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The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America has issued a proclamation this week on the Glorification of the Righteous Servant of God Matushka Olga, making her the first female saint of North America. 

Then he said, “Do not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” —Exod. 3:5

“Carrie, take off your shoes!” called my friend Betsy from the shore, as the small fishing boat I was on came to a stop. There was no dock, and the boat could not quite make it all the way to dry land, so a slippery wooden plank was placed on the stern.

At what point does a place become a holy site? What makes a pilgrimage different from a long walk, or other kinds of travel? These were some of the questions we explored during our recent Axia panel, Pilgrimage 101. 

The second in our new series of pilgrimage stories comes from Sandra Simunic:

When I used to visit Serbian monasteries and shrines, during the services, I would hear priests always mention local saints when they gave people a blessing. Today, I live in Great Britain. I have been wanting to find out more about Celtic saints from the first Christian millennium because I want them to become part of my spiritual life. 

Dark and blessedly cool outside, I stepped out of my friend’s car at 4:30AM onto the empty cobblestone street outside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. I blinked sleep from my eyes and gazed in wonder at the now-quiet holy site. The baking daytime sun of July in Israel had this Northerner exhausted and crowds in the daytime felt overwhelming - there were so many other pilgrims like me taking time to pray at the place of Jesus’ crucifixion and kneel at His tomb. Being here in the early morning to pray the Divine Liturgy felt as if I’d stepped back in time. I was excited and a bit nervous, because while I knew the Coptic chapel was tucked at the base of Jesus’ tomb, I didn’t know how we would pray there. What would it look like?

The first in our new series of pilgrimage stories comes from Bess Crider: 

At Bethany in the Holy Land, I felt the knowledge of Jesus Christ move from my head to my heart.

I have been a Christian most of my life, actively pursuing a faith that is real, sincere, earnest, honest, and true.  I became Orthodox in 1998 at age 41 and continued my faith journey.  

Blessed Elevation of the Cross to everyone who celebrated on September 14 and to everyone who will celebrate on September 27!

Lord, save Your people and bless Your inheritance. Grant victories to us over our adversaries and, by virtue of Your Cross, preserve Your habitation.