Walking in the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth and Martin Luther

A pilgrimage is defined as a journey in search of moral or spiritual significance. Many Christians journey to the holy sites in Israel to follow in the footsteps of where Jesus of Nazareth lived and worked. Those of the Protestant persuasion can trek to Luther Country in Germany to pay homage to the sites where Martin Luther and other Protestant reformers helped birth the Protestant Reformation.

Walking in footsteps of Martin Luther and Jesus of Nazareth In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Germany and Israel establishing their diplomatic relationship, the German National Tourist Office (GNTB) and the Israel Ministry of Tourism are joining efforts in marketing spiritual travel to Protestant Americans. Through this joint tourism venture spawning 5/6 overnights that includes 4 full-day programs, spiritual pilgrims can walk in the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth and Martin Luther.

This trek starts out in Nazareth, the city where according to tradition, the Angel Gabriel told Mary she would conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit. There Jesus spent his childhood and youth. Next is a tour around the Sea of Galilee to visit the towns where Jesus did the bulk of his ministry.

Then the tour heads to Qasr El Yahud at the Jordan River where according to the biblical accounts, Jesus was baptized by John before heading to Jerusalem. Here tourist walk the cites of. Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. Among the sites visited include the Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, the Israel Museum and the Western Wall. Also this tour goes to two sites frequented by Christian pilgrims to pay homage to Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. First is the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional Catholic site and the Garden Tomb, an alternative Protestant site.

Next up the tour heads to Germany where the first stop is Berlin. Then the tour heads to Wittenberg where Luther taught and according to tradition, he nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in 1517. Next up is Eisleben where Luther was born and died followed by a visit to Erfurt where Luther spent six years there as monk. The tour concludes with a visit to Eisenbach and Wartburg. Here in Wartburg Castle, Luther went into hiding and translated the Bible into German.

Log on to Israel and Germany for additional information about booking a pilgrimage to these countries.