The Journeying from Turkey
Location: Istanbul and Thessaloniki Airports
These are the many things that run through our heads and hearts today as we prepare ourselves for the next part of our Pilgrimage. Yesterday evening we returned to Istanbul, the place where our journey through Turkey began. We have been given this day to ourselves to continue to explore the city and reflect on our time in Turkey. Later tonight we will be boarding a plane to go to Greece, where we will continue following the footsteps of St. Paul. So, as we were given most of today as free time, it became a great opportunity for us to think back and reflect on our time in Turkey.
Over the last couple of weeks, we have been slowly making our way around Turkey to see all the places of significance for our faith. Early on in our journey we met with a priest who offered a perspective of these places that I have found invaluable in understanding our pilgrimage through Turkey. This priest likened the Holy land and its importance for the life and ministry of Jesus Christ to the importance of Turkey for the life and ministry of the Early Church. Because of Turkey’s importance to the Church, he called Turkey the “Holy Land of the Church.”
It makes a lot of sense to call Turkey the Holy Land of the Church. In a very real way, it was in Turkey that the Church was first born and continued to grow into maturity. It was in Turkey that many of the first Christian communities were formed through the ministry and preaching of Paul. It was also in Turkey that the first seven Ecumenical Councils took place. As we have travelled through Turkey, we seen the remnants of these places where the Spirit first took root in People’s hearts and minds. As reflect on how the Spirit worked through and in these early Christians, we have been inspired us to see anew how the Spirit continues to work, in sometimes unseen ways, in our own lives and in more generally in the modern world.
Having witnessed the importance of Turkey to the early life and history of the Church we are confronted with the reality of today and the great need to spread the good news of the Gospel. While this reality can be saddening, it is also quite hopeful. Christianity in Turkey is no stranger to persecution; the Church was brutally persecuted here even during her infancy. We can be greatly comforted by the great example of the many early Christians here who, despite being a persecuted minority, remained steadfast in holding a fervent and deep faith that continues to be handed down even to today. This preservation of faith despite trial and persecution highlights in a bold way how Christian hope is not found in the world, but in God and in eternal life with him.
It is with these strokes of thought that I have pondered today on what it means to be on pilgrimage. We are an eschatological people. We are not called to remain here but are all on a journey to eternal life with God. Things of this world, even good things, will all pass away. Although it is sad to see the ruins of so many great and historical church buildings here in Turkey it has helped point my attention to God and remember that life in this world is not what we are ultimately called to. As John tells us, “the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.” (John 2:17 NABRE) While we can certainly take great delight in the earthly wonders of early Christianity, it is not ultimately where are love dwells. So, we move forward with ever greater attentiveness to God, who is the fulfillment of all our desire and object of all our love.
-Luke Olson, Diocese of Peoria
