THE FOURTH ANNUAL DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND

E-Newsletter, Armenian Church of the UK and Ireland, ISSUE 25, VOL. 5, ADDENDUM

Thirty-Five passengers from three continents and six countries merged in Heathrow Airport, the night of Friday, 6 June, launching the fourth annual Armenian Pilgrimage to the Holy Land organised by the Diocese of the Armenian Church of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Under the leadership of HG Bp Vahan Hovhanessian, Primate, the group of pilgrims visited biblical shrines and sites of interest to the Armenian faithful.

The pilgrimage covered the biblical span of the story of our Lord beginning with the church of the Annunciation in Nazareth and the Church of the Visitation where Mary visited Elizabeth, moving along to the scenes of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, the valley of the shepherds where the angels appeared and proclaimed the birth of the Savior, to the River Jordan where Jesus was baptized and the Mount of Temptation where He was tempted by Satan. The pilgrimage continued to Nazareth where Jesus lived, gathered His apostles and started His ministry. Following the steps of the Lord the pilgrims ascended Mount Tabor where he was transfigured and visited the church built on the spot where he multiplied the loves and fish, and visited the cave where He taught His apostles the Lord’s Prayer. As always much time was devoted to the scenes of the final days of the Lord including the Last Supper, the house of the High Priest, Caiaphas, where Jesus was falsely condemned and denied by Peter, Via Dolorosa, where Jesus walked carrying His own cross, and the empty tomb of the resurrected Jesus.

The pilgrims climbed mountains, swam in the Sea of Galilee, the Mediterranean, the Dead Sea and the River Jordan, ascended mountains using cable cars, took boat rides, descended to 1st century caves and travelled in bus, with some spending a night inside the shrines. Every day started with a prayer and included a Bible discussion session, and ended with an evening fellowship including sing-along fellowships. Inspired and renewed by the pilgrimage experience, the group returned home safely on Saturday, 14 June. May the Lord accept the pilgrimage and prayers of our pilgrims.

 PentecostBadarakinJerusalem  Audience with the Patriarch  RenewalofBaptismalVows  Blessing of Married Couples

 BadarakinBethlehemCave  Daily Bible Study Sessions  ImpressiveYouthParticipation  Fellowship,FoodandFun

The pilgrims on the roof of the Armenian Church Centre in Jaffa

The pilgrims at the gate of the Visitation Cathedral, Ein Karem

For information about future pilgrimages please contact the Primate’s Office at: primatesoffice@armenianchurch.co.uk. You can also receive weekly updates from the Primate’s Office by subscribing to our free E-Newsletter. To do so, send your e- mail address to: information@armenianchurch.co.uk

The Fourth Annual Pilgrimage 6-14 June, 2014

ISSUE 25, VOL. 5, ADDENDUM

Seminarians singing the Badarak in Jerusalem

Badarak at Sts Jameses Armenian Cathedral

PENTECOST IN JERUSALEM

Celebrating Pentecost in the Land of Pentecost

The second day of the pilgrimage was Sunday, 8 June, which according to the Armenian Church calendar was the Feast of Pentecost. The Feast celebrates the biblical event of the decent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and the Virgin Mary, which gave them the power, knowledge, wisdom and courage to go out and start preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to witness to Him as the expected Messiah. We read about the details of this miraculous event in the Book of Acts 2:1-13.

Based on the above, Pentecost is accepted as the beginning point of the ministry of the universal Church and her outreach to the rest of the World, including the Armenians. As such Pentecost is celebrated as the birthday of the Church.

How inspiring it was for the pilgrims to celebrate this Feast in the Mother Cathedral of the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem, where the entire story of the divine plan for the salvation of humanity was launched and fulfilled. The pilgrims participated in the Badarak, which was sung by the seminarians, and received Holy Communion, and then spend some time visiting the facilities of the Patriarchate.

AUDIENCE WITH THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCH

“Welcome to your home”

Monday morning, 9 June, our pilgrims were the guests of His Beatitude Archbishop Nourhan Manougian, Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The Pilgrims were received in the main hall of the Patriarchal Palace, where the Primate introduced them to His Beatitude and thanked him for welcoming them in the Patriarchate. In his turn, the Armenian Patriarch welcomed all and wished them a successful and inspiring pilgrimage. Encouraging them to revisit the Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem in future pilgrimages, the Patriarch added, “You are always welcome to your home here in Jerusalem.”

Pilgrims with the Armenian Patriarch His Beatitude Nourhan Manougian

The Fourth Annual Pilgrimage 6-14 June, 2014

ISSUE 25, VOL. 5, ADDENDUM

THE RIVER JORDAN

Renewal of the Baptismal Vows

River Jordan was the final destination of the pilgrims on Wednesday, 11 June, en route from two earlier stops: the Mount of Temptations and the Dead Sea. The latter was an hour or so break for the pilgrims to enjoy the beauty of the Dead Sea on a sunny day and the therapeutic mud of its shores. The Mount of Temptation included a cable-car ride to the top of the Mountain, following which some pilgrims climbed on foot all the way to the monastery built on the spot believed to be where Jesus was tempted as narrated in the Bible (Mt 4:1-11). En route to the River Jordan, the pilgrims listened to the Gospel reading about the Baptism of Jesus and Bp Vahan offered a brief review of the theology and meaning of baptism, inviting those who want to immerse in the River Jordan, upon arrival, and renew their baptismal vows. On arrival, to the site traditionally designated as the site of the Baptism of the Lord, most of the pilgrims removed their shoes and socks and immersed their feet into the river. The Primate and Canon Patrick Thomas assisted by several deacons and subdeacons read prayers and sung the hymn of Baptism and that of the blessing of the water followed by a blessing. Within a few minutes the traditional Armenian hymns were resounding in the shrines, which culminated with the spontaneous singing of the Lord’s Prayer by all. This was a great opportunity for the pilgrims to think about their own baptism and renew their vows of striving to live a Christian life based on the teachings of the Lord.

Blessing married couples on pilgrimage, in Cana of Galilee

CANA OF GALILEE

Blessing Married Couples

One of the traditional stops of the pilgrimages is usually the Church in Cana built on the ruins of the house where the Wedding recorded in the Gospel of John 2:1- 12 took place. What happened spontaneously on the first pilgrimage in 2011 has become customary for the consequent pilgrimages of the Armenian Diocese, which is to congregate in one of the several chapels of this shrine to participate in a service of the blessing of married couples among the pilgrims. Thursday, 12 June, was the day designated on the pilgrims’ agenda for the exploration of the Galilee region. One of the stops, naturally, was the Church in Cana. Following the explanations of the tour-guide concerning the history of the buildings in the shrine and its various renovations, as well as the beautiful altar of the main church with its six jars, the group was invited to the blessing ceremony presided over by Bp Vahan and Canon Patrick. Those interested among the married couples joined the clergy around the altar participating in the blessing ceremony. Those among the pilgrims, who are not married, were invited to read the various biblical passages during the service. At the conclusion of the service Bishop Vahan blessed the couples inviting them to embrace and kiss each other and wished them many years of health and happiness. The pilgrims concluded the service with the singing of the Lord’s Prayer in Armenian followed by the exchange of congratulations and best wishes.

The Fourth Annual Pilgrimage 6-14 June, 2014

ISSUE 25, VOL. 5, ADDENDUM

BETHLEHEM

Badarak At Jesus’ Birthplace

On Tuesday, 10 June, the pilgrims visited Bethlehem, and celebrated Badarak in the cave where the Manger is.

BIBLE STUDY

Daily Reflections

A Bible Study session was offered usually prior to the visitation of the various biblical shrines to introduce the pilgrim to the biblical event that took place in the shrine and its relevance for us. – in the cave where Jesus was tortured.

ACYF

Impressive Youth Participation

Out of the previous four pilgrimages, this year’s had the highest ratio of youth participation. On the boat in Galilee Sea.

FELLOWSHIP

Faith, Friendships, Food and Fun

The pilgrims’ day started with a group breakfast and ended with a group dinner, in addition to lunches at the various stops. This in addition to sing-along sessions, created a beautiful fellowship – Lunch @ Shepherd’s Field

The Primates Office of the Diocese of the Armenian Church in the UK and Ireland WWW.ARMENIANCHURCH.CO.UK