Announcement banner for the RTOC Holy Land Pilgrimage, January 8–16, 2027, led by Bishop Philaretos, with lodging in the Old City of Jerusalem, set against a panoramic view of the ancient city walls and Holy Sepulchre.

Holy Land Pilgrimage (January 8–16, 2027) — Reservation Deposit

312,00 €

Under the Archpastoral Guidance of His Grace Bishop Philaretos
Western European Diocese of the Russian True Orthodox Church (RTOC)

Walk the sacred ground blessed by the footsteps our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos, and the Holy Apostles. Staying right inside the historic walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, this 9-day journey offers an unmissable opportunity to venerate the holy shrines in True Orthodox fellowship.

  • Dates: January 8–16, 2027 (9 Days / 8 Nights)
  • Accommodations: Guest house inside the Old City of Jerusalem
  • Total Pilgrimage Ticket Cost: €1,250 per person (ages 2 and older)
  • Deposit Today: €312 (€300 deposit credited to your trip + €12 electronic payment fee)
  • Remaining Balance: Paid upon arrival in Jerusalem

Note for Families: Immediate families need only purchase one deposit to register their entire household. (Friends traveling together must book individually).

Please list the Full Name and Approximate Age for each person in your party (one person per line). For example: John Smith, 42 Mary Smith, 39 Peter Smith, 7 Baby Anna Smith, 14 months
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SKU: RTOC-HL-2027 Category:

Walking in the Footsteps of our Saviour

“Walking the ground trodden by our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Most Holy Theotokos, and the Holy Apostles is an experience you’ll carry for the rest of your life.”

Under the archpastoral guidance of His Grace Bishop Philaretos, this journey is arranged not as a commercial holiday or secular tour, but as a true spiritual pilgrimage: an opportunity to kneel at the most venerable shrines of Orthodox Christendom and travel in a warm atmosphere of True Orthodox Christian unity.

A Rare Blessing: Lodging in the Heart of the Old City

We are exceptionally fortunate to have secured lodging at a guest house situated right inside the Old City of Jerusalem.

Accommodations inside the Old City walls are among the most sought-after and expensive in the world. Staying here allows our pilgrims to step straight out the front door into the sacred fabric of Jerusalem—just steps from Golgotha and the Empty Tomb.

Orthodox Fellowship & Families

A pilgrimage among brethren who share the same confession of Faith is an exceedingly rare and edifying joy. Over the years, our diocesan journeys have deepened lasting friendships across our parishes and have even, under God’s Providence, resulted in pious Orthodox marriages.

While we make no promises, we warmly encourage families with pious, marriageable adult children seeking a spouse within the Russian True Orthodox Church to attend. Experiencing the holy places together in prayer, reverence, and simplicity is one of the most natural, wholesome settings to meet new pious families in our church.

Our Pilgrimage Program

(Because our pilgrimage spans 9 days and 8 nights, our schedule is arranged below by spiritual region. The exact daily sequence will be coordinated locally to make the most prayerful use of our time).

1. The Old City of Jerusalem & the Passion of the Lord

  • Prostrating before the All-Holy and Life-Giving Tomb of Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
  • Kneeling at Golgotha, the Stone of Anointing, and the Chapel of the Finding of the Precious Cross.
  • Walking the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) and venerating the Praetorium, the Apostle Peter’s Prison, and the Birthplace of the Most Holy Theotokos.
  • The Sheep’s Pool of Bethesda, the Convent of the Great Theotokos, and kneeling at the Tomb of the Most Holy Theotokos in Gethsemane.

2. Mount Sion, the Mount of Olives & the Environs of Jerusalem

  • Ascending the Mount of Olives to venerate the site of the Lord’s Holy Ascension (where Christ left His sacred footprint upon departing to sit at the right hand of the Father).
  • Visiting the Monastery of “Little Galilee”, where the risen Saviour twice appeared to His Disciples.
  • Ascending Mount Sion to venerate the Upper Room of the Mystical Supper, the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the House of St. John the Theologian where the Panagia fell asleep.
  • Pilgrimage to the Monastery of the Holy Cross, the Gorny Convent, and Katamonas (the sanctuary and Tomb of the Righteous St. Symeon the God-bearer).

3. The Judaean Wilderness, Jericho & the Jordan

  • Journeying to the Jordan River for the traditional blessing of the waters at the site of Christ’s Holy Theophany.
  • Praying at the ancient desert Monastery of St. Gerasimos of the Jordan.
  • Excursion into the dramatic cliffs of the Wadi Qelt to venerate the cliff-hanging Monastery of St. George of Hozeva.
  • Visiting Sarantarion (the Mount of Temptation), the spring of the Prophet Elisha, and the Sycamore Tree of Zacchaeus.
  • Kneeling at the Tomb of the Righteous, Four-Days-Dead St. Lazarus in Bethany.

4. Bethlehem & the Desert Lavras

  • Kneeling in the Holy Cave of the Nativity within the ancient Basilica in Bethlehem.
  • The Monastery of the Shepherds’ Field, where the angels proclaimed the birth of the Saviour to the world.
  • The great coenobitic foundation of the Monastery of St. Theodosius the Coenobite.
  • Journeying by private desert taxis into the wilderness gorge to the ancient, unbroken bastion of Orthodox monasticism: the Great Lavra of St. Sabbas the Sanctified.

5. Galilee & the North

  • Ascending by taxi to the summit of Mount Tabor, the sacred peak of the Holy Transfiguration.
  • Journeying to Nazareth to venerate the site of the Archangel Gabriel’s Annunciation to the Mother of God.
  • Visiting Cana of Galilee, where our Lord worked His first public miracle by turning water into wine.
  • Traveling to the shores of the Sea of Galilee to venerate at the Monastery of the Holy Apostles in Capernaum, where our Lord spent much of His earthly ministry.

6. Hebron, Samaria & Lydda

  • Excursion to Hebron and the Monastery of the Holy Trinity at the Oak of Mamre, where Abraham showed hospitality to the Three Angels.
  • Journeying into Samaria to pray at Jacob’s Well, where Christ spoke with the Samaritan woman (St. Photini).
  • Veneration at the Tomb of the Holy Great-Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer in Lydda on our return journey.

Pilgrimage Cost & What is Included

The trip is €1,250 per person (infants under 2 are free).

Your €300 deposit comes straight off your final total. You just pay the rest in cash when we meet at the guest house in Jerusalem on Day 1:

  • 1 person: €950 cash on arrival
  • 2 people: €2,200 cash on arrival
  • 3 people: €3,450 cash on arrival
  • 4 people: €4,700 cash on arrival

(All deposits are strictly non-refundable).

What is Included:

  • 8 nights accommodation at our guest house right inside the Old City of Jerusalem.
  • Breakfast and dinner every day.
  • All group bus travel for the full itinerary and airport pickups/drop-offs.
  • Special private transport: Local taxis for places the tour bus can’t access, such as Mt. Tabor.
  • All entrance tickets to every holy site on the program.

What is Not Included:

  • Plane tickets to/from Tel Aviv.
  • Travel and medical insurance (mandatory).
  • Lunches, snacks, and personal souvenirs.

Practical Details & Registration Guidelines

Rooming & Family Bookings

  • Shared Rooms: Standard pricing is based on sharing a double or triple room with pilgrims of the same gender (or with your spouse / immediate family).
  • Single Rooms: If you require a private room, please email us at [email protected] for a quote before booking. Single rooms inside the Old City are very scarce and cost considerably extra.
  • Infants & Children:
    • Under 2 Years Old (0–23 months): Travel free of charge, sharing their parents’ bed and sitting on a parent’s lap during bus transit.
    • Ages 2 and Older: Local transport regulations require every child aged 2+ to have their own dedicated belted seat on buses and their own bed at the guest house. Thus, there are no child discounts; all travelers aged 2+ pay the standard rate.
  • One Deposit per Household: Immediate families traveling together need only purchase one deposit online today to reserve their family’s place. Friends booking together must place separate orders.

This is a True Orthodox Pilgrimage

  • Russian True Orthodox Church (RTOC): This pilgrimage is organized by our Western European Diocese. Our church is not in communion with the official state patriarchates (Constantinople, Moscow, etc.) and will not be attending or participating in any services of the official churches in the Holy Land.
  • Visitors Welcome: Faithful Christians from outside the RTOC are warmly welcome to join us, provided they respect our canonical discipline and follow the directions of Bishop Philaretos and pilgrimage organisers throughout our journey.

Mandatory Travel Rules

  1. Do NOT Book Flights Until Cleared: The pilgrimage begins and ends at Tel Aviv (TLV). On January 8, aim for flights landing early afternoon or earlier; on January 16, aim for flights departing midday (12:00 PM) or later. You must email your proposed flight itinerary to [email protected] for written confirmation before purchasing tickets.
  2. Passport 6-Month Rule: Israeli border authorities require passports to be valid for at least 6 months past entry. Your passport must be valid until at least July 8, 2027 (or renewed before travel).
  3. Passport Scans: By local civil regulations, our Jerusalem guest house requires clear scans or photos of the photo page of every traveler’s passport (including infants). You agree to email these to us after registering.
  4. Shrine Access: While we intend to visit every holy place listed, monasteries, civil authorities, or local security conditions may occasionally close shrines without warning. Pilgrims are asked to undertake this pilgrimage with patience, prayer, and in a spirit of gratitude.

Space is Strictly Limited

Because our lodging is situated right in the Old City, capacity on beds in the guest house is capped. Please reserve as soon as you are able to guarantee your place on the pilgrimage.

To secure your place, please fill in your party’s details above, confirm the travel acknowledgements, and pay your reservation deposit.

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