And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
About Pilgrimages
Making a pilgrimage is not tourism. What makes it different? According to Patriarch Daniel of Romania, "A pilgrimage is a spiritual event for all who participate in it with faith, piety, and love of God and the Church. In a place of pilgrimage, we find not only what the place has to offer, that is the holy church, relics, and divine services, but also what pilgrims bring with each other, namely their piety, zeal, patience, kindness, their way of being and meeting with God and with different people, some who have never known each other until that moment."
Pilgrimage always connects you to something larger than yourself. Pilgrimage connects you to those longings for God that come from the deepest places in the human heart. Fourth century Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem, as well as those of subsequent centuries, wanted to touch and kiss the stones that had once made contact with the Lord Jesus; it rooted their faith in history and put flesh and bone, blood and stone, to their faith. St. Gregory of Nyssa (338-395AD), the early Christian mystic and younger brother of St. Basil the Great, who made a pilgrimage in 380AD, wrote that the holy places of Jerusalem had “received the footprints of Life itself.” God has left a trace of Himself in Palestine just as perfume lingers in a room after the wearer has left.
Whether the destination is the Holy Land, Mount Athos, Constantinople or any of the other traditional Orthodox Christian treasuries of history and faith, the ultimate destination of a pilgrimage is into our own heart to discover Christ.
Our Pilgrimage Plan
Many of our faithful parishioners have asked for us to make pilgrimages over the years. In response to that sacred call, plans are being developed for the following future trips (all subject to change based on availability, security and interest). Click on the title of the trip for information. Future schedules are tentative.
Monastery Pilgrimages
- 2019 Pilgrimage Trip: Mount Athos
- Capacity: 8 Orthodox Christian men
- Destination: Mount Athos and Thessaloniki
- 2025: Men's Pilgrimages to Mount Athos (2 trips)
- Spring: "Intense Athos"
- Capacity: 8 Orthodox Christian men
- Destination: Mount Athos and Thessaloniki
- Character: Rigorous, adventurous, lots of hiking, physically demanding
- Fall: "Athos for All"
- Capacity: 8 men
- Destination: Mount Athos and Thessaloniki
- Character: Acessible for all ages, private transportation between monasteries, well-balanced schedule
- Spring: "Intense Athos"
- 2029: Men's Pilgrimage to Mount Athos
- Capacity: 8 men
- Destination: Mount Athos and Thessaloniki
Historic Sites Pilgrimages
- 2022 Pilgrimage: The Holy Land
- Destination: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, The Sea of Galillee and many other sacred places where Jesus lived, walked, taught, did miracles, was crucified and rose from the dead that we may have eternal life.
- 2024: Greece by Faith (September 23-October 4, 2024)
- Many people think of the beautiful beaches and picturesque islands when they think of Greece, and some still have family ties there, but how about seeing Greece through the eyes of faith? Explore it through its Orthodox Christian heritage as we visit famous sites such as Cephalonia (St. Gerasimos), Aegina (St. Nektarios), Meteora (monasteries). And of course we'll visit the Acropolis and many other cultural and historic sites (check brochure for exact itinerary). Whether it's your first trip or you go often, you haven't seen Greece like this before! Think of it as "Ionian Village for Adults!"
- 2026: Romania, Serbia
- Destination: The magnificent churches, monasteries and historic destinations in these traditionally Orthodox Christian countries.
- 2028: Constantinople
- Destination: Back to the heart of the Byzantine empire. See the Great Cathedral of Hagia Sophia, the churches of Hora, Blachernae and more. Visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
- Destination: Back to the heart of the Byzantine empire. See the Great Cathedral of Hagia Sophia, the churches of Hora, Blachernae and more. Visit the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
- 2030: The Holy Land and Patmos
- Destination: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and more in the Holy Land. Also the historic island of Patmos, where Saint John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelation.
Other questions about Pilgrimages?
If you are interested in participating a pilgrimage or have questions, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call the Church Office at 412-366-8700.
