After four months of lagging tourism numbers compared to the record-setting level of 2010, Israel’s fortunes seem to have turned as the number of visitors to the Holy Land in the month of May was higher than the same month last year - a 5 percent increase over the former record.

Some 308,000 visitors arrived in Israel during the spring month and a total of 1,350,000 since January. In general, the numbers have been down slightly from last year. The January to May period in 2011 showed a 2 percent drop from 2010.
 
“The success of the Tourism Ministry in stabilizing incoming tourism to Israel, given the geopolitical situation in the region that is affecting the image of the region and Israel within it, is both impressive and important,” said Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov. “We will continue in these efforts in the coming months.”
 
Misezhnikov is in Milan, Italy this week to launch “Israel Week,” a worldwide campaign to promote tourism to Israel. The Tourism Ministry is planning to invest 60 million shekels in the summer campaign.

“This is the time to exploit opportunities, to be flexible and respond swiftly and, at the same time, to maintain ongoing market analysis,” Misezhnikov said. “We will work to maximize the marketing investment and to significantly shorten the period of recovery.”

Misezhnikov was in Italy last week as part of "Israel Week," launched in Milan to promote tourism to the Holy Land. The minister signed an agreement with his Italian counterpart Tourism Minister Michela Vittoria Brambilla to promote bilateral tourism, information exchange in various fields, the promotion of Christian and pilgrim tourism to Israel and culinary and cultural events.
 

Tags: israel holy land tourism 

With the arrival of Advent and the Christmas season, the Holy Land has no dearth of services and masses to attend in preparation for Christmas, be it on Dec. 25, Jan. 6 or the Armenian celebration on Jan. 19, 2012.

To make it easy for you Travelujah has created the following listing, by city, church and denomination, of the services from now until the end of the Orthodox Christmas season, on Jan. 19. And as an added bonus, if you are not yet in the Holy Land, you can catch mass from the Milk Grotto live. Click here for more details.

BETHLEHEM

1. St. Catherine's and Grotto of the Nativity

Tel. 274.2425

December 15-23, 4:30 p.m.

Novena of Christmas

December 24, 1 p.m.

Tomb of Rachel - Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Fouad Twal, is welcomed by, Latin Parish Priest of Bethlehem and representatives of Bethlehem, Beit Jala and Beit Sahour

Photo: Travelujah

December 24, 2:30 p.m.

Manger Square - Solemn Entry of His Beatitude into the Basilica of the Nativity and

St. Catherine Church followed by Pontifical Vespers.

December 24, 4 p.m.

St. Catherine - Daily Procession to the Nativity Grotto

December 24, 9 p.m.

St. Catherine opens (tickets required – click here for more info)

December 24, 11 p.m.

St. Catherine - Solemn Office of Readings

December 25

Midnight at St. Catherine – Pontifical Eucharistic Concelebration (tickets required – click here for more info)

Mass at the Manger Grotto and Low masses until 1:30 a.m. in Arabic (tickets required – click here for more info)

1:30 a.m. at St. Catherine - Solemn traditional orocession to the Grotto until 2:30 a.m.

2:30 a.m. at the Manger Grotto - Low masses till 5:15 pm (no tickets required)

Photo: Travelujah

7:30 a.m. at St. Catherine – Parish mass in Arabic

10 a.m. at St. Catherine – Pontifical Christmas mass in Arabic and Latin

2 p.m. - Pilgrimage to Greek and then to Latin Shepherd’s Field

 

December 26

5 p.m. at the Manger Grotto for Feast of St. Stephen

6:30 a.m. at St. Catherine for Italian mass

7 a.m. At St. Catherine for Arabic mass

7:30 p.m at St. Catherine for holy masses

December 27

5 a.m. at Manger Grotto for Feast of St. John Evangelist

6:30 a.m. at St. Catherine for Italian mass

7 a.m. at St. Catherine for Arabic mass

Noon - Daily Procession to the Grotto

December 28, Feast of the Holy Innocents

6:30 a.m. at St. Catherine for Italian mass

7 a.m. at St. Catherine for Arabic mass

10 a.m. at the Grotto of the Holy Innocents for Latin Mass

Noon - Daily Procession to the Grotto

2 p.m. at the Grotto of the Holy Innocents for vespers

December 29

5 a.m. and 7: 30 a.m. at the Manger Grotto for holy masses

Noon - Daily Procession to the Grotto

3 p.m. at Shepherd’s Field for solemn mass at in commemoration of the shepherds

December 31

5 a.m. and 7: 30 a.m. at the Manger Grotto for holy masses

2 p.m. procession to Grotto for solemn vespers

4:30 p.m. Holy Mass of Thanksgiving in Arabic

January 1

5 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. at the Manger Grotto for holy masses

6:30 a.m. at St. Catherine for Italian mass

7 and 9 a.m. at St. Catherine for Arabic mass

11 a.m. Mass followed by Procession to the Milk Grotto with the Icon of Virgin Mary.

January 5, Eve of Epiphany

5 a.m. and 7: 30 a.m. at the Manger Grotto for holy masses

Photo: Travelujah

11 a.m. at the Tomb of Rachel the Custos of the Holy Land is welcomed by Latin Parish Priest and other representatives of Bethlehem

1:45 p.m. at St. Catherine for Pontifical vespers and procession to the Grotto

3:30 p.m. at St. Catherine for Office of Readings and procession to the Grotto

January 6, Epiphany

Midnight at the Grotto

Holy Masses till 9 a.m. with an interruption between 1 and 2:30 a.m. approximately

7 a.m. at St. Catherine for holy mass

10 a.m. at St. Catherine for Pontifical mass in Latin and Arabic

3:30 p.m. at St. Catherine for solemn vespers and solemn traditional procession to eh Grotto; Veneration of Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh

2. Greek Catholic Church

Star Street

Tel. 274.2493

December 24

8 p.m. Divine Liturgy in Arabic

December 25

9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy in Arabic

December 26

10 a.m. Divine Liturgy in Arabic

3. Salesian Fathers
Paul VI Street

Tel. 274.2421

December 24

6 p.m. Christmas Holy Mass at the Sacred Heart’s in Arabic

December 25

8:30 a.m. Christmas Holy Mass at the Sacred Heart’s in Arabic

4. Syrian Catholic Church
Manger Street
Tel. 274.2497

December 24
7 p.m. Holy mass in Assyrian and Arabic

JERUSALEM

CATHOLIC PARISHES

1. Armenian Catholic Vicariate
Via Dolorosa 3rd Station
Tel. 628.4262

December 24
4 p.m. Solemn High Mass of the Vigil in Armenian

December 25

10 a.m. Solemn High Mass in Armenian

January 1

10 a.m. High Mass in armenian

January 6
10 a.m. High Mass of Epiphany & Baptism of Jesus in Armenian

2. Austrian Hospice
Via Dolorosa 37
Tel. 626.5800

December 24

10 p.m. Celebration of the Holy Night in German

December 25

5 p.m. Holy Mass in German

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

December 26

8 a.m. Holy Mass in German

January 1
10:30 a.m. Holy Mass in German

3. Franciscans of Mary
Nablus Road 9
Tel. 627.6876

December 25
9:30 a.m. Holy Mass in French

4. Greek Catholic Patriarchate
Jaffa Gate
Tel. 628.2023

December 23

10 a.m. Paramon: Vespers and Divine liturgy, St. Basil Prayer

December 24

4:30 p.m. Vespers and Divine Liturgy, blessed bread

December 25

9 a.m. Office & Pontifical liturgy at the Patriarchate

December 26

9 a.m. Divine Liturgy at the patriarchate

December 31
6 p.m. Vespers and blessing of the bread

January 1

9 a.m. Divine liturgy at the patriarchate

January 5

10 a.m. Paramon: Vespers and Divine liturgy,

6 p.m. Blessing of the bread & Pontifical Mass

January 6

9 a.m. Office & Pontifical Liturgy at the patriarchate

5. Dormition Abbey
Mount Zion
Tel. 565.5330

December 24

Midnight Mass in German

December 25

11 a.m. Mass in German

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

December 26

8 a.m. Mass in German

January 1
9 a.m. Mass in German

6. House of Saints Simeon and Anna
HaRav Kook St. 10,
Tel. 624.8255

December 24

9 p.m. Holy Mass in Hebrew

December 25

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Hebrew

7. Latin Patriarchate
Jaffa Gate
Tel. 628.2323

January 1

10:30 a.m. Feast of the Mother of God, High Mass for Peace in Arabic

8. Maronite Vicariate
Jaffa Gate, Maronite Convent Road 25
Tel. 628.2158

December 25

10 a.m. Holy Mass in Arabic and Assyrian

9. Pontifical Institute – Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center
New Gate
Tel. 627.9111

December 24
11:30 p.m. Carols and Christmas Midnight Mass (multilingual)

December 25

10 a.m. Solemn High Mass (multilingual)

6:30 p.m. Holy Mass (multilingual)

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

December 31

11 p.m. Holy Mass in English

January 1
10 a.m. Solemn High Mass in English

6:30 p.m. Holy Mass in English

January 6

6:30 p.m. Holy Mass in English

10. St. James Terra Sancta Church
Beit Hanina, Nablus Road
Tel. 585.1477

December 24
7 p.m. Solemn High Mass and Procession in Arabic

December 25

10 a.m. Solemn High Mass in Arabic

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

December 31
5 p.m. Thanksgiving Holy Mass in Arabic

January 1

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

January 6
10 a.m. Solemn High Mass in Arabic

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

11. St. Saviour's Parish Church
New Gate
Tel. 626.6605

December 24
7:30 p.m. Solemn High Mass in arabic and Latin

December 25

7:30, 9 and 11 a.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

10 a.m. Solemn High Mass in Latin

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

December 31

5 p.m. Thanksgiving Holy Mass in Arabic and Latin

January 1
9 a.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

January 6

7:30 a.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

9 a.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

5 p.m. Holy Mass in Arabic

12. St. Stephen's Basilica (Ecole Biblique)
Nablus Road 6
Tel. 626.4468

December 24
9:30 p.m. Holy Night Mass (including the Office of Vigils) in French

December 25
11:30 a.m. Christmas Solemn Mass in French

December 26
10:30 a.m. Solemn Mass of St. Stephen Protomartyr in French

13. St. Thomas Catholic Vicariate
Chaldean Street 6
Tel. 628.2657

December 25
10 a.m. Holy Mass in Assyrian and Arabic

JERUSALEM

OTHER DENOMINATIONS

1. Anglican Cathedral of St. George
20 Nablus Road
Tel. 627.1670, www.j-diocese.org

December 24

4 p.m. Carol Service in the Shepherds Field (YMCA) of Beit Sahour in Arabic and English

7 p.m. Busses depart from the Cathedral in Jerusalem for Bethlehem. (Reservations required. Deadline for reservations is Dec. 19. Contact the Cathedral at the above phone number for details.)

9 p.m. Service of Lessons & Carols in the Nativity Church of Bethlehem in Arabic and English

Busses return to Jerusalem following the service.

11:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist “Midnight Mass” for the feast of the Nativity at the Cathedral, Jerusalem in Arabic and English

December 25

8 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Christmas Day in English

10 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Christmas Day in Arabic and English

6 p.m. Evening Prayer in English

December 26
7 a.m. Holy Eucharist, St. Stephen's Day in English

11 a.m. Holy Eucharist in English

2. Christ Church
Jaffa Gate
Tel. 627.7727/9

December 24

7 p.m. Christmas Carols in the Church

10:30 p.m. Nine Lessons and Carols with Eucharist

 

December 25

10:30 a.m. Family Christmas Service with Eucharist

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

December 31

11 p.m. New Year’s Eve Service with Eucharist

3. Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
Old City, Muristan Road
Tel. 626.6800

December 24
5 p.m. International Service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem

10:30 p.m. Christmette in the Redeemer Church in Jerusalem

December 25
10:30 a.m. Service in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer

December 31

7 p.m. New Year’s Eve Service in the Redeemer Church

January 1
10:30 a.m. New Year's Service

4. Church of the Ascension
Augusta Victoria Compound, Mount of Olives
Tel. 628.

December 26

4 p.m. Christmas Carols

January 7
6 p.m. Abendmahlsgottesdienst zu Epiphanias in German

5. St. Andrew's Scottish Memorial Church
1 David Remez Street
Tel. 673.2401

December 24
11:15 p.m. Christmas Watchnight Service in English

December 25

10:15 a.m. Christmas Communion Service in English

6. The Danish Lutheran Church, the Danish Israel Mission
Bar Kochba Street 91/5
Tel. 532.4254, 054.442.3154 (Pastor Jakob Wilms Niesen)

December 4

Advent service in St John’s chapel Redeemer Church

December 21

Guided tour to Bethlehem

December 24
2 p.m. Julegudstjeneste i Sct. John's Chapel in Danish

7. Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission

Shivtei Israel Street 25
Tel. 628.8631

December 3

3 p.m. Worship Service in Finnish

December 14
6 p.m. Christmas Carols in Finnish

December 24
10 a.m. Christmas Worship in Finnish

January 7
3 p.m. Worship Service in Finnish

8. Jerusalem Baptist Church
Narkis Street 4
Tel. 624.8749, 050-8193060

Dec 18
10:45 a.m. Christmas Service

9. YMCA West Jerusalem
King David Street 26
Tel. 569.2692

December 11
Christmas tree decoration

December 24
Christmas Eve Family Carol Service in English

 

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

10. Swedish Theological Institute
Prophets' Street 58
Tel. 625.3822

December 25
6 p.m. Juldagen Christmas Day in Swedish

January 1
6 p.m. New Year’s Day in Swedish

11. YMCA East Jerusalem
Nablus Road 29
Tel. 628.6888

December 24
4:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service at Y.M.C.A. Shepherds' Fields, Beit Sahour in English. Buses will leave from East Jerusalem YMCA at 3:30 p.m. Cost: $7 per person. Last day to register is December 22.

BETHLEHEM

ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

1. St. Catherine

January 6

8:30 a.m. The Syrian Archbishop arrives at Manger Square

10 a.m. The Coptic Archbishop arrives at Manger Square

11 a.m. The Greek Patriarch arrives at Manger Square

1 p.m. Syrian first Liturgy and Exaltation of the Holy Cross in The Grotto

2:30 p.m. Coptic Vespers

3 p.m. Syrian Vespers

10:30 p.m. Greek Matins

Photo: Travelujah

10:40 p.m. Syrian Midnight and morning official Order Prayers

11 p.m. Coptic Midnight and morning official Order Prayers

Midnight Greek Service, ends at 3.30 am

January 7

2 to 5 a.m. High Liturgy and the Second Exaltation of the Holy Cross in the Grotto

2. Romanian Church

Tel. 626.3034

The Romanian Church participates in all liturgies and prayers of the Greek Orthodox Church.

3. Ethiopian Monastery of Peace-Church of Eyesus

Milk Grotto Street

Tel. 628.2848

January 6

3 p.m. Arrival at the Manger Square and procession to the Church of Eyesus

4 p.m. Vespers till 5 p.m.

8:45 p.m. Bells, prayers and veneration of the Icons

9:50 p.m. Laudes (Mahlet)

Midnight Liturgy (Kidassie)

January 7

6 a.m. Dispersal or completion of the Festivity

4. Armenian Church

Basilica of the Nativity
Manger Square
Tel. 274.2410

January 18

11 a.m. Arrival of the Armenian Patriarch at Manger Square

2 p.m. Entry in the Basilica of Nativity – Vespers and Christmas Eve Mass

10 p.m. Armenian Midnight Service, ends at 1 a.m.

January 19 (Feast of Epiphany starts)

1 to 6 a.m. Blessing of the Holy Water & Episcopal High Mass in the Grotto

JERUSALEM

ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

1. Greek Church

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City, Tel. 6284202, Fax: 6282048

January 6

11 p.m. Midnight Service

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

2. Romanian Church
Shivtei Israel Street 46
Tel. 626.3034

January 6

7 p.m. Vespers

January 7-9

8:30 a.m. Holy Liturgy

3. Russian Church St. Mary Magdalene
Gethsemane
Tel. 628.4371

January 6

10 a.m. Vespers, Liturgy of St. Basil

5 p.m. Vigil Service

January 7

8 a.m. Divine Liturgy

4:30 p.m. Vespers

January 8

7 a.m. Divine Liturgy

4. Russian Church (Moscow Mission)
Russian Compound, Kheshin Street
Tel. 625.2565

January 6

5 p.m. Vespers at Holy Trinity Cathedral

January 7
Midnight - Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral

5. St. James Cathedral
Armenian Orthodox Patriarchate Road
Tel. 628.2331

January 18

1 p.m. Eve of the Nativity at Holy Sepulchre

January 25

3 p.m. Vespers at St. James Cathedral

Photo: All About Jerusalem.com

January 26

8:30 a.m. High Mass at Holy Sepulchre

How to Get Tickets for Masses

 

To attend midnight mass in Bethlehem you must submit a written request with the names of all the participants, nationality, denomination (Catholic, Protestant, etc.), and passport number to fpo@cicts.org, or by fax to 011-972-2-6286417.

 

Please note that there is always significantly more demand for tickets than availability. Therefore you must contact the Franciscan Pilgrims Office (Tel. 02-6272697) two weeks before Christmas to inquire whether tickets are available.

 

*   *    *

Travelujah is the leading Christian social network focused on travel to the Holy Land. People can learn, plan and share their Holy Land tour and travel experiences on Travelujah.

Tags: christmas holy land christmas mass 

Israel ranked second out of 48 countries in a vote by Russian citizens selecting their choice for the best tourism and sightseeing country worldwide. The vote was part of a competition by National Geographic Russia Magazine and was sponsored by the Russian tourism industry.

Israel's second-place ranking placed it right after Italy, which came in first, and right before third-place Holland. Israel surpassed 22 other countries including the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, China. Competition organizers said the results of the vote signify the attractiveness of these destinations to the Russian market and gives an indication of future tourism to those nations.

The National Geographic Traveler Awards in Russia is an annual competition. During the first stage of the competition countries are chosen by travel agents and tour operators in Russia. Then magazine readers choose their favorite destinations. In the third stage, the competition is open to a vote for anyone in Russia. This year, more than 10,000 readers and Russian citizens placed their vote for the 48 countries in the various categories.

A victory ensures the winning countries feature articles in the international edition of National Geographic plus a series of articles in Russian's National Geographic that reaches more than 140,000 monthly readers.

In the last three years, Israel's Ministry of Tourism has increased its efforts to attract Russian travelers. The efforts appear to be paying off. In 2010, tourism from Russia to Israel placed second (following the U.S.) with more than 550,000 visitors.

The trend has continued already this year with 357,000 Russians visiting the country through September. The preferred destinations for Russian tourists include Eilat, the Dead Sea, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the various Russian Orthodox sites in Israel.

Israel's Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov said Russians' connection to Israel was buoyed when the country recently removed its visa requirement for tourists from Russia to the Holy Land, making Israel a more attractive and accessible destination.

“Despite the global economic crisis, we have witnessed an increase in tourism over the last year,” Misezhnikov said. “Russia has turned into the second leader in tourism to Israel and will continue to remain in the center of the Ministry of Tourism's marketing efforts, while larger budgets are allocated.”

Tags: israel holy land tourism