Holy Land Study Tour

Offering more than a typical tour, the Saint John's Holy Land Program sets study of the biblical sources of our faith within the unique combination of study, pilgrimage, and prayer. Students venture to biblical and early Christian holy sites in Turkey, Israel, and Palestine, places frequented by Christian pilgrims for over 1,700 years.

In order to ensure affordability and to foster an authentic encounter with the Church in the Holy Land, the group will stay in monasteries and religious houses whenever possible. Space in the study tour group is limited to a minimum of 7 participants and a maximum of 15, so we encourage early application.

Your instructor and guide will be New Testament specialist Fr. Michael Patella, OSB, professor at Saint John's University School of Theology · Seminary. His course expands the Biblical text by emphasizing the culture, geography, history, archaeology, and people of Western Turkey and the Holy Land. Through his instruction, students and pilgrims will experience the world of Sacred Scripture in the lands which gave birth to the Bible. This course, Biblical and Archaeological Sites, can be taken for credit or audit. All students participate fully in the readings, site visits, and discussions.

2013 Summer Study Tour

Itinerary  

• Turkey (Cities of Revelation): 
  • Tuesday May 14:  Departure for Istanbul
  • Wednesday May 15: Arrival in Istanbul
  • Wednesday May 15 - Sunday May 19: Smyrna, Ephesus, Colossae, Laodicea, Pergamon, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, overnights in 4-star hotels
• Israel (Galilee)
  • Sunday, May 19: Fly to Tel Aviv, Israel: Nazareth, Cana, lodging at Casa Nova in Tiberius, or other religious house
  • Monday, May 20: Tabgha, Peter Primacy, Latin and Greek Capernaum
  • Tuesday, May 21: Mount Tabor, Sepphoris, Kursi
  • Wednesday, May 22: Tel Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Birkat Yam
  • Thursday, May 23: Bet Shean, Bethlehem, overnight at Casa Nova or other religious house  
• Palestine (Bethehem)
  • Friday, May 24: Church of the Nativity
  • Saturday, May 25: Greek & Latin Shepherds' Fields, Herodian
• Israel (Jerusalem)
  • Sunday, May 26: Orientation, Jerusalem-lodging at Dormition Abbey
  • Monday, May 27: Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Tomb of the Virgin, Saint Anne's, Ecce Homo, Basilica of the Anastasis (Holy Sepulcher)
  • Tuesday, May 28: Mount Zion (Dormition,) St Peter Gallicantu, Cenacle, Jewish Quarter, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Southern Wall Excavations
  • Wednesday, May 29: Mass at Holy Sepulcher, Wadi Qelt, Jericho, Mount of Temptation
  • Thursday, May 30: Yad Vashem, Ein Karem, John the Baptist Grotto, Visitation Church, Chagall windows (if permitted)
  • Friday, May 31: Caesarea Maritima
  • Saturday, June 1: Masada, Dead Sea, Qumran
  • Sunday, June 2: Abu Gosh, Nicopolis, Latrun
• Turkey (Istanbul)
  • Monday, June 3: Return to Istanbul, lodging in 4-star hotel
  • Tuesday, June 4: Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and The Grand Covered Bazaar
  • Wednesday, June 5: Departure to New York *

* The tour ends in Istanbul. Those wishing to travel beyond June 5 may do so and fly back to NY on their own at later date.

Program Fees:

The anticipated price range for this experience is $7050 - $8,325, including: airfare, tuition, lodging, half-board, guides, land travel, bus transfers, and incidentals.

(Variable rate depends on single or double occupancy, graduate or undergraduate program, currency fluctuations and number of participants.)

 Participants must be enrolled in the course and pay the applicable tuition rate for 3 graduate credits or 4 undergraduate credits.
Scholarships are available to qualified, registered students.

Rate includes accommodation for 21 nights on a half -board basis as follows:

• All transfers and tours by tourist A/C vehicle
• Airfare: JFK-Turkey-Tel Aviv-Turkey-JFK
• All entrance fees to places mentioned on itinerary
• Exit taxes
• Administrative costs
• Tips and gratuities for hotels, drivers, Turkish guides, breakfast and supper wait staff
• Tuition

Not included:

• Turkish Visa fees (paid upon entry at border control, ~US $20, cash)
• Airfare outside of JFK-Turkey-Tel Aviv-Turkey-JFK
• Lunch en-route
• Beverage with meals
• Expenses of a personal natur

Important deadlines:

Undergraduate applications: February 10, 2013

All other applications: March 10, 2013

Full payment: April 10, 2013

Requirements: Study Abroad Programs

Questions about the itinerary and program itself, please contact:

Fr. Michael Patella, OSB
Holy Land Study Tour Coordinator 
Saint John's School of Theology·Seminary
P.O. Box 7288
Collegeville, MN 56321
mpatella@csbsju.edu

Questions related to admission procedures, please contact Mary Beth Banken mbanken@csbsju.edu 

1. A completed application form (.pdf) or apply online with a non-refundable application fee of $25.
2. A one-page essay describing how this program can help you fulfill your personal and professional goals and objectives.
3. Official transcripts if applicant is seeking credit.
4. Two recommendation from educational or professional contacts
   
   • For clergy and religious: One recommendation must come from the bishop or major superior
   • Online Recommendation Form (Email link to recommenders.)