UOC of the USA Announces Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Constantinople

07.02.2014, 14:26

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, the Prime Hierarch of the UOC of the USA, Bishop Daniel of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA will lead Sacred Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Constantinople on November 10-22, 2014, the Consistory office announced . The 13-day visit to the most significant sites of the New Testament is being coordinated by Bishop Daniel and clergy of the UOC of the USA.

With the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Antony, the Prime Hierarch of the UOC of the USA, Bishop Daniel of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA will lead Sacred Pilgrimage to the Holy Land and Constantinople on November 10-22, 2014, the Consistory office announced. The 13-day visit to the most significant sites of the New Testament is being coordinated by Bishop Daniel and clergy of the UOC of the USA.

"This pilgrimage, second in turn and hopefully another of many to the Holy Land for our Metropolia, will send down the blessing of God, not only on all of those participating, but on our entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The Council of Bishops of the Church has given a blessing and encourages all of our clergy and parishes to promote such pilgrimages, both to Holy Land and other holy sites, which facilitate our coming closer to God. By traveling to the Holy Land this time around, we will literally walk in the steps of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. I sincerely pray that the Almighty One will bless us traveling, keep us safe and bring us all closer to Him during the time of the year that in the United States of America we offer gratitude to God for the blessing received," said Bishop Daniel.

Bishop Daniel and the pilgrims, will be received by His Holiness Patriarch Theophilus III of Jerusalem. While in Constantinople the pilgrims of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in addition to various historic sites, will visit the Hagia Sophia – St. Sophia (Holy Wisdom) Cathedral and the Patriarchate of Constantinople, concluding with a private audience with his All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.

“As we travel together, we will worship and learn. We will visit sites where Christ the Savior walked, where He taught and prayed. We will discover the images that He used to illustrate His parables. We will come closer to understanding Him as we gain understanding of world in which He conducted His ministry…” said the bishop.