felix hominum

Christ and the Early Christians - Holy Land Pilgrimage 2009

Here are the basic details of the next Holy Land pilgrimage.  I'll have more stuff to download for those who are interested - registration forms, fuller itinerary, etc. I'm away for a couple of days, so you can just email me if you think this might be something you would like to join us for:

Following Christ and the First Christians: A Pilgrimage Through the Holy Land and Egypt in the Footsteps of our Lord and the Desert Fathers

Our pilgrimage will begin in Israel, in the Holy City of Jerusalem. There, we will stand where Jesus stood 2000 years ago, we will visit the sites of his life, his death, and his resurrection. As we journey, we will come to new understandings of our faith, our scriptures, and our traditions.

The trip will be led by the Reverend Sally French and the Reverend Joseph Walker, both Anglican clergy with experience leading pilgrimages to the Holy Land. We will be journeying through Israel and Egypt, following the bible stories from Bethlehem to Nazareth, the Galilee, and, of course, Jerusalem. In Egypt, we begin with the Sinai Desert, the wilderness of the Exodus. We will then explore the landscapes of the Desert Fathers and the early Christians, the monastic centers of the ancient world, the great city of Alexandria, the monuments of Pharaoh’s Egypt, and the modern-day metropolis of Cairo.If you have already visited the Holy Land, then this pilgrimage is an opportunity to revisit the holy sites, to acquaint yourself with new places, and to continue your pilgrim journey through this ancient land. Our pilgrimage is designed for both newcomers and returning pilgrims

Monday, February 2, 2009:Depart Edmonton for Israel.

Tuesday, Feb 3, 2009:Arrive in Tel Aviv. Bus to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at our hotel within the Old City walls.

Wednesday, Feb 4, 2009:Jerusalem at the time of Jesus: An overview of the city, its history and geography.

Thursday, Feb 5, 2009:Ancient Jerusalem: Following the Roman Cardo (the ‘heart’ of the Roman city), we will look at the archaeological remains of the ancient kings, tracing the biblical story through the sites and references of the Jewish and Armenian Quarters. In the afternoon, we explore the birth of the Messiah with a journey to Bethlehem to visit the Basilica of the Nativity and the Shepherds’ Fields. Dinner in Bethlehem with some of the Palestinian Christians who live ‘behind the wall’.

Friday, Feb 6, 2009:Jerusalem in decline: as Jewish rebels struggled with Roman occupation at the end of the first century, the geography of the Holy City was forever changed. We will examine the history of the city, looking at key events and features of the decades immediately following the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Visit the Mount of Olives and Mount Zion, stopping to reflect on the sites of Christ’s ministry there, including the ancient Pater Noster Church and the site where Jesus wept over Jerusalem

Saturday, Feb 7, 2009:The Wilderness of Jesus: the Judean Wilderness, the Dead Sea, Masada and Qumran. Our pilgrimage takes us into the deserts around Jerusalem, to the Wadi Quelt in the Judean Wilderness, to the ancient city of Jericho, then on to Masada. We will have the opportunity to float in the Dead Sea, to visit Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and to explore the Negev desert.

Sunday, Feb 8, 2009 - worship with the local Christian communities, at St George’s Anglican Cathedral, at Christ Church Anglican in the Old City, and other local churches. After lunch, we will be meeting to tour the Church of the Resurrection, on the site of the crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Monday, Feb 9, 2009:The Galilee region: Early departure for the north, via the Jordan River Valley. Stops at Bet Shean and Bet Alpha, Mount Tabor, and on to Tiberias for the night

Tuesday, Feb 10, 2009:The Sea of Galilee and beyond - move up into the heights of the Galilee region, exploring the Golan, and continuing as far as Caesarea Philippi in the northernmost region of Israel.

Wednesday, Feb 11, 2009:The heart of the Galilee: We will begin with a visit to Sepphoris, the ancient center of the region. From there, we will travel through Cana to Nazareth, visiting the sites of Christ’s childhood home. Dinner and overnight with the Sisters of Nazareth, including private tour of their excavations.

Thursday, Feb 12, 2009:From Jerusalem to the ends of the earth: We return to the Holy City along the via maris, following the Mediterranean coast. We will explore Caesarea Maritima, Herod’s great seaside fortress, and the seat of the Roman governors of Judea, also famous as the site of the Apostle Paul’s captivity.

Friday, Feb 13, 2009:Free day in Jerusalem

Saturday, Feb 14, 2009:Early departure from Jerusalem to the Sinai desert via the Negev, with stops in the wilderness, including Ein Gedi, the spring where King David hid from Saul and his army. Arrive in Egypt (Taba/Eilat border crossing) in time for a packed lunch. Drive into the desert for wilderness stops. Overnight either in the Sinai Wilderness (sleeping bags provided) or in a hotel on the Red Sea shore.

Sunday, Feb 15, 2009:The ‘Wilderness of Sin’ – the desert of the Exodus, ancient monuments, and the Silence of the desert. Eucharist in the wilderness. Including stops at the Feiran Oasis Convent, and on to Overnight at Saint Katherine’s Monastery/ Mount Sinai. Evening “Camel Orientation”

Monday, Feb 16, 2009:Our Sinai experience continues with a pre-dawn climb up Mount Sinai via camel or on foot. Sunrise Eucharist up Mount Sinai, option for pilgrims to climb to the summit. Tour of the Monastery, including museum and the Church.

Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009:The First Christians: we will be visiting the Monastery of Saint Anthony of the Desert, the oldest active Christian monastery in the world and an ancient center for the Desert Fathers. There, we will encounter modern-day Coptic Christian monastic life and learn about the traditions of the Desert Fathers.

Wednesday, Feb 18, 2009:The Land of Pharaoh: We will be visiting the monuments of ancient and modern Egypt, with a special focus on the Christian and Jewish quarter, and on the bustling ancient market, the Khan el-Khalili. On this day, we will be able to contrast the silence of the desert with the chaos of Egyptian city life, giving us new insights into the lives of the first Christians.

Thursday, Feb 19, 2009:The Early Christian Community and the Alexandrian Traditions: We depart early, driving north through the Nile Delta on our way to Alexandria, the city founded by Alexander the Great and once a major centre for philosophy and learning. After our tour of the ancient city, we will return to Cairo via the Wadi Natrun Oasis, home to a number of active and ancient Coptic monasteries with many ties to the first Christians

Friday, Feb 20, 2009:Our final day begins in the company of our fellow Anglicans from Africa as we join with them in the Eucharist at All Saints Cathedral, Cairo. We will spend the afternoon exploring the hidden treasures of the Egyptian Museum and the City of the Dead

Saturday, Feb 21, 2009:Out of Egypt: Depart from Cairo for North America.

Details on the next Holy Land pilgrimages coming soon

As soon as I have a bit of time, I'll be posting the details of our next Holy Land Pilgrimages.  Two are in the works for 2009.  The first will be throughout Israel and Egypt (the life of Christ and the early Christians), and the second will be the sites of Greece and the context of some of Paul's letters and the mission of the early church. 

A pilgrimage to the lands of the New Testament is a journey that changes
lives. When we visit the sites where it all began, we come to understand our
scriptures, our traditions and our faith in new ways. We also have
opportunities to meet the local people, to experience a new culture, to
tour, to shop, and to enjoy a unique trip.

Pilgrimages are planned for 2009, and we invite you to join us on a tour of the Holy Land and Egypt, following  Christ and the first Christians (February 2-21, 2009) and on a tour of Greece, following Saint Paul and the Early Church (November 2-14, 2009). 

Our Holy Land pilgrimage is intended both as an introduction for newcomers
to the region, and as a way for previous pilgrims to deepen their
connection, to explore new sites, and to revisit the region, travelling on a
different itinerary. If you have been before, but would like to return,
possibly with someone who has never visited the Holy Land, then this
pilgrimage is an ideal opportunity. We will Begin in Jerusalem, visiting the
Galilee, the Golan, the Mediterranean coast, the wilderness and other areas,
before continuing on to Egypt, including Sinai, the Eastern Desert,
Alexandria and Cairo.

Our pilgrimage in Greece is a new destination for us, and we invite you to
join with us as we explore this exciting destination. We will visit many of
the sites of the Letters of the New Testament, including Thessalonike and
Corinth, tour the monuments of the ancient world, including Delphi and the
Parthenon, and engage some contemporary Greek Christians as we tour ancient
monastic communities which still offer hospitality to pilgrims. Our visit
concludes in Athens, with an extensive exploration of the wonders of this
city, both ancient and modern.

I'll update this post and put up more details shortly.

Chora Mosaic - the wedding at Cana

Mount Sinai, early morning

Over the wine dark sea...

And some one shall some day say
even of men that are yet to be,
as he saileth in his many-benched ship
over the wine-dark sea:
'This is a barrow of a man that died in olden days,
whom on a time, in the midst of his prowess
glorious Hector slew.’

So shall some man say,
and my glory shall never die."

Iliad VII. 54

Coast, near ancient Troy

Schliemann's Trench

near Ephesus, Kushadasi harbour

near St John's Church, ancient Ephesus

I have become like a pelican in the wilderness... Psalm 102:6

minaret, Blue Mosque, Istanbul

Theotokos; Hagia Sophia; may 2008

column laying in field, west of Iconium

woman selling pigeon feed, Istanbul

She sits outside the mosque by the Galata Bridge, overlooking the Bosphorus.

Christ Pantocrator; Hagia Sophia

Detail of column; cedar mosque, SW Turkey

street vendor, Istanbul

Chora mosaics

                        
                                                                                           

Sailing to Byzantium

We arrıved ın Istanbul vıa shıp on the Bosphorus - saılıng to Byzantium.  Istanbul ıs quıte an ıncredıble cıty - the Hagia Sophia, the amazıng art and archıtecture, and the 14 mıllıon people.  En route we vısıted Troy and Gallipolli.  It ıs quıte remarkable that these two sıtes are wıthın a few mıles of each other.  Scenes of two of the most well known battles ın hıstory.

Gallipoli ıs quıte a natıonal shrıne for the Turkısh people.  The turks and germans had moved most of theır forces to the Asıan sıde of the Dardanelles, whıle Mustafa (Ataturk) was convınced that the Brıtısh would land near the vıllage of Galıbolou.  He knew that he would be outnumbered, but if they managed to hold off the ınvadıng forces, new troops would be able to come and keep the heıghts.  He gave a charge to hıs regıment ın whıch he declared  - I am not askıng you to fıght, I am askıng you to dıe.  Almost 20 years later he declared that the ANZAC forces who dıed ın Turkey had become  - Our sons also - , sınc ethey were burıed on Turkısh soıl.  At the sıte ıtself we ran ınto a small group of Turkısh men who had come to declare theır respects.

What the Spırıt saıd to the Seven Churches

We have made our way to Kaşadusış vıa several of the 7 churches mentioned in the Revelation to John.  The ruins are quite spectacular, although a daunting thought hits you after looking at such ruins.  The messages to the 7 churches contained warnings, and now those churches are, in one sense  nothing but holy relics.  There are no active and living Christian communities in the locations of those early churches.  What will keep our churches from going the same route?  Perhaps in a few hundred years someone will be visiting the ruins of our cathedrals pointing out that for some reason, these Christian Churches lost their apostolic zeal, and now they are but museum pieces.

This morning we are heading to Ephesus, perhaps the best preserved ancient Roman city in existence.   By the way, for anyone who has visited Laodocea in the past, the University of Pammukale has done some absolutely excavation work in the past 18 months. I think if they continue at this rate, it will rival Ephesus for best show from the ancient world.

There is only one Christian community still active out of the seven recipients of the letters. I will let you all know which one of the seven has continued with its lampstand tomorrow...

 

Iconıum

We are ın the heart of downtown Konya - the sıte of ancıent Iconıum.  It ıs a center for both Chrıstıan and Muslım pılgrıms.  Chrıstıans wıll recall ıt as one of the stops ın Paul`s mıssıonary journeys, and for Muslıms ıt ıs the home and bırthplace of Sufısm.  If America has a bıble belt, then one mıght say that thıs ıs Turkey`s Koran belt.

Others have poınted out how the Romans paved the way (no pun ıntended) for the spread of the Gospel by provıdıng roads throughout the Empıre.  They also contrıbuted ın other ways - most notably wıth the ıdeas presented by the Pax Romana and the presentatıon of the ıdea of an eternal cıty to the world.  It ıs fascınatıng to read Vırgıl`account of Roman ıdeas of polıty ın the Aeneıd.  I`ll say a bıt more about thıs when I have some tıme.  For tonıght we are lookıng at the background of Paul`s mıssıonary actıvıty ın the Roman provınce and ıts culture.  Maybe I wıll post the cole`s notes versıon.

arrıval ın Cappadocıa

We arrıved ın Cappadocıa vıa Ankara.  I quıckly sought out a large feast of Adana kebaps ın order to compensate for the 20 hours of travel  and the 9 tıme zones.

Today we took everyone to one of the underground cıtıes whıch dot the southern end of the Cappadocıa regıon.  Whıle the cıtıes were used as hıdeouts by Chrıstıans durıng tımes of persecutıon, they go back much further ın hıstory - ın use durıng the Hıttıe tımes (c 1500 BC).  After that we went to Goreme, the mıan sıte of the earlıest Chrıstıan monasterıes ın Cappadocıa and an important center of Chrıstıan teachıng and learnıng at the tıme of the great Fathers of the Church ın the East.  There are several valleys ın the Goreme regıon whıch are fılled wıth what are referred to as cave dwelıngs, but are quıte large and elaborate communıtıes.  There are a varıety of monasterıes and convents carved out of the soft volcanic rock, along wıth many spectacular churches.  The entıre regıon has a rather surreal feel to ıt; ıt has often been descrıbed as a moonscape, and for good reason.  The unıque geologıcal formatıons allowed the area to become the center of monastıcısm ın the 4th C - ıt ıs a place partıcularly apt to such lıfe.  Over the course of the day we explored the theology of the Cappadocıan Fathers, and we wıll begın movıng backward ın tıme tomorrow to the world of the 1st C whıch Paul encountered ın hıs mıssıonary journeys.

In the footsteps of Paul - pilgrimage 2008

In a few days we will be heading to Asia Minor for our Footsteps of St Paul Pilgrimage.  I will try to post some updates from the Holy Land as time and access to cheap internet cafes allow.  I have chosen my preferred mode of transportation for the trip:

Some Turkey links

No, not this kind, the other kind.  For the pilgrims looking for a few extra links with background and some local info for our Footsteps of St Paul pilgrimage next month, there are a few links up here.  I'll be adding a few more this week as well.

Footsteps of St Paul Pilgrimage - approaching last call

We are currently finalizing details for our upcoming pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Paul.  Sally and I are really looking forward to being with everyone on this adventure.  If there are any who are undecided, but are still thinking about coming, please send me an email asap, as we need to give final numbers for our bookings soon.  For those who are coming, we will have a few preparatory meetings ahead of time to equip us to better enter into the pilgrimage and enjoy it.  Full details and itinerary are listed here.

what the camels thought of the journey of the magi

somewhere in Jordan,  spring  2007

Terra Santa, or "Santa's Land"

Near Bethlehem, Shepherd's Field,  I love the business hours.

Footsteps of St Paul Pilgrimage reminder

Info on the upcoming Footsteps of St Paul Pilgrimage to the Holy Land (late Spring 2008), can be found here.  If you are interested in going but are not sure about any of the details,  just send me an email.  Have a look through the itinerary.  As a note to those who have already registered, I'll be adding some links on that same page to some useful sites.

Video of the Anglican Church in Egypt

A fascinating look into some of the ministry of the Anglican Church in Egypt.

holy land pics & pilgrimage

Just a few shots and a reminder for those interested in the Spring 2008 Pilgrimages: itineraries & registration forms are available here.

inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem

Bedouin shelter, Sinai desert, near the Spring of Moses

Qumran

The gates of Jerusalem

church, holy land

Holy Land Pilgrimage: In the Footsteps of Jesus

Details are now in place for the other Holy Land Pilgrimage we will be leading in 2008.  June 2-14, 2008.

registration forms and itinerary in pdf to be posted soon...  full details below:

updated notes on 2008 pilgrimage

I have had a number of people asking about the 2008 Holy Land Pilgrimages.  At this point we have the details in place for "In the Footsteps of St Paul" (Turkey-Asia Minor  - click here), and details are yet to come for a  proposed "In the Footsteps of Jesus" pilgrimage (Israel-Palestine).

The Footsteps of St Paul pilgrimage will be limited to 20 pilgrims.