Orthodox Pilgrimages

[AMM]

Is there an Orthodox equivalent to things like the Camino de Santiago for the Catholics? I'm graduating college in May and thinking about taking some sort of gap year/summer/something, and I thought something like a pilgrimage would be cool. I have a friend who did the Camino and loved it. Although I guess that's a pre-schism pilgrimage (it just got more popular in the Medieval times), so it's something I'd potentially be able to do.

But yeah - any suggestions?

 

[Phronema]

Mt. Athos is the most common pilgrimage location for Orthodox Christians outside the U.S. with Jerusalem being popular for all Christians I'd think. Really any of the monasteries I think would be great. In addition Turkey could be a cool spot though things are a little hot there right now.

Otherwise depending on your financial situation any Orthodox monasteries in the U.S. could also be a good pilgrimage. St. Anthony's monastery in Arizona is one of the more popular monasteries in the U.S.

 

[Not David]

Do most Orthodox do a pilgrimage to Israel?

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I’m going to Israel and Jordan in a couple months. That’s a pilgrimage in my book. My trip to Greece in 2017 was also a pilgrimage to me, especially seeing Meteora.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Do most Orthodox do a pilgrimage to Israel?

a lot do. many of the sites affiliated with the Bible are our Churches.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Is there an Orthodox equivalent to things like the Camino de Santiago for the Catholics? I'm graduating college in May and thinking about taking some sort of gap year/summer/something, and I thought something like a pilgrimage would be cool. I have a friend who did the Camino and loved it. Although I guess that's a pre-schism pilgrimage (it just got more popular in the Medieval times), so it's something I'd potentially be able to do.

But yeah - any suggestions?

if you are staying in the US I recommend:

St Tikhon's Monastery in PA
Holy Transfiguration in PA
Holy Trinity in Jordanville, NY
St Anthony's in AZ
Holy Cross in W
St Dionysius in NY

 

[All4Christ]

I second St Tikhon’s!

 

[AMM]

I guess to clarify, I'm not exactly asking for a place to pilgrimage, but a path to walk, if that makes sense. (The Camino de Santiago is as much about the journey as the destination, as I understand it).

Then again, I guess there doesn't need to be a difference. I can pick a location, get to that continent, and then walk there, if that's what I want to do.

 

[Lukaris]

Maybe this article could be helpful?

What is a Holy Pilgrimage | A Russian Orthodox Church Website

 

[Northbrook]

What about The Stations of the Cross? In Jerusalem, go to the Old City, and walk where Jesus walked, carrying his cross, to be crucified. I was out of shape and only made it part way, to the Station of the Cross at which Jesus said goodbye to his mother. Then I couldn’t make it any further up the hill (Mt. Calvary). However, I didn’t feel so bad once I remembered something about Jesus. You see, I don’t have to walk to the site of the Crucifixion, BECAUSE JESUS HAS ALREADY DONE THAT FOR ME. Jesus is like Scrubbing Bubbles. He’s done the work, so you don’t have tooooooo...

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Shouldn’t it be “no se como vivir sin dios?”

What about The Stations of the Cross? In Jerusalem, go to the Old City, and walk where Jesus walked, carrying his cross, to be crucified. I was out of shape and only made it part way, to the Station of the Cross at which Jesus said goodbye to his mother. Then I couldn’t make it any further up the hill (Mt. Calvary). However, I didn’t feel so bad once I remembered something about Jesus. You see, I don’t have to walk to the site of the Crucifixion, BECAUSE JESUS HAS ALREADY DONE THAT FOR ME. Jesus is like Scrubbing Bubbles. He’s done the work, so you don’t have tooooooo...

 

[prodromos]

What about The Stations of the Cross? In Jerusalem, go to the Old City, and walk where Jesus walked, carrying his cross, to be crucified.

Stations of the Cross are based on a Catholic mystic's visions and are not something I would consider as an Orthodox.

 

[AMM]

Stations of the Cross are based on a Catholic mystic's visions and are not something I would consider as an Orthodox.

I visited a WR parish that had relief carvings of the Stations hanging around the sanctuary/chapel.

 

[Lukaris]

I visited a WR parish that had relief carvings of the Stations hanging around the sanctuary/chapel.

Maybe it was a former Catholic Church? There is a Georgian OC near where I live in a former Catholic Church that kept the artwork. They recognize sincere representation of the Lord.

 

[AMM]

Maybe it was a former Catholic Church? There is a Georgian OC near where I live in a former Catholic Church that kept the artwork. They recognize sincere representation of the Lord.

I think one of the priests is a former Episcopalian, but yeah. The art is fine, it'd be more the practices of imagining ourselves at the Stations that would be objectionable to Orthodox theology, than the Stations themselves, right? Sorta like the rosary

 

[buzuxi02]

Do most Orthodox do a pilgrimage to Israel?

Yes! Most of the sites are Orthodox including many you didn't know even existed. There is also the Mar Saba Monastery in Jerusalem and St Katherine Monastery at Mt. Sinai, two of the most ancient and most important monasteries with ancient manuscripts still waiting to be discovered..

 

[Lukaris]

I think one of the priests is a former Episcopalian, but yeah. The art is fine, it'd be more the practices of imagining ourselves at the Stations that would be objectionable to Orthodox theology, than the Stations themselves, right? Sorta like the rosary

Interestingly enough, the former Catholic name of the now Georgian Orthodox parish I have in mind was Holy Rosary.

 

[E.C.]

An underappreciated American Orthodox monastery would be All-Merciful Savior in Vashon Island, WA.
And who can forget St Herman's on Spruce Island, AK?

Mt Athos is a popular pilgrimage, yes, but it is also important to visit the local monasteries in one's own country. They need the support too

Shouldn’t it be “no se como vivir sin dios?”

No sé cómo vivir sin Dios.