A pilgrim recounts a memorable journey through the Holy Land, guided by Archbishop Michael and Archpriest Ilya Gotlinsky, during the Feast of Holy Pentecost. The narrative captures the spiritual and physical realities of walking in the footsteps of Christ and the Apostles, highlighting visits to key biblical sites and the profound sense of holiness encountered along the way.
“On the Feast of Holy Pentecost, 2017, over thirty pilgrims from across our Diocese and other parts of the U.S. embarked on an unforgettable pilgrimage in the Holy Land. We traveled under the spiritual leadership of His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, with Archpriest Ilya Gotlinsky as our tour guide… Words can hardly convey the experience of walking and praying within the places where our Lord traveled and taught, and where His disciples were formed and fed with His Word… Once inside the Sepulchre complex, you must climb many stairs to get to Golgotha … being out of breath at the top, and even more out of breath on encountering the holiness of that place. There really is no way to describe it – you simply feel it, and you look into the eyes of your fellow-travelers and you know they feel it too. All you can think to do, is kneel. You have your turn – briefly – to enter Christ’s Tomb and venerate the place where He lay, and where He rose … You really don’t want to leave; you just want to be there and let your heart be washed over by the holiness….”
