God’s time is indeed the
best! My ambition to go on
Holy Pilgrimage to Israel
dated back to 1983 and 36
years after, this dream of
mine became a reality; many thanks to
His Grace Most Rev Dr Alfred Adewale
Martins, the Archbishop of the Metro-
politan See of Lagos.
Below is a brief rundown of my jour-
ney to the Holy Land last December.
DAY1: FRIDAY13TH DECEMBER 2019
The Nigerian Christians Pilgrims
Commission Aircraft took off from
Murtala Muhammad International Air-
port, Ikeja at exactly 10.30 pm and ar-
rived Jordan International Airport at
3.30 am. We boarded a connecting flight
to Ben Gurion Airport from where we
drove in a luxury bus to Tell Aviv and
the adjacent Joppa. We visited the local
Basilica named St. Peter’s Church, built
on the location of Simon the Tanner’s
house. Next site was Piscac Garden over-
looking the Mediterranean Sea. Statue of
Faith is erected on this spot.
DAY 2: SUNDAY 15TH DECEMBER
2019
Visit to Ein Karein where John the
Baptist was born. Church of St. John the
Baptist is built on this site. Next was a
visit to the Church of the VISITATION
built in a hilltop and to SHERPHERD’S
FIELD where the Angels announced
the birth of Jesus to the shepherds and
from here to the Western Walls (Wailing
Walls). The day ended with a visit to the
Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the
birth place of Jesus Christ.
DAY 3: MONDAY 16TH DECEMBER
2019
We drove to Bethesda where a man
paralyzed for 38 years was healed by
Jesus. It is also the birth place of Virgin
Mary, mother of Jesus. St. Anna Church
is built on this spot. St. Anna is the moth-
er of Blessed Virgin Mary. We drove to
Mount Olives where Jesus taught the
Apostles how to pray (The Lord’s Prayer).
We also visited Holy shrines of CHAPEL
OF ASCENSION and PATER NOSTER
Church. We then drove to CHAPEL OF
DOMINUS FLEVIT (Jesus Wept) en
route GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
and also CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS.
Next was a visit to Mt. Zion and to the
Upper Room where Jesus had the last
supper with the Apostles.
Next was CHURCH
OF ST. PETER in Gal-
licantu, built over the
ruins of the palace of
Caiphas the High Priest
before whom Jesus was
brought for trial. This
was also where Pe-
ter denied Jesus three
times before the cock
crowed.
DAY 4: TUESDAY
17TH DECEMBER
2019
A visit to the Moun-
tain of Temptation in
Jericho; this was where Satan tempted
Jesus.
DAY 5: WEDNESDAY 18TH DECEM-
BER 2019
We drive to Mt. Tabor where the Trans-
figuration of Jesus took place. From here,
we moved to Nazareth, a town where
Jesus lived most of the first 30 years of
His life on Earth. Visit to Mt. Precipice
where the wrathful inhabitants of Naz-
areth wanted to cast Jesus down head-
long but He walked away in their midst
into escape. Next was a drive to CANA
WEDDING CHURCH where Jesus per-
formed His first miracle of changing wa-
ter into wine. The tour continued to the
BASILICA OF THE ANNUNCIATION
and nearby CHURCH OF ST. JOSEPH,
the traditional home of the Holy Family.
DAY 6: THURSDAY 19TH DECEMBER
2019
Visit to the MT. OF BEATITUDES,
the scene of the Sermon on the Mount.
Journey continued to Topgha to visit
the CHURCH OF THE MULTIPLICA-
TION of the loaves and fishes and also
the nearby CHAPEL OF PRIMACY.
There was a boat ride across the Sea of
Galilee. This was followed by a visit to
the ancient town of Capernaum. The
day ended with a visit to
YARDENIT BAPTISM SITE located on
the banks of River Jordan
DAY 7: FRIDAY 20TH DECEMBER
2019
Visited the Walls of Jerusalem and
walk in the footsteps of Jesus as He bore
the burden of our sins to Golgotha, 14
Stations of the Cross from Pilate’s judge-
ment hall to the empty tomb in the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
DAY 8: SATURDAY 21ST DECEMBER
2019
Drove back to Jericho, the ancient city
of the world with a brief stop-over at
the shade of Sycamore Tree of the kind
that Zacceus climbed in order to see
Jesus. Tour continued to the Dead Sea
known as the lowest spot on the face of
the Earth.
DAY 9: SUNDAY 22ND DECEMBER
2019
Departure to Ben Gurion International
Airport for journey back home to Nige-
ria.
NOTE: All the Churches visited were
Catholic Churches.
