Welcome
Updated May 2012

Pilgrimages with St Albans Diocese

Since 2000, we have arranged many overseas pilgrimages to locations such as the Holy land, The Seven Churches of Asia, Cappadocia, Jordan & Sinai, Santiago de Compostela, Greece and Oberammergau. These are operated in liaison with our chosen and trusted travel agent McCabe Pilgrimages.

Christian pilgrimage offers an opportunity not only to visit the locations of importance to our faith, but also to travel in the company of other Christian people, to reflect, pray and explore one's own spirituality, and also to 'bring home' new understandings and insights.

An important aspect of the pilgrimages we arrange is that they take very serious account of the value and importance of engaging with the local communities and churches we visit. In this way, to use the words of the former Bishop in Jerusalem, Riah Abu El Assal, we travel not only to visit the ancient stones, but also to meet and listen to the 'living stones'.

Please see details of the pilgrimages planned for 2012 & 2013, below.

There are now limited places for the pilgrimage in May this year. Please act quickly if you wish to book.

Diocesan Pilgrimages in 2012

*** Limited places - please act quickly if you wish to book ***

22nd - 31st May. The Holy Land.
Led by Archdeacon Paul and Revd Liz Hughes, with Tony Boon.

Paul and Liz are experienced pilgrimage leaders and have travelled to the Holy Land on a number of previous occasions.

This pilgrimage will cover the major sacred sites and will include an optional (£45 extra) day tour to the Dead Sea. The pilgrimage will be based in Jerusalem and beside the Sea of Galilee, and includes a day in northern Galilee, visiting the Hula Valley, Banias (Caesarea Philippi), Nimrod Castle and the Golan Heights.

Cost: £1490, sharing, full board. Single Supplement £265.

A colour brochure and a booking form are now available for this tour. These are PDF files. Most browsers will have the reading
software for these file types built-in, but you can install a free version of Adobe Reader here if needed.

:: Holy Land brochure, including full itinerary and booking information. PDF file, 2MB

:: Booking form (required for completion for all bookings), .5MB

To book for this pilgrimage, please first read the brochure and itinerary. Download and print a copy of the booking form, noting on it any special requirements, and whether you require McCabe travel insurance, and send it, enclosing your deposit cheque, to:

Mr Tony Boon
Holywell Lodge
41 Holywell Hill
St Albans
HERTS AL1 1HE

Bookings for this pilgrimage are being handled by Tony Boon. 01727 818135. aboon@stalbans.anglican.org

21st - 30th August. The Holy Land.
Led by Archdeacon Trevor and Mrs Sue Jones.

This pilgrimage is specifically timed for the school holidays to allow teachers and other working in the field of education to travel, as
well as families. Trevor and Sue have led a number of pilgrimages to the Holy Land in recent years. This ten day tour will be based in
Jerusalem and Galilee, with an optional (£45 extra) day trip to Masada and the Dead Sea.

Cost: £1475, sharing, full board. Single Supplement £265.

:: Holy Land brochure, including full itinerary and booking information. PDF file,2MB

:: Booking form (required for completion for all bookings), .5MB

To book for this pilgrimage, please first read the brochure and itinerary. Download and print a copy of the booking form, noting on it any special requirements, and whether you require McCabe travel insurance, and send it, enclosing your deposit cheque, to:

Mr Tony Boon
Holywell Lodge
41 Holywell Hill
St Albans
HERTS AL1 1HE

Bookings for this pilgrimage are being handled by Tony Boon. 01727 818135. aboon@stalbans.anglican.org

Diocesan Pilgrimage in 2013

New Testament Turkey, including Istanbul, Troy and selected sites of the Seven Churches of the Revelation. Sept 9th - 19th.

Led by Canon Dennis and Mrs Helen Stamps.

Cost: £1575 sharing, full board. Single room supplement £325.

Planning is in hand for this pilgrimage, departing on September 9th 2013, for nine days. This tour will spend three nights in Istanbul, exploring the rich legacy of Roman, Byzantine-Christian and Islamic history & culture, and then takes the land route westward to the Gallipoli Peninsula, crossing the Dardanelles straits by ferry at Cannakale. From here, the route goes southwards to Troy, Troas and Assos, before beginning the visits to New Testament sites with Pergamum. The pilgrimage will follow the narrative of Revelation 2 and 3, and will also visit Pauline sites such as Miletus, and optionally, Collosae. The huge site of Aphrodisias is included, offering what many consider to be the best preserved stadium in the classical world. The tour ends at Ephesus with a full day tour of this exceptional and biblically significant site. Of the Seven Churches sites, only Smyrna (modern Izmir) is omitted.

A colour brochure and booking form will be available here soon. To register an interest, without obligation, please email Laura Hart, lhart@stalbans.anglican.org or call her on 01727 818151, office hours.

Photos, left. The Celsus Library at Ephesus, and the hillside theatre at Pergamum.

We operate our diocesan pilgrimages firmly on the following principles:

• To arrange and lead pilgrimages which offer new and life-expanding experiences in a safe, secure and caring setting.
• To strike a balance between visiting the ancient sites of our faith and engaging with local Christians and peoples of other faiths in order to listen and learn.
• To endeavour to contribute to sustainable pilgrimage which brings benefits to local producers and residents as well as to our pilgrims.
• To offer a programme of appropriate worship and spiritual guidance whilst on pilgrimage, and to provide guidance on ways in which to 'bring home' the experience.