We are the living tabernacle of Christ on this pilgrimage
Colossea, Laodicea, Pamakkule, Hierapolis
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.
I would like to share something special that keeps me thinking: like the first Christians, we didn’t have a church or tabernacle to worship in, so we created a space each day to celebrate the Eucharist. The word “Eucharist” comes from Greek and means “Thanksgiving.” This simple way of worshiping together has made us feel connected to the first Christians, who
remained strong and faithful despite their challenges. We are all deeply grateful for this
experience.
This is why, before sunrise today, we gathered for morning prayer. Interestingly, the call to prayer from the mosque, inviting Muslims to their first of five daily prayers, set the tone for our hymn. This shared acknowledgment of God, whom Muslims call Allah, enriched our experience. Together with our brothers and sisters, we began the day with prayer, followed by the Eucharist, presenting our daily needs and intentions before God—one God for us and for them.
After breakfast and packing our bags, we boarded our bus and left Antalya, heading through the western Taurus mountain range. Leaving behind the Mediterranean climate, we entered the cooler, continental climate. As we ascended, the scenery outside transformed into a snowy white landscape, with the temperature dropping to around 0°C (32°F).
Our first stop was Colossae, a city where early Christians once lived and to which Saint Paul addressed his Letter to the Colossians. Today, nothing remains of the city; it has disappeared into a hill. Climbing and encircling this hill as a Christian community, 2,000 years later, we read Saint Paul’s letter. This time, however, the message was for us—the living Church of the 21st century. After our meditation, we satisfied our physical hunger with delicious, traditional local food: shish kebab.
Next, we visited the ancient city of Laodicea, a Greek and later Roman city. It once boasted two amphitheaters and a stadium, highlighting its importance in ancient times. However, we were not there to marvel at its magnificence but to visit one of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation by Saint John. Standing in this sacred place, we read the passage addressed to the Church of Laodicea.
The day did not end there. The Spirit led us to Hierapolis, another ancient city largely in ruins today. Known for its well-preserved theater, city spas, and the stunning natural phenomenon of Pamukkale’s mineral-rich thermal waters. Hierapolis shows both; the ingenuity of human history and the beauty of God’s creation.
The highlight of this stop was the hilltop where Saint Philip the Apostle was martyred. In memory of his sacrifice, later Christians, after the christianization of the Roman Empire, built a tomb and church in his honor. This reminded us that other apostles did not travel as far as St. Paul. Paul preached farther, and we still have four more weeks to explore the paths he walked in this world.
Starting today with the Solemnity of Christ the King, which is the beginning of this year’s Thanksgiving week, we are grateful to God for this journey so far. We continue to pray for all of you who are following our blog, but we also pray that through this journey, we may understand St. Paul more deeply and embody the Holy Scriptures in our lives, becoming living tabernacles that carry Jesus wherever we go.
-Br. Jakov Nikolic, OFM in Croatia
