Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Rating: 8,5/10 (6193 votes)  A pilgrimage in Orthodoxy means visiting holy places, as well as revered temples and monasteries. It has been popular in Russia for a long time. However, the original meaning of the pilgrimage is to visit the Holy Land.  Jerusalem The concept of pilgrimage has arisen from travel to places associated with the name of Jesus Christ. Nowadays, the concept of pilgrimage and tourism is often confused. They have different goals. The purpose of tourism is – visiting new places to gain knowledge about them. The pilgrimage is of a religious nature, therefore it is often accompanied by visits to various services, work on the soul and its purification. The main purpose of the pilgrimage is – worship of holy places. The most important city in the Holy Land is Jerusalem, which is also holy. It is believed that long before the rise of Jerusalem, Abraham came to the place where the city was supposed to appear with his son Isaac to make a sacrifice. King David founded his capital here. A temple was built in Jerusalem by David's son Solomon, which for many centuries was a place of true worship. Here they read their sermons, foretelling the coming of the Savior, the Old Testament prophets. The baby Jesus was brought to this temple, where righteous Simeon met him. In adolescence, the Savior often visited Jerusalem, amazing the scribes with his amazing wisdom. Throughout his messianic ministry, the Lord visited the holy city more than once, reading sermons about the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. On his last arrival, Jesus was greeted as King. But the crowd did not have to rejoice for long and the Lord was soon given over to desecration and shameful death. Christ was crucified on Mount Calvary. The deceased Lord was placed in a tomb, but when The myrrh-bearers came to the Tomb of the Teacher, they found it empty. Having overcome death, the Lord rose from the Sepulcher and appeared to his disciples. These events that took place in Jerusalem changed the history of mankind. From the Holy City, at the command of the Lord, the preaching of the Gospel began throughout the world Jerusalem – the first place visited by pilgrims in the Holy Land. The most important place in the pilgrimage program is a visit to the Church of the Resurrection – the main shrine of the Christian world, the place of salvation of the human race. Orthodox pilgrims not only visit the Church of the Resurrection, worshiping its great shrines, but also read prayers during the night Liturgy at the Tomb of Christ.  Mount of Olives In Jerusalem, pilgrims try to visit places that are associated with the latest events in the earthly life of Jesus. They visit Zion, where the Lord's last meal with his disciples took place, and the sacrament of the Eucharist was established. They come to the Garden of Gethsemane, where the Lord read prayers to bloody sweat, and then was captured by soldiers. Pilgrims follow the Way of the Cross leading to the place of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, — Calvary. Then they visit the place of the ascension of Christ – Mount of Olives. Places that are associated with the Mother of God are very popular among Russian pilgrims. They visit the site of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God, located on Mount Zion. Pilgrims do not ignore the Russian Gornensky Monastery in Ein Karem. The Mother of God was here for three months after the Annunciation. The same village is the birthplace of St. John the Baptist. We also recommend reading Tipping in Israel Topic: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. |
