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HomeHoly Robe Pilgrimage Tour (10-days)
The Holy Robe of Christ
Logo of the Holy Robe Pilgrimage
Holy Robe of Christ Tour from B-K EuroTours
According to tradition, St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great discovered the seamless robe worn by Christ as He carried the cross to His crucifixion in the Holy Land in the year 327 or 328 along with several other relics, including the True Cross. According to different versions of the story, she either bequeathed it or sent it to the city of Trier, Germany's oldest city, where Constantine had lived for some years before becoming emperor.
The relic is normally kept folded in a reliquary and cannot be directly viewed by the faithful. In 1512, Archbishop Richard von Greiffenklau opened the altar that had enshrined the tunic since the building of the Dom in the presence of Emperor Maximilian I and exhibited it. Subsequently pilgrimages took place at irregular intervals to view the garment: 1513, 1514, 1515, 1516, 1517, 1524, 1531, 1538, 1545, 1655, 1810, 1844, 1891, 1933, 1959, 1996. The last exhibition of the tunic, in 1996, was seen by over one million pilgrims and visitors.
Click on the link for a video (in German) of an examination of the Holy Robe by the Bishop of Trier, Dr. Stephen Ackermann.
The Holy Robe will be placed on display from April 13 to May 13, 2012, and B-K EuroTours is offering two pilgrimage trips during this period. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and be in the presence of a holy relic of Christianity. We will take only 20 pilgrims on each tour, and demand is expected to be high.
The dates of the Holy Robe Pilgrimage tour are:
25 April – 4 May 2012 (This trip is open until 2 February 2012)
Price: $3,500* - includes airfare, hotels, transportation, most meals.
An allowance of $1,200 will be given for guests making their own airfare arrangements.
*may vary due to exchange rate fluctuations
Constantine and Saint Helena
The Dom (Cathedral) - Trier Porta Nigra - Trier Cologne Cathedral at night St. Paulinis - Trier
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Revised Itinerary – 2012 Holy Robe Pilgrimage Tour
Wednesday, 25 April -- Leave Charlotte on US Airways flight #704 at 4:20pm for our overnight flight to Frankfurt. (suggested) Your flight arrangements can be made through Appalachian Travel, the partner agency of B-K EuroTours. For those making their own flight arrangements, a credit for the flight cost will be given by B-K EuroTours.
Thursday, 26 April -- Arrive in Frankfurt - We will clear Customs and Immigration, pick up our bags, and meet at the Information Booth outside the International Arrivals area. If we are all together, we will meet our driver, Martin, and our coach will take us to Wurzburg. Würzburg, a seat of the Prince-Bishops, was totally destroyed in WWII, but has been restored to its former glory. It is a lovely city located on the Main river. We will leave our luggage at the hotel, then after lunch we will visit the Marketplatz and the Marienkapelle. We will be staying in Wurzburg for three days. The rest of the day is reserved for just that - rest!
Friday, 27 April - Breakfast at the hotel, then a walk to the Residenz for a guided tour of this World Heritage Site at 11 am. We will also visit the private chapel of the Prince-Bishops. A guided tour will be offered to those who wish to explore this great Franconian town. The afternoon is also open for shopping, sights, etc.
Saturday, 28 April – We take a short bus ride to the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. An inspiration for the story of Pinocchio, and a setting for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (parts 1 and 2), it is a magical place, taking you back to the 14th century. Our local guide, Martin, will show us around his hometown. We will visit St. Jakobkirche and the Altar of the Holy Blood, carved by Tilman Riemenschneider (1501-1505). Then you may explore this beautiful town on your own.
Sunday, 29 April - We leave Wurzburg today for the coach ride to Koblenz. Founded as Roman settlement at the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers in 10 BC, Koblenz, some 100km downstream of Mainz, marks the transition from the Rhine Gorge to the gentler landscapes of the Middle Rhine, which continues down to Bonn 70km away. In its rebuilt form – a mix of old-looking and modern – it's a relaxed town. As the northern gateway to the Romantic Rhine – several cruises down both the Rhine and Mosel start here – and with a good collection of bars and restaurants in its likeable pedestrian center it makes a good base.
Monday, 30 April – After a coach ride, we will visit Trier’s Roman antiquities and churches in the morning, then have lunch. Our afternoon is reserved for our pilgrimage to the Holy Robe. So put on your hiking shoes, as we will be walking quite a ways!
Starting with St. Paulinis Church, we will proceed toward the pedestrian area through the arch of the Porta Nigra, constructed in the first century AD, and the only Roman gate still standing. We will pass Karl Marx' birthplace and the beautiful House of the Three Magi (Driekoenignhaus) on our way to the Marketplatz, the center of commercial activity in early Trier. We will pass the Dom (Cathedral) and visit it later (see below) and go on to the Basilika - Emperor Constantine's reception hall - from 300 AD. It is still in use as a Protestant church.
Fronting the Basilika is the Electoral Palace, built in the 17th century as a residence for the Prince-Bishops (Electors) of the Church. Walking through the palace gardens, we happen on the ruins of the Kaiserthermen (Imperial Baths), constructed under the direction of Constantine. Then, if we have the time (and energy), we will walk up to the Amphitheater, built in the first century AD. Lunch will follow.
After lunch we will return to the Dom to see the Holy Robe, the most precious relic in the Dom - the tunic of Christ. Tradition holds that Emperor Constantine’s mother, St. Helena, brought the Robe to Trier, the northern capital of the Roman Empire, in 327 AD., along with a number of other relics. Included in these were three nails from the True Cross, of which one Holy Nail remains – and it is on display and can be seen in the Dom museum, which we will also visit. You may photograph the Holy Nail, but not the Holy Robe.
The rest of the day is free for you to stroll the Marketplatz, shop, enjoy a coffee or a cold drink and people-watch. Our bus will take us back to the hotel at 6pm.
Tuesday, 1 May – We will tour along the Rhine River to Cologne after breakfast today. You can watch the river boats ply their way to and from the major cities and small villages along this avenue of commerce for so many centuries. Leaving our coach in Cologne, we will visit the great Cathedral and the reliquary of the three Magi (you can climb the 509 steps to the top, if you wish), and then we will stroll along the Rhine after lunch to the chocolate museum/factory.
The Imhoff-Stollwerck chocolate museum has been one of the major attractions in Cologne since 1993. We may walk the Rhine, or take the "Chocolate Express" - the little train ride from the Cathedral to the museum/factory. Get ready to have your sweet tooth satisfied! We will head back to our hotel around 5pm.
Wednesday, 2 April – Day trip to Luxembourg, to visit the US & German WWII Cemeteries, then on to the City and a tour of the underground fortifications. We will view the Ducal Palace, and have lunch and let you shop a bit in the markets of the City. After lunch, we go by coach to Castle Beaufort, a 11th century castle. Then it is back to the hotel in Koblenz.
Thursday, 3 April – This is a free day to shop, pack and get ready to leave. We will have an optional activity planned, as we have the coach at our disposal. For those who wish to participate, the cost is included in the overall price.
Friday, 4 April -- Our final day in Europe! We will leave Koblenz and travel to Frankfurt to catch US Airways flight #705 (suggested) back to Charlotte at 11:40am. We hope your experience has been memorable and that you will tell your friends about your experiences with B-K EuroTours!
25 April – 4 May 2012 - Some openings remain
An allowance of $1,200 will be given for guests making their own airfare arrangements.
*may vary due to exchange rate fluctuations
Terms and Conditions
Thank you for considering B-K EuroTours for your next getaway. We are excited that you are considering traveling with us on our Holy Robe Pilgrimage tour. Over the past 25 years we have led educational trips to Europe. We know Europe and Germany especially, love to travel, and enjoy meeting new people and sharing our experience with them. Our main goal is to have a safe, enjoyable, enlightening tour. We want you to join us again and again. We've tried to cover the main points of concern; however, we encourage your questions or comments. You can reach us by email at the "Contact Us" portion of this website, by phone at 828-719-0195, or by snail mail at 352 Seven Oaks Road, Boone, NC 28607.
Your Tour Guides: I am Bob Goddard, Owner and Chief Fun Officer of B-K EuroTours. I am retired from university teaching after 32 years, and have visited over 30 countries around the world as Director of the International Business Major. I will personally meet you at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport and be your tour guide.
Deposit and Final Payment: A deposit of $1,000.00 per person is required to guarantee space on the Holy Robe Pilgrimage tour. Deposit is due at the time the reservation is made. Checks, money orders, and credit cards are accepted on our website. Full payment must be made upon receipt of final invoice approximately 60 days prior to departure. Payments are payable to B-K EuroTours, 352 Seven Oaks Road, Boone, NC 28607.
Hotel Accommodations: We will stay at 3-Star hotels. Some hotels might not have an elevator so be prepared to use the stairs. All the accommodations will be clean, have a TV, internet capability, and will have private bath facilities. Unfortunately, not many hotels in Germany have air conditioning. You will be furnished with a list of accommodations and phone numbers before departure. While alternative hotels may be used, all hotel changes are of equal or higher quality to those advertised.
Baggage Handling: Baggage will be loaded and unloaded from the motor coach for you. All other baggage handling will be the responsibility of the tour participant. B-K EuroTours will not be responsible for lost or misplaced baggage.
Meals: A hearty German breakfast is included in the price of the tour. Dinners are included in the price of the tours. Some lunches are also included, and lunches can be obtained at any of the locations we visit at very reasonable prices from local establishments.
Transportation: All ground transportation in Germany is included in the price of the tour. We will travel by luxury motor coach in small groups of 20 or fewer guests. We want this to be fun, not a challenge. We will have a professional driver, as well as a local guide in each of the cities we visit.
Tour Cost: The price of tours described herein includes accommodations with breakfast buffet, dinners, ground transportation in Germany, admissions to all of the sites visited, and guide services. The price of the tour also includes airfare from Charlotte (CLT) to Frankfurt and return. Appalachian Travel can make your travel and insurance arrangements; however insurance charges are not included in the price of the tour. If you make your own air reservations, you must be in Frankfurt by 9am on the designated day the Holy Robe Pilgrimage Tour begins its Germany phase (when we are scheduled to land).
Insurance: B-K EuroTours strongly recommends that you purchase travel insurance. When you book your flight with our travel partner, Appalachian Travel, you may also purchase baggage insurance and trip cancellation insurance.
Health Insurance: If you have a health insurance carrier in the US, please call your carrier and confirm that your coverage is good in Germany and how to file claims. Medicare, however, is only good in the US so a limited term healthcare insurance policy might be a good investment. Health care could be very expensive in Germany. We hope there is no need for any type of health insurance, but accidents and illnesses can happen. It’s always a good idea to have an ample supply of your prescription medications with you in the proper containers.
Itinerary Variations: B-K EuroTours reserves the right to make reasonable changes or substitutions to any tour itinerary as we deem necessary, desirable or appropriate.
Passports, Visas, and Other Identification: Citizens of the United States and Canada traveling to Germany must have a valid passport. No visas are required. Citizens of other nations who are resident aliens of the United States must have a valid passport from their country and must carry with them the United States "green card" to re-enter the U.S. The name on the passport and the name on the airline tickets must be the same to avoid confusion when airlines check passports upon departures. We request that you furnish us with a photocopy of the information and picture page of your passport as soon as possible. This facilitates replacement of passports in case of loss or theft, and is necessary for verification of name, age, citizenship when traveling internationally.
Cancellations and Refunds: Any cancellations on the land portion of the tour are subject to the following cancellation charges:
• 90 days prior to departure: deposit fully refundable
• 89-51 days prior to departure: $ 800.00 per person fee charged
• 50-15 days prior to departure: $ 900.00 per person fee charged
• 14-1 days prior to departure: $ 1,000.00 per person fee charged
• Canceling after tour commences: $ 1,000.00 per person fee charged. If illness or other imperative reasons make it necessary to withdraw from the tour after land arrangements have commenced, a refund may be made for the unused balance of the tour, less cancellation expenses of $1,000.00.
B-K EuroTours Responsibility: B-K EuroTours and/or associated and/or affiliated or subsidiary companies are not responsible for and cannot be held liable for any injury, loss, damage, accident, detention, annoyance, expense or delay arising from (a) quarantine, strikes, force majeure, failure of any vehicle or means of conveyance, restrictions or regulations or through the acts or default of any company or persons engaged in conveying the tour participants or providing any tour service and other cases over which we have no control or (b) through any tardiness, misconduct or illegal acts on the part of any tour participant. Compensation for any mishap must be sought in the country the mishap occurred. B-K EuroTours reserves the right to refuse, accept or retain any person as a member of any tour at any time.
Tour Participants: There is no upper age limit, however, all tour participants must be in good health, able to walk at least 1 mile and negotiate at least 1 flight of stairs. Please consult your doctor with any medical concerns. Please let us know in advance of any specific issues so that we may try to arrange appropriate accommodation.
Luggage: It is the responsibility of the tour participant to claim his/her own luggage from baggage claim at airports and to move the luggage from the arrival area to the motor coach and from the motor coach to the airport check-in upon departure. Check with your airline for size limitations on luggage. B-K EuroTours reserves the right to limit luggage.
Meals and Drinks: Meals are included as specified in the tour itineraries. Breakfast buffet and dinner is included with every night's accommodations, with some lunches. Other lunches, snacks, alcohol, and minibar are the responsibilities of the tour participant.
Items not included in the tour price: The following items are not included in the tour price: Room service, telephone charges, alcoholic beverages, hotel snack and minibar, valet and laundry services, and taxis. Entrance fees for sites when on your own are at the participant's expense.
Smoking: Smoking is not permitted in/on the motor coach, airplanes, and some restaurants and hotels. A smoking room is usually available at most hotels. B-K EuroTours books only non-smoking rooms.
Preparation and Planning: After receipt of reservation form, deposit and copy of passport, tour participants will receive 2 separate packets by mail from B-K EuroTours. Packet 1 contains pre-tour information, emergency contact forms, insurance information, and airline tickets request form. Please complete the appropriate forms and return them to B-K EuroTours as soon as possible. Forms not returned may result in cancellation of tour participation.
Packet 2 contains additional travel information pertaining to places you will visit. It will also contain name tags, luggage tags, phone numbers and addresses of hotels.
Thank you for your interest in B-K EuroTours. We at B-K EuroTours look forward to hearing from you and meeting you on our tours. If you have any questions concerning this or any other tour offered by B-K EuroTours, please contact us at:
Dr. Bob Goddard
http://www.bkeurotours.com
(use the "Contact Us" box for email)
828-719-0195 (Phone)
I agree to the above Terms and Conditions: ___________________________Date_______
(Please print, sign, date, and return this document)
If you are interested in seeing the Holy Robe of Christ with us please contact Dr. Bob Goddard through the "Contact Us" link, or call me at: 828-719-0195
