Today we visited two of the Meteora monasteries that are situated on the top of rock formations in Kalavaka, Greece. These rock formations were a popular spot for hermits as early as the 14th century. The desire to go off to a quiet place to pray has been constant throughout the history of the Church. Jesus himself went off to deserted places in order to pray. These cliffs surely meet the requirement of solitude.
Human nature is a mysterious and enigmatic reality, confounding the most brilliant minds generation after generation. Every era seems to propose a new theory to explain the interconnectedness of the body, soul, and mind.
Seminarians have a convenient method to get their laundry done in the residence in 2024. However, in 1935, new methods were being employed, with some confusion and disorganization amongst participants.
Learn about our Alm’s Box. This heavy wooden box would have been placed outside of a church in the doorway for citizens to contribute to the poor.
Today our pilgrim group spent its first full day in Greece! The weather was dreary as we loaded the bus to visit the sites of Lydia’s baptism, described in the Acts of the Apostles, and ancient Philippi. Our new guides have given us a very warm welcome, despite the wintery weather of Europe. We drove through lush mountains and valleys filled with farms dotted with Greek flags and rain puddles.
The beginning of the new liturgical year corresponds with the beginning of a new chapter of our pilgrimage. Today is our last day in Türkiye, and the day of our flight to Thessaloniki, Greece.
While a full schedule has characterized most of our days in Türkiye, our first full Sabbath on pilgrimage was appropriately free, with nothing on the schedule save boarding the bus to head to the airport in the evening.
In Istanbul In conjunction with the rising of the sun, many fishermen arise and over bridges fish into the Bosporus. Recalling back, many of us were amazed at the mass of fishermen who were fishing the first day we arrived in Istanbul.
We began our day in Bursa with Mass and breakfast followed by a visit to the famous “Green Mosque” and the “Covered Bazaar” where they sell gold and sIlk products.
After spending a day contemplating and praying at Mary’s house in Ephesus, visiting St. John’s tomb, and witnessing an incredible sunset in Assos, we now wake up in Canakkale, a city in northwest Türkiye surrounded by mountains with a beautiful view of the Mediterranean Sea.
Sometimes on pilgrimage, it is easy to overlook what is most important: Holy Mass. This is not intentional- it just happens. Mass is usually early in the morning, followed by a full day of traveling and site seeing. More than once, I’ve heard someone say, “That was this morning!?” when Mass is mentioned on the bus. Suffice to say, our days are jam packed with amazing experiences.
The city of Ephesus was a historical giant. At its height during the time of ancient Rome, it was the largest city in the empire’s Asian territories. It boasted an immense three-story library that is still standing today, an enormous temple that rivaled any built in Rome or Athens, and one of the largest ports on the Mediterranean.
Sometimes on pilgrimage, it is easy to overlook what is most important: Holy Mass. This is not intentional- it just happens. Mass is usually early in the morning, followed by a full day of traveling and site seeing. More than once, I’ve heard someone say, “That was this morning!?” when Mass is mentioned on the bus. Suffice to say, our days are jam packed with amazing experiences.
It has been more than a week since we began following the footsteps of Saint Paul. So far, we have visited his birthplace, the places he traveled to during his missionary journeys, and sites where the first Christians had to hide to avoid persecution. Being in such powerful
locations – walking through and witnessing the history engraved in the rocks of Cappadocia,
Galatia, and Pamphylia – deepens one’s faith.
As we walked the half-buried streets of Pisidian Antioch, the sun beat down from overhead on the bleached stones. Perched on a hill, Antioch looks down on modern Yalvaç with the ancient temple of Caesar Augustus, son of a god and pontifex maximus, casting its once-imposing gaze over cities both ancient and modern.
We are in an overwhelmingly Muslim country, intermixed with tourists, where there are more cats than Christians. Today we were privileged to visit a few of the many ancient cave churches, where, in days of old, the numberless faithful Christians of Cappadocia worshiped. Hollowed out of rock, these sacred spaces are as immovable as the hills themselves, some still beautified by colorful mosaics on walls and ceilings.