St. Michael Russian Orthodox Church

September 6, 2009

Life as a pilgrimage.

Most people understand the idea of a pilgrimage as a kind of long trip somewhere with a vaguely religious destination. In America pilgrimages are most remarkable for the vast numbers of people that never experience them. In Russia, indeed in most of Europe, the idea of pilgrimage is very much alive. During the terrible times of persecution in Russia a great many people continued to visit the holy places allover their country. Many, even the greater majority, had been desecrated but the essential holiness remained and people still came to be spiritually refreshed. And multitudes were. Now, everywhere, the old pilgrimages are being held again.

This is the traditional pattern for pilgrimages: God permits a spiritually significant event to take place. It can be any of a number of things - a number of sick people may suddenly be cured through the intercession of the Mother of God or a revered local saint, the saint may help people with difficulties in their life. When a pilgrimage takes place usually large numbers of people attend and many may come a great distance. Many services take place at that time. The opportunity is given for people to confess their sins, the Sacrament of Holy Unction takes place at least once.

There are several Orthodox pilgrimages that are organized here in America every year.

Some are better than others because people here do not yet have the experience to know just what makes for a good spiritual pilgrimage. They will all be better as time goes on.

I would like to mention to you another kind of pilgrimage. It is a pilgrimage that every one of us can successfully make, and make frequently. It does not require that we travel great distances but it does require great seriousness on our part. This kind of pilgrimage is an interior journey. To make it we need to find some quiet first. There are many ways to find quiet. Even if you have children at home you will find that you can put aside some time later on at night, when every house gets quiet, when it is not only possible to concentrate on spiritual life, it is positively easy to do it, and to do it well.

What do we need? We need only a few things. The life of a saint to read will be very helpful. We don't want to read it fast. Rather, we want to read it at a slower pace, and then to spend a little time thinking about what we have read. The saints give us great examples to follow from their lives. There are a large number of books about the spiritual life. You need to go to a bookstore that specializes in Orthodox religious literature. Saint Tichon's Monastery, Saint Vladimir's Seminary, Holy Trinity Monastery - all have bookstores. You need to go there because not every book is suited to your needs. You need to hold the books in your hands and you need to read through them so that you can pick out the ones that are best for you. You might say it's a long trip just to buy one book. Don't buy just one, buy a bunch of them.

You need a good prayer book. The best one I have seen is the one published by Holy Trinity Monastery, but you may know of another you like better. For the purpose of your pilgrimage you will need morning and evening prayers.

If you are making you pilgrimage in the morning read the daily scripture readings at night. If your pilgrimage time is in the evening read the scripture with your morning prayers. Be sure to keep the fast days (Wednesday and Friday, etc.) during pilgrimage time.

Pilgrimage should last two to four days, just like an organized pilgrimage does. Be sure to prepare yourself for a really good confession as soon as practical after you have finished your time of pilgrimage.

You can make this pilgrimage by yourself several times a year.

Look for a time when you can join fellow believers at an organized pilgrimage because it will make a difference in your life.