Pilgrimage Weekend Updates! On Saturday morning, our pilgrims had the privilege of visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christ was crucified and buried. However, sightseeing was limited as the tomb and its surrounding area is currently under renovation.
Later that day, they had a tour of the Armenian monastery, which is located in the Armenian quarter. The group visited Sts. James Cathedral, the Gulbenkian Library, Sts. Tarkmanchats Armenian School, and Church of the Holy Archangels, among other sites.
On Sunday, the group traveled to Gethsemane to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary at her tomb. The Jerusalem Armenian community follows the Julian calendar, which is why the Feast day took place on August 28th. The group participated in Divine Liturgy and enjoyed lunch afterwards in the garden together with members of the community.
Today, the group spent their last day of the trip exploring Jerusalem - some walked around the Old City and shopped for souvenirs, while others received the traditional ‘haji’ tattoo to mark their pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Our pilgrims are currently beginning their journey back home to Boston. We wish them all safe travels and can’t wait to hear about their experiences firsthand!