Pilgrimage is ... The essence of pilgrimage

Each of us has heard aboutpilgrimage. A lot of people, representatives of one religion, go to sacred places, which are revered by one or another religion. They do it alone or in groups - it does not matter. The main thing is to have pure intentions and submissive body, as well as a soul full of repentance, and a heart that is distinguished by sincere faith. Pilgrimage is the aspiration of the lost lambs of God to worship the holy lands and cities.

A bit of history

From deep ancient, immemorial times came inmodern language the term "pilgrimage". It is derived from the word "palm". The branches of this tree brought the first Christians from the sacred territories that went there to receive the blessing of the Most High. They usually went during a great holiday on the eve of Easter, which glorified the entry of Christ into Jerusalem. In Russia and other Orthodox countries it is called "Palm Sunday". But do not think that only Christians practiced the pilgrimage. For example, in ancient India, local people traveled to the land a couple of times a year, where, according to the legends, certain gods lived. In this way, they tried to absorb the energy of revered creatures, which remained here in every stone and tree. And in Greece pilgrims from all corners of the country went to Delphi: in the local temple lived the prophetess Pythia, who predicted fate on behalf of the higher forces.

The essence of the pilgrimage has slightly changed inMiddle Ages. It was then that it became as we know it today. In the heyday of the Christian religion, people began to go to Jerusalem massly to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, erected under the emperor Constantine. In the XV century for travelers from Europe, developed signs and special routes: from the river Rhone to the banks of the Jordan. The Crusades definitely strengthened the tradition of pilgrimage to the territory of the Holy Land. It is known that today about 200 million people observe the rite every year.

The main types and essence of pilgrimage

Believers go to a dangerous, long anda difficult path not only for the sake of prayer and forgiveness for the committed sins. Often their goal is much more noble: to find the meaning of life, to know their destiny, to find grace, to show devotion to religious beliefs. Sometimes the desires of pilgrims are absolutely earthly: ask a long-awaited baby, be healed of illness, get rid of mental suffering. In any case, such a journey presupposes a certain relation of man to reality. The idea is absolutely simple: to voluntarily take on the difficulties, to take the hard road conditions, spend some time in the constraints to achieve the highest goal. This symbolizes the rejection of mankind from material values and physical pleasures for the sake of spiritual and eternal ideals.

Depending on the different characteristics,types of pilgrimage. It can be foreign and domestic trips, tours to cities or to sacred places in the bosom of wildlife, voluntary and compulsory, individual and group, long or short-term trips. By the way, as for the time period, earlier, according to the Orthodox canons, a true pilgrimage was a trip that lasted no less than 10 days. Travel can also be made at any time of the year or be timed to a specific holiday.

Geography

Recently, a new psychological basis andthe geographic focus of the pilgrimage is different: it is not only a trip to holy places, but also a journey for recreational purposes. Therefore, representatives of different faiths go to the East to learn there a new religion for themselves and the secrets of the people's treatment, which are so famous for these lands. In India, China, Japan, Tibet and Nepal, they settle in the temples: they communicate with monks, attend divine services with their permission, and take from them curative practices. For example, Ayurveda is very popular in Delhi and its district - a complex science specializing in rejuvenation, treatment of the body. The doctrine on restoration of harmony of the person and the Universe is directed, since it is the violation of this balance that provokes the development of physical and mental ailments. Instead, many tourists visit China to practice "qigong" - a set of respiratory and motor exercises that help to replenish the supply of energy and mental strength. The purpose of such trips is not only to help heal, but also to be enriched morally and spiritually.

With regard specifically to religion, in our days the main places of pilgrimage in the world are:

Republic of the CIS. Some of them (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus) are the center of Orthodoxy.
Europe. This is dominated by the currents of Catholicism and Protestantism.
North and Latin America. Christianity prevails.
Africa. Islam is widespread, but there are also Christian centers.
Asia. It is inherent in Islam, as well as Judaism and Buddhism.

Each continent has its own holy memoirs, which are mandatory for visiting and viewing.

Christian pilgrimage

More than two thousand years, the representatives of the Christianthe world wants to see the Holy Land - Jerusalem. Those who make Orthodox pilgrimage, the Holy Sepulcher attracts and attracts like no other place on the planet. This territory is the cradle of all Christianity, overflowing with the beauty of Palestinian landscapes, secret night services and the marvelous atmosphere of sacred memorials. Israel is itself a sacred country. About him we learn from the first pages of the Bible: Christ was born on this earth, here he grew up, preached and was executed. The pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulcher was extended even in the time of ancient Russia. But the founder of the modern direction is rightly considered to be the mother of Emperor Constantine, Saint Elena. Being in old age, she went here in search of the cross, which ended the earthly life of Jesus. The discovery of the "true and honest" crucifixion is invariably associated with this historical personality.

Religious pilgrimage is alwaysblessing of the church. This is not only a trip to the Holy Land, but also constant prayers, repentance, spiritual work on oneself, purification and humility. The path of pilgrims usually begins in the Negev: the vast expanses of the desert are associated with the appearance of the patriarchs and important events from the Old Testament. At the heart of the road is a visit to Jerusalem. From here you can organize tours to Galilee, Bethlehem, Jericho, to the Dead Sea and other sacred places. This route is conditional. Each pilgrim can supplement it with other interesting places.

The main holy places

Jerusalem is a sacred city not only forOrthodoxy, but also for representatives of Judaism and Islam. A lot of events are connected with him, including the birth and death of Christ. With what kind of objects start here an Orthodox pilgrimage? First, you should definitely visit the Jerusalem Temple. Unfortunately, from it there were only ruins - including the famous Kotel. Second, go to the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane - here Jesus prayed before he was arrested. Thirdly, it is important for the pilgrims to see the temple of the Passion of the Lord: it was built in the 20th century, but just perfectly recreates the architecture of those times when these streets were visited by Christ.

Bethlehem is another Christian shrine. On the Arabian territory is the temple of the Nativity of Christ. It is built around a large grotto, in which a small Savior was born among the cattle. What is most interesting is that every Christian confession has its place in this church. Do not forget about visiting Nazareth - Galilee. It was here that Mary learned from the angel that she would soon become the mother of the long-awaited Messiah. In the same city, a little grown up Jesus settled, who returned with his parents from Egypt, where he was saved from the persecution of Herod. In Galilee, he spent all his childhood and youth, performed his first miracles and found faithful followers and disciples.

Pilgrimage to Europe

The first country to go is,Of course, Italy. Its capital, Rome, is the Eternal City, the arena for the affirmation of world Christianity. The local Orthodox and Catholic churches are popular places of pilgrimage, because it is their walls that keep a lot of shrines associated with the apostles. For example, in the cathedral of St. Peter the relics and relics of the great disciple and follower of Jesus are kept. Also here are the graves of other faithful followers of the Christian church, not to mention the unrivaled masterpieces and monuments of world art. In another Italian city - Loreto - be sure to visit the basilica, which is called the authentic house of Mary. According to the legend, the heavenly angels, in order to protect the mother of Christ, moved her house several times: in the end, he was in Loreto.

The third important place forthe pilgrimage is considered Santiago de Compostela in Spain. In the local cathedral is the tomb of St. James, so the protection of the road to this relic was a matter of honor of many kings and knightly orders. If you want to make a pilgrimage to a monastery, then choose Athos. The shrine, located on the Greek peninsula, is one of the most mysterious places on the planet that is enveloped in a lot of legends and myths. They say that Mary herself preached here faith in Christ. Since then, monks who have departed from worldly vanity, live and pray on Athos. And every person who comes here, feels a special blessed atmosphere, which permeates every piece of land.

What to see in Russia?

In our country there are also manyshrines in which a tired and erring soul can find shelter, find peace, receive a blessing. Russian pilgrimage begins with the Solovetsky Archipelago, where the famous monastery is located - the cultural and spiritual center of the North. In Soviet times it was used to keep prisoners, but after the end of that sad time, the old spirit of antiquity turned back to these walls. To penetrate the sacred atmosphere, in Solovki need to live a minimum of a week. It is worth to visit the Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the largest monastery in Russia. It is not only a treasury of ancient Russian art, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

As for the Diveevo Monastery, itscalled another earthly lot of the Virgin. In the 18th century, Hierodeacon Seraphim took it under his care, who later became a revered Russian saint. Here relics of him, possessing miraculous power. Do not miss the opportunity to collect healing water from a source in the monastery. They say that it helps with any physical and mental ailments. Another popular pilgrimage monastery is the Pskov-Pechersky monastery. It is located in the dungeons. Caves are used as tombs, since the remains of people here do not decompose. Nearby built the Assumption Church, which contains miraculous icons.

Hajj in Islam

This is the name of the pilgrimage of Muslims. It must be performed at least once in the life of every member of this religion. Those who have gone the hard way are called "Hajji". To make a trip, a Muslim must come of age, profess Islam, be mentally healthy and wealthy enough to support not only himself during the pilgrimage, but also his family left at home. During the hajj, he can not smoke, drink alcohol, enjoy intimate relationships, engage in trade and so on.

The pilgrimage of Muslims begins with vestmentsa man in white clothes who, being the same for all, hide his social and social status. The first rite is a detour around the House of Allah - the Kaaba - the main shrine of Muslims, located in Mecca. After this, a man runs seven times the distance between the sacred hills of Marva and Safa, after which he drinks healing water from the source of Zam-Zam. Only after that he goes to the valley of Arafat, which stretches not far from Mecca. The culmination of the rite is unceasing prayers in this area. The ritual is complex, since the pilgrim must stand motionless under the scorching sun from noon to sunset. Having passed the test, he is admitted to general collective prayer. The next day a person goes to another valley - Mina. Here he throws seven stones at the pole - the symbol of Satan, takes part in the ritual of sacrifice and returns to Mecca for the last detour around the Kaaba.

Mecca and Medina

These are the main pilgrimage cities for Muslims. According to the Qur'an, Muhammad was born in Mecca, where he began his sacred mission - prophecy. As already mentioned, in this city is the Kaaba - a ritual stone, to which hundreds of thousands of Muslims come annually. Boulder is located in the inner courtyard of the Great Mosque - one of the main Islamic minarets. Religious doctrine says: every believer should visit its territory. Usually such a journey takes place in the lunar month of Zul Hijj. Muslims believe that pilgrimage and deprivation are synonyms. Therefore, despite the presence in Mecca of a host of comfortable hotels, they stop in poor tent camps, broken just on the damp earth.

Medina is another important place for a person,who professes Islam. Translated from Latin, its name sounds like a "radiant city." His visit is included in the mandatory hajj program, since it is here that the grave of Muhammad is located. In addition, the city became the first settlement in which Islam prevailed. Here is built the Great Mosque of the Prophet, the capacity of which reaches 900 thousand people. The building is equipped with an automatic system of umbrellas to create a shadow, as well as modern air conditioning and escalators.

Holy places of Buddhists

For representatives of this ancient religionThe pilgrimage is a way to achieve the highest bliss by breathing the sacred air in the sacred territories. They, by the way, are in Tibet, China, Buryatia, but the largest number of them still located in India - the cradle of Buddhism. The first place for general attendance is the Bodhi tree, which, according to legend, the Buddha liked to meditate. It was in the shadow of the green plantation that he reached the greatest Nirvana. The second important reminder is the city of Kapilavastu: in it Buddha spent his childhood, he knew all aspects of the unsightly existence of man. And he made the decision: to renounce civilization for the sake of understanding the ways of salvation and the sacred truth.

Pilgrimage to holy places from Buddhists is notdoes without a visit to the Royal Palace near Patna. On the hill nearby, the Buddha told the followers about his teaching. Luxury mansions are literally surrounded by sights. Considering them, do not forget about the last in the list, but not in importance, place - Sarnath. Then Buddha read his first sermon. Pilgrims from all over the world come to Varanasi to experience through centuries the sacred words of the saint, filled with eternal wisdom and deep meaning of life.