Jerusalem - Twenty four of the Chilean miners who were trapped underground for more than two months last year arrived in the Holy Land Wednesday for an eight-day pilgrimage to express their gratitude for being rescued.
"It's a blessing to be here, in the place of origin of God, to whom we prayed so much while being inside the mine," miner José Enriquez, 56, told reporters in Jerusalem.
"Also to thank him (in the Holy Land) for the strength and the courage that he gave us, as well as to our families and all the people who prayed for us while we were inside," he said.
Mario Gómez, 63, one of the oldest of the group of 33, said: "Faith is the most important thing in life, and that was what maintained us together and alive in the mine."
He said the group, which included spouses, was "not only proud to be here now, but we also think that this is the best reward after those days."
Gomez said, "We used to sing and pray in the mine, everyday at noon ... Faith made us stronger." To which his wife said, "And we hope that the trip will also strength our faith."
Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikof welcomed the miners. "This group of men will be remembered in history because of their courage, faith and solidarity, the triumph of the human spirit. They showed perseverance and tenacity to cling to life in one of the most difficult ordeals that a man can experience."
The miners have a packed itinerary, which includes visits to the Church of Nativity in the southern West Bank Palestinian city of Bethlehem, the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, northern Israel, as well as key tourist and historic sites, such as the Masada fortress at the Dead Sea.
A tour of the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and museum and a reception by President Shimon Peres are also scheduled.
The San Jose mine below the Atacama desert collapsed on August 5. The miners were found alive 17 days later, but it was not until October 13 that the first miner, Florencio Ávalos, was rescued.