OLMC Holy Land Pilgrimage - From the Grottos to the Via Dolorosa

Camel rides

The Milk Grotto, so named because, according to legend, a drop of Mary's Milk fell there, turning it white.  While our travelers were there, a group of children entered to pray and sing in honor of Mary.

St. Jerome's Grotto

Gethsemane

Bev Bentley next to a 2000-year-old olive tree!

Headstone of St. Stephen, deacon and first martyr of the Church

A private mass for our travelers above Jesus' Tomb in the Holy Sepulchre

Stations of the Cross

A final blessing

(Note:  We last left our travelers at the Milk Grotto and Jerome’s Grotto, pictures of which you can now see above.  In the meantime, they have been busy.  Daniela rode a camel!  Also, according to their itinerary, they have visited Hebron, the Cave of the Patriarchs, Bet Guvrin – Bell Caves, Shepherds’ Field, Abu Gosh, Holy Sepulchre Church, the Wailing Wall, and the Armenian and Jewish Quarters of Jerusalem.  They have viewed the Dome of the Rock, taken a tour of the old city, visited St. Anne’s, the Chapel of Flagellation, the Ecce Homo Arch, and Lithostrotos (think “Gabbatha”).  They also walked the 14 Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa, as you can see above, and visited the Garden of Gethsemane.  They likely also visited Mt. Zion, the City of David, the Cenacle (the upper room), David’s tomb, Dormition Abbey, and St. Peter at Galicantu.  And did I mention  Daniela rode a camel?)