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FLASH -- UPDATE
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2024 Pilgrimage is Rescheduled to October 2025
The Hamas/Israel War is causing incalculable harm to all the peoples of the Holy Land.  We pray for the Israeli and Palestinian people who are suffering greatly because of the conflict.  Our hearts are broken for the innocent victims, hostages, women and children who are paying a huge price for the decisions of their leaders.  Our prayers are for a lasting peace with justice for all as the ultimate outcome.  I plan to post up some links of interest to those who are wanting to pray or give help with the troubles in the Holy Land.  

Pilgrimages contribute to the financial wellbeing of the peoples of the Holy Land and are a huge blessing to pilgrims.  So it is deeply disappointing  to have to reschedule.  But, of course, safety of pilgrims must always come first.  Our planned May 2024 pilgrimage did not happen.    I've concluded that, given the present uncertainty and lead times needed to properly plan and lead a pilgrimage, we must reschedule to the Fall of 2025.

We are all set for May 4-15, 2025.   We already hold some excellent hotel reservations, having booked the Golan Hotel, Tiberias and the Golden Walls Hotel, Jerusalem more than a year ago.   This is a very good thing as it seems that even now all the better hotels are fully booked for Spring 2025!  It would seem that desire to make pilgrimage continues.  Pressure on hotel space will increase because of the inevitable scramble of groups seeking to reschedule.  I will not yet put up details for our 2025 tour -- dates are set.  Details I will publish in the next two or three months.  The itinerary will be similar to prior pilgrimages (which are still posted here) but with a few additions and changes.

Given the pressure on hotel rooms -- early booking for 2025 will be important.  I presently hold a block of 20 rooms at present.  (If our group is full I will need 30 rooms.)  I can only hold a block for so long before I need to put down a substantial deposit -- and so if you want to be part of our 2025 pilgrimage, here is what you should do:  
1.  Subscribe to our mailing list/newsletter.    
2.  Send a Deposit of US$250  CA$325.  This will guarantee your place as at that point I will hold a room in your name.  If we cancel you will get a full refund.  If you cancel six months before departure you only loose the deposit.  

​So given that our 2025 pilgrimage may well be fully booked, reserving now is a good decision if you think you want to go with us.

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem!

Next Year in Jerusalem!

Canon Vicars Hodge

Join us for 12-15 Days in the Holy Land​

Living Stones Pilgrimage

May 6 to 18, 2024 (Postponed to 2025)
  • Walk in the footsteps of Jesus and his disciples in the land where faith was born. 
  • Discover for yourself why St. Jerome called the Holy Land the "Fifth Gospel."
  • A comprehensive pilgrimage (12 days/11 Nights.)
  • Visit all the principal Holy sites for Christians in the lands of the Bible.  
  • Highlights include Galilee, Caesarea, Nazareth, Cana, the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, Hebron and Bethlehem.
  • Meet, worship, and interact with local believers and ministries. 
  • Expert local guides and interpretation with leadership from Canon Vicars Hodge and Archbishop David Edwards.​
  • Headsets provided to all pilgrims to assist in hearing the guides and leaders.
  • Our deluxe motor-coach is Wi-Fi equipped so pilgrims can keep in touch.
  • Our Hotels are well chosen.  The Golan Hotel in Tiberias and the Golden Walls in Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Extension

    May 18-20, 2024
  • ​This optional extension is highly recommended
  • After the primary tour, most of our groups stay for this relatively low-cost extension.
  • ​One could easily spend a month exploring the Holy City.  Three thousand years of Biblical history is here to see and absorb.
  • This extension allows exploring a few more significant sites over 3 days and 3 Nights of Jerusalem "at leisure."     
  • Relax, shop, set out on your own or follow Archbishop David and Canon Vicars as they visit additional sites in the Holy City and revisit others.  ​


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Pilgrimage leaders:

Canon Vicars Hodge

ArchBishop David Edwards

PictureVicars Hodge
The Rev. Canon Vicars Hodge plans the itinerary and program for our pilgrimage tours.  He is the liaison between our tour operators, hotels, guides & drivers, restaurants, and our group and is responsible for reservations and arrangements.  

Vicars is an experienced Anglican Priest with a passion for the Holy Land and her people.  Over the past 30 years he has accompanied a number of pilgrim tours in the land that St. Jerome called "The Fifth Gospel."  Vicars is a retired Rector of Trinity Church, Sarnia where he continues to serve as Associate Priest.  He is the Canon Missioner of the Diocese of Huron.   

Vicars has a keen interest in the Bible, history and theology.  He will supplement the local Tour Guide’s talks, offering devotional moments and Biblical insight to the various sites we visit.  Vicars will be available to answer questions as they arise.

This will be Vicars’ eighth group pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  As well, in 2017 he spent a 60 Day Sabbatical living at Tantur Institute, on a hill outside Jerusalem overlooking Bethlehem. Asked why he keeps returning to the Holy Land, Vicars says: "Pilgrims to the Holy Land never return home unchanged.  I am thrilled to watch as the stories of scripture come to life in their actual context and faith grows stronger.   My heart sings as I watch new friendships form between western pilgrims and the people of the land. Pilgrimage has deep and enduring kingdom value and I feel honoured to be part of it."

Vicars is married to Carole and they have three adult children and three grandchildren.  When he is not preaching or on pilgrimage he is usually found in his woodworking shop.

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The Most Rev. David Edwards will share the teaching and leadership of our 2024 pilgrimage. Bishop Edwards has a lifetime of experience as a pastor and teacher and a great love for helping people to come to know Jesus and understand the Bible.

Archbishop David Edwards is the 10th Bishop of Fredericton and Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada (Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces.)  He was born and educated in Shropshire, England and worked as a high school history teacher prior before training for ministry as  Bishop's Advisor in Evangelism.  He was ordained a priest in 1995 and then moved to New Brunswick in 1998 as Principal of Taylor College of Evangelism.

In New Brunswick David served as a parish priest, territorial archdeacon, and as  Parish Development Officer for the Diocese of Fredericton.  He was elected coadjutor bishop May 10, 2014 and installed as the tenth Bishop of Fredericton a few months later.  In 2020 he was elected and installed as Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada (Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces).  He serves on Wycliffe College Toronto's Board of Trustees and is the Liaison Bishop to the Mission to Seafarers, Canada.

David enjoys reading, walking and has been a lifetime supporter of the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club (the Wolves). David was married to Janet until her death in 2018.  He married Debbie (Collicott) in early 2020 (who will also be joining our pilgrimage.) 

Team Ministry
  • Canon Vicars and Bishop David have shared in ministry previously -- and they look forward to sharing in the leadership of this pilgrimage.   Vicars & +David's teaching will supplement the expert local guides who will be with us on our various excursions. 
  • Also assisting with pilgrimage leadership is the Rev. Michael Caines who is making his second pilgrimage.  Michael will assist with both logistics and worship. 
  • Registrar for our Pilgrimage is Jenna Kimbo (Vicars' daughter).  She is responsible for hotel reservations, rooming lists, coordination of flights, entry visas, and a host of other 'behind the scenes' administration. 
Limited Group Size:  Our group size is limited by two factors:
Bus Space
We use an "oversize" motor coach with seating for 54 passengers including leaders.  This sets the "upper limit" on participants.
Hotel Room Availability:  ​  
We presently hold a block of 25 hotel rooms - enough rooms for the first 30-35 pilgrims who register.   Once this block is filled, we request more rooms, subject to availability.  As long as hotels have rooms, we can add new registrations.  Unfortunately, the better hotels fill up in the Holy Land and we sometimes disappoint people who seek to register late.  Last year we had to stop adding participants at 47 as no further rooms could be had.
So, the bottom line is this, if you want to go, register early.    
To be kept up to date please subscribe to our newsletter and you will get our periodic updates as our plans develop. ​
For more information send email to Canon Vicars Hodge
  • Home
  • Tour Details
    • Itinerary >
      • Jerusalem Extension
    • Is this for me?
    • Why Pilgrimage?
    • Planning your Pilgrimage >
      • Health & Safety
      • Hotels
      • Albina Tours Ltd.
      • Air Travel
      • Passports
      • Currency
      • Electricity
      • Shopping
    • More Info
    • Weather & Packing List
  • Dig In
    • Downloads
    • Donations
    • Easter Greeting
    • Christians of the Holy Land
    • Photos
    • Videos
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  • About Us
    • Our Mission
  • Contact Us
    • Application 2024
    • Subscribe
  • Woodworking Gallery