Holy Land Pilgrimage

arrıval ın Cappadocıa

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.

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.

Links for Turkey

Here's one from the government of Turkey's Ministry of Tourism

I'll be adding a few after the weekend.

And here they are:

All you need to know about Türk kahvesi (Turkish coffee).

Turkish Daily News (English version)

A brief history of Ephesus. 

And you can surf around this site  or this one to see some more of the other places we will be visiting.

A few sites on Cappadocia:  here here and a photo gallery here

Konya:  here  here and  here

Want to know the latest weather in Istanbul?  Try here or here. And the 5 day forecast from BBC

Sacred destinations has a website full of pics and general info.  You can start at this page and navigate your way around Turkey:

Hierapolis (Pamukkale)

 

In the Footsteps of St. Paul: pilgrimage 2008

Some details have been finalized for the 2008 pilgrimage through Asia Minor;

First, the nitty gritty:

Monday, April 28 – Saturday, May 10, 2008.  Cost $4750 CDN (based on Edmonton departure: it may be possible to arrange other departure locations & cost will vary)  the cost includes travel (all flights, buses, transfers, and boats), accommodations (double occupancy, as described), all admissions and guiding costs for visits included in the itinerary, and almost all meals (not including beverages, and one lunch and one dinner in Istanbul – please see itinerary for details). The cost does not include your insurance, local tips, travel visas, personal expenses, and other items as listed above.

A brief blurb:

If you have ever wondered about the ancient world, about the life and times of Saint Paul, or even about Christian theology, then this pilgrimage is for you! We will be following in the footsteps of the great Apostle, exploring the cities where he preached, taught and wrote, and visiting the land that in many ways gave rise to our modern church. We will visit, among other places, Ephesus, Colossae, Pergamum, Laodicea, Antioch of Psidia, ancient Troy, and, of course, Byzantium.

Please consider joining us for a pilgrimage in the footsteps of Saint Paul next spring. The trip will be led by the Rev. Sally French and the Rev. Joe Walker. Sally is a licensed Christian Pilgrimage leader, and has taken many groups to biblical destinations throughout the Middle East. We will be journeying across Turkey, from Cappadocia to Ephesus, the Mediterranean Coast, Gallipoli and Istanbul.

We strive to provide you with both a first-class travel experience and a positive experience of Christian pilgrimage. Throughout our time together, there will be opportunities for worship, for prayer and reflection, and for spiritual direction. This is not a “package tour” – it is a spiritual journey with fellow Christians, following Saint Paul and those who went before us in the earliest days of the Church. We believe that seeing the lands of the bible is truly a life-changing experience and we are excited about the possibility of sharing them with you. Although your leaders are both Anglican clergy, we welcome people of all Christian backgrounds and we would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Please feel free to contact either Sally by email ,or email me if you have any questions.

Download itinerary here as pdf

Download registration form here as pdf

ps - there is also a "footsteps of Jesus" - pilgrimage through Israel/Palestine in the works, based somewhat on last year's Pilgriamge.  Details will be posted sometime soon.

some holy land pics

can be found here.

The house of St Mark

Off in the fogotten quarters of the Syraic Church is St Mark's Syriac Cathedral.  It houses one of the three contending sites for the "Upper Room" and the last supper.  The last time I was in Jerusalem, I worshipped with them during Holy Week - the footwashing ceremony and the commemoration of the the last supper.  Sister Justina was our guide.  I met her a few years ago and she is a ball of fire.  The language of the chruch is Aramaic - the probable everyday language of Jesus.  She sang the tradional setting of the aramaic Lord's Prayer for us, and took us on a tour of the ruins.  The room beneath the church is a first century BC dwelling which is reputed to have belonged to the family of St Mark.  The site has more marks of authenticity than soem of the other sites claiming to be the room.  Sister told us about the various miracles she has witnessed over the years in this place, and how the "power of the Spirit brings hearts to our Lord Jesus from this place".

This morning we visited the western wall again, the temple steps from Jesus' time, and teh city of David - where we saw the archelogical discoveries relating to his palace and throne room. 

We just got back from Yad vaShem - "a place and a name" - the Holocaust museum.  It is truly one of the most powerful places in this city.

Bethlehem, Shepherd's Fields & the Dead Sea Scrolls

|Yesterday was a blistering hot day beginning at Masada, followed by a visit to Qumran and then a float/bob/ dip in the Dead Sea.  Today we spent the morning in Bethlehem, visiting the Church of the Nativity off Manger Square.  It is a place in all likelihood lays as great a claim as any to be the place where Jesus was born.  The Christians in the Holy Land often feel quite beseiged, as they are a minority within a minority.  More than one commented that soon there would be no Christians left here.

After lunch in Bethlehem we headed off to the Shepherd's Field - the traditional area where the angels announced the birth of the Messiah, and also the setting for the gleaning of the book of Ruth.  After some songs, readings and prayers, we headed back into Jerusalem.

We had a grand tour of the Israel Museum which contains the Shrine of the Book - the ancien findings from Qumran which comprise the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Tomorrow it's up early (before the 32 degree heat) for some walking around the Mount of Olives and the Old City Gates

A Big Hug & Hi

To Justin, Adam, Sarah Joy and Emily Grace and Alisa!!  I hope that soccer season start up has gone well, and you guys are having fun.  Adam and Sarah Joy and Justin, I found some great little treats that I think you will like, and Emily Grace:  I found a treaure chest for you!!  Alisa, thanks for holding down the fort while we are away, love you lots and see you soon!!

Jerusalem the Golden

We arrived in Jerusalem by way of Armageddon a few days ago.  After staying at the Sea of Galillee for two days, we took the group to see the ancient site of Megiddo: the ancient plain and hilltop fortess which was the site of Canaanite power and religion almost 3500 years ago.

We also took folks to the town of Cana, where you can shop at the "First Miracle Wine Store" for your favourite red or white.  The closer one gets to Jerusalem, the more the mix of commercial and religious becomes apparent.  On our way into the city we prayed the "Psalms of Ascent".  These are the psalms which pilgrims for generations would sing as they approached the Temple.  Our hotel is the Knights' Palace (a bit of a misnomer) just inside the New Gate in the Old City.  From my room I can walk three paces and touch the walls of the Old City.

Jerusalem is a bustling city, full of tension (there was a rocket attack to the east last night).  We gave everyone an introduction to the four quarters of the Old City:  Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Armenian.  As it was sundown at Sabbath, we went to visit the Western Wall, where there were Jews of every variety of piety praying, studying, reading and singing.  The Wall at the beginning of Sabbath is something to behold.

Yesterday evening after the shops openined up again I headed off to Ben Yehuda Street for the post Sabbath festivities.  17 shekels for a Swiss chocolate milk shake.... mmmm.   Tomorrow we are off to Masada, the Dead Sea and Qumran.

the Sea of Galillee

We made our exit from Petra, and traveled north along the Jordanian side of the Jordan River, crossing over at the Hussein bridge, and arrived at the town of Tiberias 2 nights ago.  The sea of Gallilee is the site of so many episodes in the Gospels that it is hard to narrow down our visits.  We began with a renewal of our baptismal vows at the Yardenit baptismal site on the Jordan river.   The site itself is now run by a kibbutz and has installed several 'secure' pilgrimage spots.  This was the result of seeing overly enthusiastic pilgrims getting swept away by the currents in years past.

After Yardenit, we went for a cruise on the sea with a local boat, whose skipper showed us some of the techniques and equipment used in the time of Jesus and the disciples.  In the afternoon we went to the mount of the beatitudes, the "church of Peter's Primacy" on the shore of the sea, and then to the ruins of the ancient town of Capherneum.  Just south of the ruins is an ancient house believed to be the house of Peter, where the healing of his mother in law took place.

The shift from Egypt and Jordan to Israel is remarkable in many ways.  The first thing people notice is the immense security structure upon arrival:  customs and border crossings are extremely well controlled.  Another major shift is that Israel is very much a first world country, for the first time in two weeks I told people that they can drink the tap water without fear of "Pharoah's revenge".

This morning we are taking everyone up to the top of Mount Tabor - the mount of transfiguration - and then if all goes according to plan, we will take them to Armegedon before heading in to stay with the Sisters of Nazareth for the night.  The Sisters have had a long presence in Nazareth, and are know for their work among disabled children.  After spending tonight in Nazareth, we will have a leisurely time at Caeserea Maritima.  Caeserea is the site of the only known inscription mentioning Pilate, and besides, it has a great beach, which will be much appreciated after the desert and inland heat.

Out of Egypt have I called my son

Today we are in Petra, the "red rose city half as old as time".  We made our trek up to the top of Mount Sinai, had a communion service at the top, and then reconvened at the monastery.  The monastery itself is quite a wonder.  The monks make the claim that it is the oldest continually operating monastery in the world, dating back to the fourth century.  Inside you can see a leaf of the Codex Sinaiticus - the oldest fragment of the New Testament in the world, as well as the "Christ of Sinai" - the oldest icon in the world. 

The trek up to the top is either on foot or on camel.  I opted to walk up with Salaa', a local Bedouin who was helping guide our group onto their camels.  Sinai is quite a popular pilgrimage spot, and we heard languages from every continent as we ascended.  In any given day there might be up to 2000 or more pilgrims, tourists, wayfarers and seekers of all kinds coming to the top of mountain to be in a place which has been called holy for many generations.

The local Bedouin tribe have a monopoly on the Sinai camel ride business.  It has been that way for generations, ever since the Emperor Constantine commissioned them for the task of looking after and protecting St Catherine's monastery.  After their conversion to Islam during the time of Islamic expansion, the local tribe continued to offer their services to the monastery.  Inside there is a letter of "protection" said top have been granted by Mohammed himself:  the original document is still on display in the monastery, with Mohammed's hand print on the leaf of paper as a seal.

Later that afternoon we turned off the beaten path and headed out into the desert.  Our first stop was the site of some nawamis.  Those who have read "Walking the Bible" may recall them from a description in that book.  It is believed that these are the oldest free standing roofed structures in the world, dating back to 3500 BC.  We also met up with some local Bedouin who still live the traditional life of the pastoralist-nomad.  "A wandering Aramean was my father".

We arrived in Jordan last night , after taking the local ferry across to the Jordanian port of Aqaba from Neweiba.  The ferry is used by the locals:  out of several hundred passengers, there were maybe 20 westerners on the boat.  Sharen and Evelyn got invited by a Jordanian lady to come and sit with her.  I got invited a few moments later, and we had a great conversation  between the three of us and her family:  brothers, sisters, friends from Amman.  In the end we exchanged emails and cell phone numbers in case we have some free time while we are in northern Jordan.

One of the benefits of leaving Egypt and heading over to Jordan is the new freedom to have prayer.  While we were in Egypt we were informed of a recently enacted law that prohibits Christians from having a "religious meeting" in "unapproved" places and at "unapproved" times.  So for example, we were not allowed to simply gather in a room to pray together.  This law is rather new, apparently in response to the growing conservative movement within Islamic Egypt.  Sinai has an exemption from this law, given that it has a rather special status with it's exemption and protection letter from Mohammed himself.

Breakfast is calling.