Pilgrimage help sought

[Petros Stefanis]

Greeting in Christ to all,

I have recently made arrangements to finally make a trip that i have been long been wanting to go on. I plan on spending Pascha 2006 (especially Holy Saturday) in Jerusalem, and i hope to see the Holy Light there. I will then be travelling on to the Holy Mountain Agion Oros where I will stay as long as I can (up to two weeks, if I am allowed).

My question is this: Does anyone here know of a tour operator in Jerusalem that can take me to the Orthodox Christian places of worship in and around the Old City? I am also in need of accomodation although I can probably still find a hotel room somewhere near there, even at this late stage.

I find the prospect of navigating through the town of Jerusalem, and visiting the most relevant places of worship rather daunting, given that I have never been there before and I can only guess at what to expect.

Any help will be greatly appreciated,

Humbly in Christ,

Petros

[Byron Jack Gaist]

Dear Petros,

Greetings in Christ to you also! Unfortunately I don't know any tour operators in Jerusalem to give you their names. However, as I've been there a couple of times, I can urge you to spend a little more on a pre-booked tour rather than taking the offers of taxi drivers, who are always seeking to double-up as tour guides. If you can find an Orthodox company that offers tours, it is best to go with their approved guides. My wife and I felt quite cheated after our last experience, and by the end of it we wondered whether anything we had been told was true! Jerusalem is quite small, but obviously there is a great deal to see, so if you can find an official guide with a good knowledge of Orthodox Christian history, that will be best - and if you do find one (perhaps on the net before you go?), let me have their number!

All the best for your pilgrimages, and God be with you.

In Christ
Byron

[Petros Stefanis]

Dear Byron,

Thank you very much for your sound advice, it sure sounds good to me. I am searching high and low for a suitable guide to show me around, and I may have found one, I think. I am also trying to find the exact street adresses of the churches I wish to visit (eg Church of the Nativity, Church of the Ressurection, The Holy Sepulchre, etc)I may have to write a letter to the Jerusalem Patriarchate for this info if I cannot find it online.
Thanks again Byron,

In Christ,

Petros

[sophiakounari]

Dear Petros.Hello.A very good tourist office which organizes tours to Holy Land from over 40 years, is called: Mistakidis Tours.Sokratous str. 48.Omonia square.Tel.210 5234396, 210 5221860. Fax 210 5234397.E'Mail :Mistakidis@netours.gr . If you would like, please send your address and director Grigoris, will send you a program for Easter 2006.Guide in Greek English and Russian.Also tours to Santa Caterina and Egypt.[visiting places of holy family escaping to Egypt].In Christ, Sophia.