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UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
THREE FAITHS ONE LAND: EXPLORING THE HOLY LAND
May 25-June 2, 2009 • Tantur Ecumenical Institute • Jerusalem
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
(subject to change)
FRIDAY, MAY 22 - SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2009
PRE-PROGRAM EARLY ARRIVAL OPTION
Available if you would like to arrive and settle in at Tantur before the program begins.
7:30-8:30am: Breakfast
12:00pm: Catholic Mass (Sunday only)
12:30pm: Lunch
5:30pm: Evening Prayer
6:00pm: Dinner
6:45pm: After-Dinner Coffee
Free Evenings
MONDAY, MAY 25, 2009 - DAY 1
7:30-8:30am: Breakfast
•Individual Arrivals at Tantur
•Program and Room Check-In - Tantur Front Desk
12:30pm: Lunch
1:30-2:45pm: Session 1: Program Introduction: Gabriel Said Reynolds, Notre Dame Faculty Director; Rev. Michael McGarry, CSP, Rector of Tantur; Sister Bridget Tighe, FMDM, Vice-Rector of Tantur; and Tom Dowd, Notre Dame Program Director
3:15-4:30pm: Session 2: The Three Abrahamic Faiths: Gabriel Said Reynolds
5:00pm: Communal Prayer
5:30pm: Opening Reception
6:00pm: Opening Dinner
6:45pm: After-Dinner Coffee
7:15pm: Tantur Orientation: Rev. Michael McGarry and Sister Bridget Tighe
TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009 - DAY 2
6:45-7:30am: Breakfast
Session 3: Mount of Olives Tour
This is a mountain ridge to the east of Jerusalem and the site of many important Biblical events. Here we will visit sites of great importance to Christian traditions, including:
•Mosque of the Ascension: Tradition has consecrated this as the site of Christ’s ascension. On the floor inside the small medieval chapel, sacred to Muslims and Christians, is a slab of stone imprinted with the right footprint of Christ.
“He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11)
•Church of the Pater Noster: The Church of the Pater Noster marks the traditional site on the Mount of Olives where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. Its cloisters are decorated with tiled panels of the Lord's Prayer in 62 languages.
“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Our Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'" (Luke 11:1-4)
•Dominus Flevit Church: This mid-20th century Roman Catholic sanctuary church on an ancient site was designed in the shape of a tear to symbolize the Lord’s tears. The church’s name translates from Latin as “The Lord Wept”. Here Jesus, while walking toward Jerusalem, became overwhelmed by the beauty of the Second Temple, and foreseeing its future destruction, wept openly.
"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it." (Luke 19:41)
•Church of St. Mary Magdalene: One of the most eye-catching houses of worship in Jerusalem. This Russian Orthodox church, with seven typically Muscovite gilded onion domes, was built by Tsar Alexander III of Russia in memory of his mother Maria, whose patron saint was Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene is one of the most familiar women in the New Testament. It was from her body that Jesus exorcised seven demons, she was present at the Crucifixion, and she was the first person to see Jesus after the Resurrection.
“Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.” (John 20: 16-18)
•Church of All Nations (Basilica of the Agony): Located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, next to the Garden of Gethsemane, this Catholic church encompasses a section of bedrock that is believed to be where Jesus prayed alone on the night of his arrest.
“And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. When He arrived at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground.” (Luke 22: 39-44)
•Garden of Gethsemane: According to the New Testament and Christian traditions, this is the garden where Jesus and his disciples retreated to pray after the Last Supper. Here, amongst the olive trees, Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested on the night before He was crucified.
"They came to a place named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, "Sit here until I have prayed." And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch." …And He came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. "Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!" Immediately while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who were from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now he who was betraying Him had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away under guard." After coming, Judas immediately went to Him, saying, "Rabbi!" and kissed Him. They laid hands on Him and seized Him." (Mark 14: 32-46)
•Tomb of the Virgin Mary: This Crusader church at the foot of the Mount of Olives is said to be the site of the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. The Bible provides no information about the final days of Mary’s life or the site of her burial and a number of places claim that honor. However, apocryphal works from the second century forward established a tradition of Jerusalem as the site of Mary’s tomb and pilgrims of many rites came to this site to venerate the empty tomb of Mary.
12:30pm: Lunch
Free Time
2:30-4:30pm: Session 4: Focus on Judaism
5:30pm: Communal Prayer
6:00pm: Dinner
6:45pm: After-Dinner Coffee
7:15-8:15pm: Session 5: How Do You Live in the Holy Land?
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2009 - DAY 3
7:00-7:45am: Breakfast
Session 6a: Old City Jerusalem Tour
•Old City Jerusalem: The Old City, surrounded by impressive 16th century Ottoman city walls, is a 0.35 square mile area within the modern city of Jerusalem. Until the 1860s this area constituted the entire city of Jerusalem. As a holy city for Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, Jerusalem is home to several sites of key religious importance: the Temple Mount and its Western Wall for Jews, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Christians, and the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque for Muslims. All three Abrahamic faiths recognize the Muslim Dome of the Rock as the site of Abraham’s sacrifice.
The Old City is divided into four quarters, the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, and the Armenian Quarter.
•Temple Mount/Haram ash-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary): The site of the First and Second Temples, this is the holiest place in the Jewish faith. It is also the site of two major Muslim religious shrines - the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque; and the scene of several important events in Jesus’ life.
•Steps of the Temple Mount: Walk in Jesus’ footsteps as you ascend the broad steps that once led to the entrance to the Temple on the southern wall of the mount.
•Western Wall (“Wailing Wall”): Surviving the destruction of the Second Temple, this retaining wall of the Temple Mount is the most sacred place for Jews to pray due to its proximity to the holiest place in Judaism, the western wall of the Temple’s Holy of Holies.
•Jewish Quarter: Lately rebuilt, this traditional quarter of the Old City has seen a nearly uninterrupted Jewish presence since the eighth century B.C.E.
12:30pm: Lunch in the Old City
Session 6b: Old City Jerusalem Tour
•Muslim Quarter: This quarter, famous for its suq (marketplace), is the largest, most populous, and commercially vibrant area of the Old City.
•Via Dolorosa: Traditionally the path that Jesus took between his condemnation by Pilate and his crucifixion and burial on Calvary. This route is marked by the first nine Stations of the Cross, with the last five Stations located within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
•Church of the Holy Sepulchre: Built over the site that encompasses Golgotha, or Calvary, where Jesus was crucified and the tomb where he was buried, this great church is venerated as the holiest Christian place of worship in the world.
•Free Time to shop and explore
4:30pm: Return to Tantur
5:30pm: Communal Prayer
6:00pm: Dinner
6:45pm: After-Dinner Coffee
7:15-8:15pm: Session 7: Open Discussion: Gabriel Said Reynolds
THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009 - DAY 4
5:30-6:30am: Breakfast
Session 8a: Judean Desert Tour
This is a small but complex region with a fascinating array of topographic features, historic sites, and dramatic panoramas. We will visit
•Masada: Built by Herod the Great, Masada (Hebrew for fortress) is situated atop an isolated rock mesa at the western end of the Judean Desert, overlooking the Dead Sea. This stark complex of ancient palaces and fortifications with a dramatic history is a place of majestic beauty and one of Israel’s important national symbols.
•Float in the Dead Sea or relax on its shore: At over 1300 feet below sea level, this is the lowest body of water on earth and the second saltiest.
12:00pm: Lunch on the shore of the Dead Sea
Session 8b: Judean Desert Tour
•Ein Gedi Nature Reserve: With its fresh water springs and waterfalls and a rich array of flora and fauna, this is a beautiful oasis which is also remembered as the place of refuge for David as he fled the wrath of King Saul.
•Qumran: Here, in ancient caves, a Bedouin shepherd in 1948 discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls, some of the oldest manuscripts, both from the Bible and other ancient Jewish texts, ever found.
5:00pm: Arrive at Tantur
5:30pm: Communal Prayer
6:00pm: Dinner
6:45pm: After-Dinner Coffee
Video or Free Evening
FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 - DAY 5
6:45-7:30am: Breakfast
Session 9: Bethlehem and Environs Tour
•Bethlehem: From Tantur you will overlook the Judean hills and nearby Bethlehem. Bethlehem is revered by members of the three Abrahamic faiths. Here is the birthplace of Jesus Christ; the Tomb of Rachel, wife of Jacob and the mother of the patriarch Joseph; and it was here where the Prophet Mohammed prayed on his Midnight Journey to Jerusalem.
‘Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 'and you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" (Matthew 2: 1-6)
•Herodian: The immense Herodian complex was one of Herod the Great’s most ambitious building projects. It served the Judean King as a summer palace, fortress, monument, burial ground, and district capital. As a sign of its importance, of all the sites built by the ‘builder-king,’ Herodian is the only one that bears his name.
“This fortress, which is some sixty stadia distant from Jerusalem, is naturally strong and very suitable for such a structure, for reasonably nearby is a hill, raised to a (greater) height by the hand of man and rounded off in the shape of a breast. At intervals it has round towers, and it has a steep ascent formed of two hundred steps of hewn stone. Within it are costly royal apartments made for security and for ornament at the same time. At the base of the hill there are pleasure grounds built in such a way as to be worth seeing, among other things because of the way in which water, which is lacking in that place, is brought in from a distance and at great expense. The surrounding plain was built up as a city second to none, with the hill serving as an acropolis for the other dwellings.” (Josephus Flavius: War I, 31, 10; Antiquities XIV, 323-325)
•Shepherds’ Field: Just over a mile to the east of Bethlehem lies the village of Beit Sahour, where the Shepherds' Field, an important site sacred to Christians. is found. This site has been identified since ancient times with the shepherds who saw the Star of Nativity.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And the Angel said to them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:8-10)
•Church of the Nativity: The Church of the Nativity is a major Christian holy site and is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The fascinating structure is built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Christ, and it is considered sacred by followers of both Christianity and Islam. The Grotto of the Nativity beneath the church is the focal point; this is the cave that has been honored as the site of Christ’s birth since at least the 2nd century. A silver star in the floor marks the very spot where Christ is believed to have been born. Just feet away from the birthplace is the Chapel of the Manger where Mary placed the baby Jesus.
“And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2: 7)
12:30pm: Lunch
2:00-3:30pm: Session 10: Palestinian Christian and Muslim Life - Bethlehem University
3:30pm: Free Time to Explore Bethlehem’s Manger Square Area
•Manger Square: Surrounded by the Church of the Nativity, the Church of St. Catherine, the Mosque of Omar, and the Palestinian Peace Center, the inviting Manger Square is the focus of Christmas celebrations for Western Christian, Greek Orthodox, and Armenian Orthodox traditions.
4:30pm: Session 11: The Mosque and Muslim Worship
5:30pm: Depart for Tantur
6:00pm: Dinner
6:45pm: After-Dinner Coffee
Video or Free Evening
SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009 - DAY 6
7:30-8:30am: Breakfast
9:00-10:30am: Session 12: Biblical Geography
11:00am-12:30pm: Session 13: Islamic Traditions
12:30pm: Lunch
1:30pm: Free Afternoon - Among your many options are:
•The Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls)
•Bethlehem
•Old City Jerusalem
•Tower of David (Jerusalem) Museum
•Shopping
5:30pm: Communal Prayer
6:00pm: Dinner
6:45pm: After-Dinner Coffee
7:15-8:15pm: Session 14: Open Discussion: Gabriel Said Reynolds
SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2009 - DAY 7
5:00-5:45am: Breakfast
Session 15a: Galilee Tour
The Galilee region in northern Israel is where Jesus spent most of his life. Here he began his teaching, worked his first miracles, and called his disciples. The Sea of Galilee is Israel’s largest freshwater lake, whose shores witnessed much of the public ministry of Jesus. On these shores, Jesus recruited four of his apostles and healed many who sought the benefit of his miraculous power. Together we will visit:
•Mount of Beatitudes: On this hillside, forming a natural amphitheater, Christians have long commemorated the Sermon on the Mount.
•Tabgha: This once remote site has been traditionally venerated as the place where the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes occurred.
•Capernaum: On the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, this largely Hellenistic center, reported to be the home of four of the apostles, was where Jesus preached and responded to many who sought his help.
12:30pm: Lunch
2:00pm: Session 15b: Galilee Tour
•The Jordan River: Originating on the slopes of Mt. Hermon and ending its course at the lowest spot in the world - the Dead Sea, the Jordan River is considered to be one of the world's most sacred rivers. This was the area where John the Baptist conducted much of his ministry and where he baptized Jesus Christ.
•Nazareth: Joseph and Mary made their home here and it is the site of the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced to her that she would be the mother of Jesus. Upon their return from exile in Egypt, the Holy Family lived here until Jesus began his public ministry.
5:30pm: Dinner in Nazareth
9:00pm: Arrive at Tantur
MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2009 - DAY 8
7:30-8:30am: Breakfast
9:00-10:30am: Session 16: Summary Views: Gabriel Said Reynolds
12:30pm: Lunch
1:30pm: Free Afternoon - Among your many options are:
•Old City Jerusalem
•Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial
•Bethlehem
•Mar Saba Monastery
5:00pm: Closing reception
5:30pm: Communal Prayer
6:00pm: Closing dinner
Free Evening
TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2009 - DAY 9
7:00-8:00am: Breakfast
10:00am: Room Check-Out
Individual Departures
Last updated on
July 17, 2008
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