Greece Pilgrimage

A pilgrim is one who undertakes a pilgrimage, literally 'far afield'. This is traditionally a visit to a place of some religious or historic significance; often a considerable distance is traveled. Examples include a Christian or Jew visiting Jerusalem or a Muslim visiting Mecca. No religion has laid greater stress on the duty of a pilgrim than Islam in the Hajj. In the United States the word "Pilgrims" usually refers to the European settlers of New England, who celebrated the "First Thanksgiving" with the Native Americans in 1621

Greece is the true amalgamation of cultures, colors and civilizations that are not only diverse in nature but rich in history and heritage. Much before most of the world was still trying to break out of its cocoon Greece was known to have already developed its birthright through the elements of chaos, drama, tragedy and democracy. Combined with its deep respect for its ancient traditions, it still believes in the proclivity to partying, an inheritance that has been brought down from the Dionysos.

This pilgrimage, just like previous ones, will be a wonderful and spiritual experience of the roots of Christianity as we stand and pray at the Biblical sites. Inspired by the True Life in God Messages, we welcome the opportunity to live and worship in unity with all Christians, as well as other faiths, irrespective of denominations, nationalities or "man-made" dividers.

Tinos, part of the Cycladic archipelago some 120 km (75 miles) from Athens, attracts around 1 million visitors a year to its church of the Virgin Mary, whose icon is revered in Greece's Orthodox Church for its reputed healing powers. Many pilgrims, especially at the August 15 height of the pilgrimage, crawl nearly a kilometer from the ferry wharf to the church on their hands and knees as a sign of devotion. Many fulfill a pledge to light a candle as tall as themselves.

Christian Pilgrimages

A pilgrimage is a journey made by a religious person to a holy site. Its a log journey especially one made to a shrine or sacred place. The term pilgrimage primarily used in religion and spirituality of a long journey. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or shrine or importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Anyone of any religion can have right to participate in pilgrimages. The person who conducts such journey called pilgrim.

In the kingdoms of Israel and Judah the visitation of certain ancient cult-centers was repressed in the 7th century BC, when the worship was restricted to Jahweh at the temple in Jerusalem. In Syria, the shrine of Astarte at the headwater spring of the river Adonis survived until it was destroyed by order of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD.

Although a pilgrimage is normally viewed in the context of religion, the personality cults cultivated by communist leaders ironically gave birth to pilgrimages of their own. Prior to the demise of the USSR in 1991, a visit to Lenin's Mausoleum in Red Square, Moscow can be said to have had all the characteristics exhibiting a pilgrimage — for atheists and communists.

Catholic Pilgrimages, Protestant Christian Pilgrimages

In religion and spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or search of great moral significance. Sometimes, it is a journey to a sacred place or shrine of importance to a person's beliefs and faith. Members of every major religion participate in pilgrimages. A person who makes such a journey is called a pilgrim. Pilgrimages may be defined as journeys made to some place with the purpose of venerating it, or in order to ask there for supernatural aid, or to discharge some religious obligation.

As specialist in Christian group travel, we are uniquely qualified to provide you and your group with a wonderful pilgrimage to Europe and the Middle East. We use only specially selected and conveniently located hotels with private baths. Our tour managers and guides escort your group from arrival in their countries until you return to the airport. They are all highly qualified, specially trained professionals familiar with both the temporal and spiritual needs of North American Christian pilgrims.

As specialist in Catholic group travel, we are uniquely qualified to provide you and your group with a wonderful pilgrimage to Europe, the Middle East or Mexico. While our prices are competitive because of the buying power of our worldwide network and generous discounts extended by our preferred air carriers, we do not offer "bare bones" bargain tours. We have learned that North American pilgrims expect a certain quality, attention to detail and service when they travel. Thus, we offer a higher quality pilgrimage. Unitours’ prices are all inclusive and any extra are clearly detailed on our brochures. You and your pilgrims, will not experience unexpected extras and options when you travel with us, as we hate surprises as much as you do!

Feeding the masses at World Youth Day

Sydney, July 15, World Youth Day, the Catholic Church's youth pilgrimage has officially opened. The event's organizers have the task of feeding over 150,000 international and Australian pilgrims. And what's on the menu for this feeding of the masses? Why, Vegemite, of course!

"We want to provide pilgrims with a good feed and a little bit of an Australian taste," Geoff Morris, the World Youth Day director of services, said. "A good feed" is Australian for "a good meal".

Pilgrims will also be treated to such Aussie classics as meat pies, lamingtons and baked beans. The organizers have also planned a barbie of biblical proportions.

Reactions to Vegemite amongst the pilgrims has been varied, to say the least. With some enjoying the revelatory rush of vitamins, while others made the mistake of spreading it on too thickly. My advice to the pilgrims would be: like all of life's little pleasures, Vegemite should be enjoyed in moderation!

The Center is the Wilderness - A Journey of Faith

When something really big happens, you need time to make sense of it - to put it in perspective. When the event is trauma or grief, we call this stage denial. The same dynamic is in play with something unexpectedly joyful. Suppose you were to win the Publishers Clearing House sweepstakes? It's the reason people don't remember much of the events of their wedding day.

St. Paul, as recounted in the book of Acts, had a mystical experience on the road to Damascus that turned his life around. It changed him from a persecutor of the young Christian movement to one of its chief representatives. He was blinded by the light -- literally blinded as the result of a mystical encounter with the risen Christ. Paul was then befriended by one of the very Christians he was on his way to arrest. He was healed of physical and spiritual blindness, baptized as a follower of Jesus, then went home to Tarsus where he worked as a tentmaker for many years. He needed time to make sense of his experience and stayed there until God, in the person of a man named Barnabas, came to get him to begin his ministry.

Jesus had mystical experiences. His intimate relationship with God and his knowledge of God's nature is indicative of mystical experience. When he came up out the baptismal waters, from John the Baptist, Jesus experienced a clarification of his identity. The Gospels describe this experience by saying that the heavens opened up and Jesus heard God say, "This is my son, the beloved."

Jesus found in the baptismal waters, and even more deeply in his wilderness struggle, that he was a person of incredible value with the power, potential, and presence of the Spirit enabling us to change the world in partnership with God. What Jesus did is exactly what God invites us to do. Bring your questions, what challenges or may confuse you. Bring your wisdom and all of who you are. We are on a journey into the wilderness to discover who we are, who we can be, and what we can do.