We start our day with a panoramic view from Pope Hill, which overlooks the ancient town of Bethany. As we dive deep into biblical history, we make our way through the cobblestoned walkways and narrow alleys to visit the various places linked to Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary.
Some of the places that we’ll visit include: The Roman Catholic Church of St. Lazarus, which was built on the ruins of Byzantine and Crusader churches; the burial chamber of St. Lazarus’s Tomb located next to the church, and the Russian Orthodox Church at Ed-Jeneneh Garden, where according to tradition is the place where Jesus met Martha and Mary. At the Fountain of the Apostles, you’ll have the opportunity to meet some local shepherds and participate in some hand-on activities with their animals. We’ll then visit some women organizations and learn about their important tasks of promoting the social and economic empowerment of Palestinian women. Some are producing handmade soaps, organic cosmetics, handcrafted jewelry or embroidery. Others are happy to engage you in candle making and the art of mosaic. You will also be treated with some authentic Palestinian specialities. All the products are exclusively made by local women and with locally sourced ingredients from Palestinian farmers. Enjoy a tasty and traditional Palestinian lunch as you listen to a live performance of Palestinian folk music. Next, we’ll continue to visit more sacred sites in Bethany, such as the Ali-‘Azer Mosque (Lazarus Mosque), built in the 16th century on the ruins of a Crusader Church. This tour will not only focus on the ancient history of Bethany, but will also focus on the present-day life of the Palestinian residents and the difficulties they experience living next to the separation wall.
