In 1966 my wife and I went on a Holy Land tour which included the following countries, Egypt (Cairo and Giza), Lebanon (Beirut, Byblos), Jordan (Jerusalem), Israel (Jerusalem, Galilee, Capernaum, Nazareth), and Greece (Athens). The photos in this gallery are from the scanned slides that were taken during the tour.
To the casual tourist, just as to the devout pilgrim, the Holy Land is a rich storehouse of treasures. It is heir to a heritage rich in historical and religious significance. Here the traveler, the pilgrim, can walk in the footsteps of Christ. They come to the Holy Land, which is the cradle of faith for a large number of people. They come to see where Christ was born, where he preached, and where he carried the cross to his death on Calvary. They come to see the places that have been merely names come alive – Bethlehem, the Garden of Gethsemane, the River Jordan, the Sea of Galilee, and Nazareth.
You are led to the traditional spot of the birth of Christ. It is marked with a silver star.
Jericho, where the walls came tumbling down, lays claim as the oldest walled city in the world. Excavations show evidence of 5,000 B.C. walls. Guides point across the diggings to a high peak and call it “Mount of Temptation, where Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights and was tempted by the devil.” The River Jordan where Jesus was baptized by John and the Dead Sea are also visited.
The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is visited. With its graceful dome and pillars and its rich decorations of gold and mosaics it is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.
Here the visitor may learn for the first time that Jerusalem is not only the birthplace of the Jewish and Christian religions, but is revered by Muslims as well. To them, it is the third most sacred city on earth, surpassed only by Mecca and Medina. The Dome of the Rock, a mosque, symbolizes something to all three religions.

The Holy Land is tiny, barren, and seemingly insignificant. Its cities have been sacked and devastated time and again, its people have known every tragedy. Yet the three great monotheistic religions – belief in a single God – were born or nurtured in this arid land. It is a paradox that the land is still in strife, yet its spiritual values have lighted the way for much of mankind.

Captions under many photos will relate the religious significance of that photo. I want to EMPHASIZE that the information in the captions of most photos relating to their religious significance was given to us by the Tour Guides.
The photos from Greece (Athens) are in a separate gallery next to this one.