Pilgrimages to Holy Sites have been a very popular endeavor since the early Christendom. The faithful would visit, first of all, the Holy Land, to follow quite literally the footsteps of the Lord, to walk the Via Dolorosa, to participate in a meaningful manner in Christ’s sufferings. Other venues included Rome, the Eternal City, especially its Patriarchal Basilicas, the Holy Mountain (Athos), various shrines, like Loreto in Italy or Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Monasteries have always been a popular destination, especially the famous ones, like monastery of St. Anthony in Egypt, monastery of St. Katherine on Sinai, Pecherska Lavra in Kiev, Subiaco or Assisi.
Pilgrimage is one of the most important devotional practices. Not only does it enable one to do penance and ask God for His grace and His Saints for assistance, it is, in fact, an opportunity to do all three principal good works: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is also a great chance to meet with other Christians to worship together.
St. Josaphat monastery of the Basilian Order of St. Josaphat traditionally hosts an annual pilgrimage on its grounds on a Sunday in June. This year, it will be held on June 30, the feast of the 12 Apostles. There will be the Pontifical Divine Liturgy, Stations of the Cross, and other services, as well as an opportunity to participate in the holy mystery of Reconciliation, as there will be many priests to hear confessions. Finally, to support us all physically as well, we will have a lot of wonderful food, including many traditional Ukrainian delicacies.
Please, join us on June 30 for the pilgrimage, and bring your relatives and friends.
Fr. Eugene Khomyn OSBM Heguman
Pilgrimage is one of the most important devotional practices. Not only does it enable one to do penance and ask God for His grace and His Saints for assistance, it is, in fact, an opportunity to do all three principal good works: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It is also a great chance to meet with other Christians to worship together.
St. Josaphat monastery of the Basilian Order of St. Josaphat traditionally hosts an annual pilgrimage on its grounds on a Sunday in June. This year, it will be held on June 30, the feast of the 12 Apostles. There will be the Pontifical Divine Liturgy, Stations of the Cross, and other services, as well as an opportunity to participate in the holy mystery of Reconciliation, as there will be many priests to hear confessions. Finally, to support us all physically as well, we will have a lot of wonderful food, including many traditional Ukrainian delicacies.
Please, join us on June 30 for the pilgrimage, and bring your relatives and friends.
Fr. Eugene Khomyn OSBM Heguman