Pilgrims join local Christians for worship in Jerusalem

Sunday March 27th 2011

Connor pilgrims joined with members of the local Christian community for Sunday morning worship in St George’s Cathedral, Jerusalem, at 9.30am on Sunday March 27.

Earlier, 22 of the pilgrims rose early to attend dawn worship at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at the top of Via Dolorosa, where they witnessed the variety of liturgy. For those who left the hotel at 5am, the walk up the Via Dolorosa was a very different experience to the walk they completed on Thursday. At dawn all the stalls and shops were closed and the cobbled lanes silent and peaceful.

St George’s Cathedral was full to capacity at 9.30am, with some pilgrims from Canada joining the Connor group and the local community for worship which was conducted in both English and Arabic. Bishop Alan and pilgrimage leader Canon John Mann both took part in the service of Holy Communion, and the sermon was delivered, in both languages, by priest-in-charge, the Rev Canon Hosam Naoum. Hymns were sung in both languages simultaneously.

Afterwards the Cathedral members treated the pilgrims to refreshments in their beautiful garden, ripe with roses, flowers, trees hung heavy with lemons, and even a friendly tortoise who popped his head out briefly to say hello.

The group then walked the short distance for lunch at the Jerusalem Hotel, before separating. One group travelled to Bethany to see the Lazarus Church and Tomb, and to visit the Jeel al-Amal Boys’ Home, supported by the McCabe Educational Trust, where the pilgrims made a donation to support the work of the home.

A second group went to the moving Yad Vashem Memorial to the Holocaust on the outskirts of the city, while some opted to spend the afternoon relaxing in the hotel or shopping in Jerusalem’s colourful, noisy and absolutely fascinating souk.

The pilgrims leave Jerusalem early on Monday March 27 to travel to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee where they will be based for three days.

The Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor

Pilgrims join local Christians for worship in Jerusalem

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