
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