Jordan. A Biblical Journey & Pilgrimage. 9 Days - Saturday 22nd to Sunday 30th September 2018 Led by Canon Gordon Dey

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1 A Biblical Journey & Pilgrimage 9 Days - Saturday 22nd to Sunday 30th September 2018 Led by Canon Gordon Dey

2 The Dates 9 DAYS Saturday 22nd to Sunday 30th September 2018 The Itinerary DAY 1/ Saturday 22nd September Heathrow/Manchester/Amman Flight departure to Amman, Jordan. On arrival, by private coach to the hotel for room allocation and light refreshments. in AMMAN

3 THE MORNING Morning Worship - Join with local Christians for the morning worship service at the Anglican Church of the Redeemer in Amman. Jordan DAY 2/ Sunday 23rd September Amman City THE AFTERNOON Old City of Amman Ascend to the Citadel of the Old City with its stunning views and recall the location of Rabbath Ammon, capital of the Ammonite Kingdom, where King David instructed that Uriah the Hittite be placed in a position that led to his death in battle at the gates of the city. Visit the Temple of Hercules and the Umayyad Palace. Roman Theatre Descend from the Citadel to visit Amman s restored Roman Theatre which dates from the 2nd century AD when the city was called Philadelphia, and was one of the cities of the Decapolis. in AMMAN Amman Old City

4 DAY 3/ Monday 24th September Northern Jordan Visit by coach to Mar Elias - North through the hills of Gilead to the site identified with Tishbe, the hometown or region of the Prophet Elijah. The remains of one of the largest known Byzantine churches in Jordan is in evidence. Time permitting, a short visit to the 12th century Ajloun Castle. Jerash - On to this nearby major city of the Roman Decapolis with its impressive huge hippodrome, massive theatre, Roman Cardo and Byzantine church remains. Its feature is the whispering columns, named for their ability to transmit a whisper from one side of the temple to the other. Gadara - Continue north to enjoy impressive views of the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Gadara was another Gentile City of the Decapolis, and is associated with the story of Jesus healing a demoniac, and sending the evil spirits into the Gadarene swine. Pella Travel south to Pella, a third Gentile Decapolis city in the Jordan Valley that Jesus would have known and visited. Pella was a city to which many Jewish believers fled in the period of the Jewish revolt against the Romans in about 70 AD. by the DEAD SEA Jerash

5 DAY 4/ Tuesday 25th September Dead Sea Region THE MORNING Leisure - The morning to relax at the hotel and perhaps bathe (float) in the unique Dead Sea. THE AFTERNOON Madaba Up to the Christian town with its famous and oldest (Mosaic) map of the Holy Land created from over 6 million ceramic cubes. Mount Nebo - To the summit where Moses viewed the Promised Land and was buried. On a clear day, the Oasis of Jericho and the spires of Jerusalem are visible. Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan - To the banks of the Jordan River associated with Elijah s ascent to heaven, and the place where John later baptised Jesus. We renew our own baptism vows here, where many early Christians also settled. by the DEAD SEA Mount Nebo

6 DAY 5/ Wednesday 26th September The King s Highway By coach for the best part of the day Machaerus King Herod s isolated desert fortress where John the Baptist was imprisoned for two years. Just before Passover, the daughter of Herodias danced before the king and subsequently John was beheaded as her promised reward. Dihban - See the remains of the city of the Moabite King Mesha and where the Israelites stopped on their epic Exodus journey. The Arnon - Continue on the King s Highway to stop at an observation point overlooking the great Arnon valley - the Grand Canyon of Jordan and biblical boundary between the Northern Ammonites and the Southern Moabites. Kerak - Lunch break in Ruth s city and a short visit to the Crusader Castle that dominates the city. Bozra - South down the winding old trade route to what was once the capital of Edom and the land where Esau spent much of his life. Moses Valley - South to Petra and the hotel. at PETRA The Arnon Valley

7 DAY 6/ Thursday 27th September Petra, the lost City Match me a marvel, save in eastern clime, the rose red city, half as old as time! The best part of the day at this secret lost city carved out of the living rock the biblical Sela of the Edomites, later the tombed city of the Nabatean Kingdom, then later still, a city of the Roman Empire. Petra became a Christian city in Byzantine times. The Siq - Treasury - Roman Theatre - Temples/Tombs - The Cardo - High Place - The Monastery - in PETRA Jordan a stroll through the narrow entrance. the stunning site at the end of the Siq. impressive acoustics/well preserved seats carved in a blaze of natural colours. a walk on the ancient main street. a climb for a grand view. an option to go further in exploration. Petra Treasury

8 DAY 7/ Friday 28th September The Arabian Desert A journey east by coach Little Petra - A few miles east is the mini-city built by the Nabataeans on the same style as Petra including a narrow siq. Some caves have carved triclinium - three sided tables similar to that used in the room of the last supper. Wadi Rum - Into the Arabian desert and area of the Israelites Exodus route. Stop at a Bedouin village for a sense of this ancient way of life - still preserved today. Then on 4x4 desert Jeeps for an hour or so to capture the unique rock formations and desert colours of this unique region. Red Sea - South to the shores of the Red Sea and the hotel. in AQABA Wadi Rum/Arabia

9 DAY 8/ Saturday 29th September Aqaba/Red Sea Red Sea Sail - A sail across the Red Sea to Pharaoh s Island off the coast of the Sinai. Biblical Aqaba - View this original Exodus settlement, where later in 900 BC, it was known as Ezion-Geber where Solomon kept his navy and possibly, where the Queen of Sheba passed through on her journey to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem. Later, in the 20th century, the city was conquered by Lawrence of Arabia from the Ottomans. Leisure - Some free time to relax at the hotel - or on the beach - At some point, we will have a meeting with the local Anglican Chaplain to hear of his work and ministry in the area. in AQABA DAY 9/ Sunday 30th September Return Flight North to Amman airport for the return flight. Red Sea

10 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE February, Volume LXVII, No. 2. Mysterious Temples & Tombs, Carved in Glowing Cliffs of Eroded Sandstone, are Remnants of a City David Longed to Storm. Petra, silent city of the forgotten past, halfway between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, exerts a magic spell on the minds of those fortunate enough to know it... The Rose-Red City, half as old as time, has a history that began long before histories were written... Abraham has two sons: Isaac, father of the Hebrews in Cana an (Gen. 25 : 19-26), and Ishmael, of whom it was said, he will be a wild man (Gen. 16 :12). From Ishmael sprang the Nabataeans, a Bedouin people and dwellers in Petra... The trip from Jerusalem to Petra and back once required about a month of arduous caravan travel through country infested with lawless Bedouins... The tinkling of the pack-mule bells, the grumbling of the camels carrying water and fodder across the desert stretches, the gay tents at evening after a long day in the saddle, are all a joy of the past that lingers only in the remembrance of those who were not born too late to realise by experience what Petra, a gem in a caravan setting, mean to past ages...

11 OUTWARD: Heathrow/Manchester via Istanbul to Amman PROPOSED FLIGHTS INWARD: Amman via Istanbul to Heathrow/Manchester Specific Flight details will be available at the end of 2017 THE HOTELS AMMAN Grand Palace Hotel Oriental style just off city centre. DEAD SEA Ramada Resort Hotel Seashore setting with landscaped grounds and pool. PETRA Petra Guest House Right at the entrance to Petra, stone-built in local style and character. AQABA Modern styling with pool, landscaped grounds and short walk to the centre. Subject to final numbers hotels may change but if so, they will be of the same standard.

12 The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Jordan, officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Capital: Amman King: Abdullah II of Jordan Currency: Jordanian dinar Population: million (2015) World Bank Government: Unitary state, Constitutional monarchy, Parliamentary system. Official language: Arabic