LONDON: 28 December 2022
The Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe organizing a pilgrimage to the Holy Land

With the blessing of His Grace Bishop Irenei and under his direction, the 2023 diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Land will take place from 31 July to 12 August 2023, which dates includes the altar feast of the Gethsemane Monastery, dedicated to St Mary Magdalene.

The program of the pilgrimage includes visits to all the great shrines and holy sites of Jerusalem and its vicinity, including Bethlehem, Jericho, Hebron, Galilee, the Lake of Gennesaret, etc. It includes immersion in the waters of the Jordan river, participation in Divine Services in monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia on the Mount Olives and in Gethsemane, as well as in other churches in these sacred places, and above all at the Holy Sepulcher.

The cost of the pilgrimage, not including airfare, is £1,285 in Pounds Sterling, which includes meals and lodging for all 13 days / 12 nights, as well as entry into all sites. Pilgrims must purchase their airplane tickets individually, as best suits their needs; guidance will be provided on arrival necessities, transportation to the starting point of the pilgrimage, etc.

Registration is open now, and will remain open until spaces are filled, or until the end of February 2023. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis until the pilgrimage is full.

TO REGISTER: Please initiate the process by completing the on-line application form, here. The form, once submitted via the web site, will be received by Ms Sofia Michailidou, the pilgrimage coordinator, who will respond with further details.

All pilgrims are required to obtain the blessing of the Priest of the parish of which they are a parishioner; those who complete the on-line application form will be sent a form that the Priest may use to submit his blessing.

(Note: The pilgrimage is organized under the assumption that the political and social situation in the Holy Land, as well as the epidemiological and political situations in the wider world, will permit its safe fulfilment. This situation will be monitored throughout the year.)

orthodox-europe.org