Dear Parishioners and Friends,

From the time of St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, Christians have been making pilgrimages to holy places. Pilgrimage differs greatly from a vacation or getaway. While one does experience new places and there are elements of fun and discovery, a pilgrimage offers the faithful deep spiritual connection and can be life changing.

Early next summer, May 29 to June 11, there is an opportunity to make a pilgrimage through The Living Church to Turkey. Why Turkey, you might ask? From the pilgrimage brochure: "The significance of ancient Anatolia — now Turkey — in the birth of our faith is hard to overestimate. Over 60 percent of the places mentioned in the Bible are located there, as were the sites of all seven of the Ecumenical Councils. For a thousand years, Constantinople (now Istanbul) was the world’s greatest Christian city, a center of scholarship, devotion, and art. Turkey is also a center of Islamic culture, and a home of grand mosques and Sufi spirituality. A safe and modern country, it hosts millions of tourists from across the world each year."

The pilgrimage will also coincide with the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea--think Nicene Creed. The itinerary includes places like Istanbul, Chalcedon, Pergamom, Ephesus, and Cappadocia, to name just a few. There will be opportunities for learning, cultural exchange, and daily devotion, with communion on the two Sundays of the journey, including at the home of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus.

Pete and I have signed up for this incredible opportunity, and I hope that you will consider joining us and fellow Episcopalians this summer. Space is limited, and the registration deadline is fast approaching. Here is the link for registration. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. 

Blessings,

Father Rick