pilgrimage

Reflections from the Holy Land: Venice Presbyterian Returns Home

Venice Presbyterian Church returns from a transformative two-week pilgrimage to Israel, Palestine, and Türkiye. Read about their journey, the leadership that made it happen, and why the Middle East is open for discovery.

Wisemen Wafers: Ancient Pilgrims and the Dust of the Magoi

Discover the fascinating history of eulogia—ancient holy tokens and "wisemen wafers" that allowed pilgrims to literally swallow the dust of the Bible lands. Explore how these tiny artifacts may preserve lost mosaics of the Magoi and the legends that saved the Church of the Nativity from destruction.

An eclectic fellowship

An eclectic fellowship

Twenty-one Bible Lands Explorers from the United States and Mexico hit trail this summer in Israel-Palestine. In eleven days they managed to cover the ground from Dan to Beer-sheba. More importantly, these pilgrims came from from very different locations and stations of life. They gathered as strangers, but parted as family.

Christmastide pilgrims

It may seem odd to be thinking about pilgrims at Christmastide. But it is fitting. Pilgrimage is for every season. There is never a wrong time to undertake a journey for the purpose of encountering God. Most pilgrimages are unexpected and topsy-turvy experiences. Sometimes they get messy. Ask Paul the Apostle. Whom did he expect to meet on the road to Damascus? Or ask the Christmas shepherds. After they heard the angelic announcement, they said:

"Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened" (Luke 2:15).