Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
October 5 – 16, 2026
Walk In The Footsteps of Holy People.
Explore Places in Our Faith Story.
Put your toes into the Sea of Galilee (or not).
The Rev. Melanie Barbarito with St. Mary’s, High Point, NC, and St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Keller, TX, is organizing a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Qumri Pilgrimages.
This is your chance to visit the places of the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as Jewish and Muslim holy sites.
Qumri Pilgrimages
Iyad Qumri has been leading pilgrimages for over 30 years and is well-known throughout the Episcopal Church for his unique and personalized way of sharing the riches of the Holy Land with pilgrims from all over the world. Besides the places one would expect to visit, they try to find off-the-beaten path, special experiences to deepen appreciation of the scriptures and contemporary local cultures. Check out their website for testimonials and lists of Bishops and Dioceses that have partnered with the Qumri Family Pilgrimages: www.iyadqumripilgrimages.com
Pilgrimage Highlights
- Clean, quiet, comfortable pilgrim guest accommodation, each room with private bathroom and shower.
- Pray the scriptures where key events are commemorated: Nazareth, Bethlehem, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Jerico, the Dead Sea, and Jerusalem.
- Meet the “living stones” of the ever-diminishing communities of local Christians, including an introduction to the vital ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
- Walk not only in the footsteps of Jesus but in those of two millennia of pilgrims.
Some of what we’ll see
After landing and gathering in Tel Aviv, the group will travel to Nazareth for three nights. This leg includes the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes, Sepphoris, Caesarea Philippi, and Nazareth itself among others.
Traveling to Jerusalem we will visit Burquin where Jesus encountered the ten lepers and the town where Jesus spoke with the woman at the well.
We will spend time in Bethlehem, Jericho, the Dead Sea, Herodium, Emmaus, and the Old City of Jerusalem with many sights.
A complete Itinerary is available here.
Is it safe to travel in the Holy Land? Yes, yes and yes!
In spite of the conflict over the past two years, pilgrim groups from other countries and, in January 2025 & 2026, a group of Episcopal Bishops, continued to visit in complete safety. With the peace process in play, safety is assured. In addition, Qumri Pilgrimages has never and will never proceed with a tour is there is the least hint of trouble.
Cost
The cost of the Pilgrimage is $3,155 per person for a double occupancy room. Cost includes accommodation, all meals, travel in country, entrance fees, Guiding fee, and more.
Not included: AIRFARE and personal expenses such as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, laundry and medical insurance.
To guarantee your spot, a $150 deposit is required by Feb. 27, 2026. After that date, the deposit is required upon sign up.
About the Rev. Melanie Barbarito
The Rev. Melanie Barbarito is a retired Episcopal priest who has served in the Diocese of Fort Worth, TX and others. This is the second tour that she has organized. You can reach her at mrbarbarito@gmail.com.
Sign up today!