AN INNER AND OUTER JOURNEY

Reflections on a Pilgrimage in the Steps of St Paul and St John

‘It is better to travel than to arrive’

These reflections are a record of my experiences during a pilgrimage to Turkey and

Greece. The pilgrimage was undertaken by a small group of Christians from St Andrews
Parish in Shifnal, Shropshire ( UK) . As this was a Christian Pilgrimage most of the
references are to Christian Scriptures. So to my many non-Christian friends of other faiths
who may read this, I ask them to imagine going on a pilgrimage to their own sacred
places.

Setting the Scene

‘It is better to travel than to arrive’. These words convey the essence of what it is to
undertake a pilgrimage. Compared to the hazards faced by ancient pilgrims in these
modem times we travel in relative comfort, luxury and ease. However, every pilgrimage is
one that involves both an outer, physical journey and an inner spiritual journey. These
reflections share some aspects of both the inner and outer journey.

The Outer Journey involves visiting places and being immersed in the sights, sounds,
smells, tastes and experiences of the new places and cultures visited. It also includes
some of the thoughts and feelings outlined in these reflections. However, the more
important journey was and is the Inner Journey. This was more reflective and involved the
‘breaking down’ of the barriers which can so often leave the outer journey ‘out there’ and
thus fail to reflect on what real meaning this outer journey has for my spiritual relationship
with God — Absolute Reality. But first a few points which will set these reflections in a
context.

It is impossible to adequately convey the richness of the experiences of such an intense

pilgrimage. Also, we only touched on some aspects of St Paul’s three missionary
journeys and some parts of the journeys of St John the Divine and his connection with the
Seven Churches of Asia Minor. I have recorded the main parts of the Outer Journey and
also many reflections and insights into my Inner Journey. Throughout the pilgrimage I
was reminded of aspects of a former pilgrimage I undertook with Sister Ishpriya, my wife
Angela and a group of companions about 15 years ago in Northern India. Like India,
Turkey and Greece are lands steeped in the history of great civilisations, legend and
spirituality
For Christians, apart from the Holy Land, Turkey and Greece contain the records and
‘footprints’ of the earliest signs of the growth of the infant Christian Church. St Paul
journeyed through this region and also St John the Divine, the reputed author of the 4th
Gospel, who preached in Ephesus and was exiled to Patmos where he received and
recorded the message of the Risen Jesus in his Revelations to the seven churches in
Asia Minor.

Asia Minor is rich in antiquities and archaeological sites. It contains sites that pre-date the
Greek civilisation and is also rich in Roman, Byzantine (Christian) and Islamic culture.
However, these sites are only the outward and physical signs of the richness of the inner
and spiritual legacy which this region holds and has passed on to us in modern times.

Since ancient times people have built great cities and have constructed great structures
and temples. Although these had elements of man’s pride and tendency to show off his
power, in ancient times they were mainly built to express the divine and the spiritual.
Some examples are, the pre-Celtic structures at Newgrange in Ireland, which are 500
years older than the pyramids, the pyramids , Stonehenge in England, the great Hindu
and Buddhist sites ,particularly along the sacred river Ganges, the civilisations of the
Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Acropolis and the Mayan Temples of Mexico. All these,
are monuments to man’s desire and spiritual urge to express his relationship with the
sacred, with God or Ultimate Reality.

Consequently, all pilgrimages to sacred sites are opportunities to not only admire, wonder
and marvel at the labour and inventiveness of man but, more importantly, relate these
sites to our own time, our own life and our own inner journey and relationship with God,
the Ultimate Reality.

ISTANBUL - Gateway to the Pilgrimage

A bridge between two cultures and two faiths

We landed late on the evening of our first day in Istanbul, the gateway to Asia Minor. We
were met by our wonderful guide Ferit, a young Muslim Turk who was to be our trusty and
most efficient companion throughout our stay in Turkey. (I will record more to on Ferit
later).

Istanbul is a wonderfully vibrant city, formerly called Constantinople. It was named after
the Roman Emperor Constantine who, in the 4th century made Christianity the state
religion of the Roman Empire. It was the capital of the Byzantine Empire for over 1000
years. Although Istanbul is not directly connected with either St Paul or St John, it is
nonetheless an important city for both Christians and Muslims and was a wonderful
gateway to our pilgrimage. After Constantine made Christianity the state religion,
Constantinople grew in importance. It is built on seven hills and began to rival Rome in its
importance and splendour. In a very small area of the modern city and set on the
European side of the Bosporus, there are several very important Christian and Muslim
sites. The earliest Byzantine Church of St Irene (dedicated to Divine Peace) still stands.
This is where the 2nd Ecumenical (Christian) Council took place.
Nearby stands the great basilica of St Sophia (Divine Wisdom). An impressive building,
and once the largest church in Christianity, it was also the seat of the Patriarch of the
Greek (Eastern) Church for almost 1000 years. When the Ottomans seized
Constantinople they converted St Sophia to a Mosque but they left much of the Christian
mosaics untouched and these still survive today. Ironically, St Sophia suffered much
more desecration at the hands of the Crusaders, fellow Christians, when they sacked
Constantinople. So as far as St Sophia is concerned, the Islamic Ottoman rulers were
more tolerant that the warlike Crusaders.

Near to both St Irene and St Sophia stand two other important Muslim sites, the Topaki
Palace and the famous Blue Mosque. The former was that seat of government of the
Ottoman Sultans. Inside the Topaki Palace is a special museum that holds many sacred
relics of Islam, including several relics of Mohammed the Prophet (Peace be upon him).
This is a site revered by Muslims. The Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent is Islam
and certainly in Turkey. So in a small area stand several sites sacred and important to
both Christians and Muslims. In these challenging and demanding times, where there is a
perception of a ‘clash’ between Christian and Islamic cultures, it was wonderful to note
that here in Istanbul, these two cultures have lived together for almost 600 years and
have each brought a richness and a diversity which benefit the city.

A Spiritual Bridge

But for me the most spiritually relevant part of my two days in Istanbul, was a short cruise
along the Bosporus. As we sailed under the great bridge that connects Europe to Asia
and the western and European part of Istanbul to the eastern and Asian part, I was struck
by its deep symbolic significance. Here was a physical and outward sign of a spiritual and
inner truth. Christianity, which for hundreds of years was represented by the western side
of the city and Islam, represented by the eastern side. And there towering above me was
the bridge, a symbol of their underlying unity in God!

I was reminded that we are all children of the One Ultimate Reality, Allah or by whatever
name we call God. We are all inter—connected in the Spirit through and to the Ultimate
Reality. We share so much more in our common humanity and spiritual heritage than that
which seemingly divides us. We are, just like the Bosporus Bridge, connected together by
the bridge of the Spirit. So we share in true Satsang or in other words, a true spiritual
companionship. I found myself offering up a prayer that we may all come to realise the
truth of our common inheritance and have the wisdom to avoid being influenced by the
fundamentalists that exist in all Faith Traditions.

It seems to me that the fundamentalists focus on the differences between us and also on
a very simplistic and inherently wrong idea of what it is to be a person of faith. They also
fail to either recognise or acknowledge the underlying Unity (God) which connects us all
together. It seems to me that fundamentalists, of all persuasions, attempt to build their
version of God’s kingdom and seem unable to live in harmony with their brothers and
sisters in God’s Kingdom.
So we finished our two days in Istanbul, enjoying a stroll in the late evening and ‘drinking
in’ the vibrancy of this wonderful city. Our next stage was to fly to Izmlr to begin our visits
to the seven churches of St John the Divine and also Ephesus.

Smyrna and Pergamum of the Seven Churches

Smvrna: The Faithful Followers

We flew into Izmir which is a busy port. It is about 40 miles (60 km) north of Ephesus and
was once the city of Smyrna and home to the 2nd church mentioned in St John the
Divine’s Revelations to the Seven Churches (Book of Revelations 2 : 8-11) and in which
the site of the ancient Church of Smyrna once stood. It is also the city where Polycarp, its
4th Bishop, was martyred in 156 a.d., in one of the major persecutions of Christians by
the Roman Empire. The ancient site, though small, is important for Christians. For in
Revelations, the Christians of Smyrna are commended for their faith and steadfastness in
the face of difficulties, persecution and opposition, mainly from Jews and also from the
pressures of both Roman and Greek religious traditions.

So we gathered at the ancient site and after reading Revelations 2: 8-11, we had a short
reflection on the martyrdom of Polycarp who refused to deny Jesus as his Risen Lord.
This was followed by a very good reflection by our leader Father Graham. We then
individually took some time to walk around the site.

As I toured the site I reflected on our short readings and Fr Graham’s reflection. I was
reminded of the common opposition that faces all who struggle to stay on the path, ‘The
Way’, and strive to live the interior life of pilgrimage back to the Source of all life. It struck
bells within me and with my struggle to live the interior life in the face of the challenges of
modern materialism, the excesses of capitalism and globalisation and the other barriers
and temptations that modern life and the modern world place in the way of pilgrims of all
Faiths. So I reflected on how the messages of Revelations, given to those early
Christians in Smyrna are still relevant for me.

Pergamum and the Temple of Zeus

Pergamum, also referred to as Pergamos, is 50 miles (80km) north of Izmir and was the
capital of a Roman Province. Consequently, it was an extremely important city in ancient
times. Although there is no record of St Paul stopping in Pergamum, it is on the route of
his 2nd missionary journey.

We know that by 95 a.d. it was one of the seven churches of Asia Minor. It is most
probable that one or more of Paul’s converts may have helped found the Church there.
Alternatively, it is mentioned by John the Divine in Revelations (2: 12-17), so he also may
have had a role in founding, or at least supporting, this church. Its ruins are magnificent; it
was certainly one of the grandest cities in the region, with an Acropolis (City on a hill), an
impressive theatre, seating 10,000 and the remains of the Temple of Zeus. This may be
the meaning of the place referred to in Revelations as ‘the place where Satan has his
throne’.
.
We stopped to have the reading from Revelations in which John commends the Christians
in Pergamum but warns them against being led astray by false doctrines. This again has
relevance for me, and maybe others. For this modern and materialistic world constantly
places before me new ideas, many of which are temporary and shallow. As I walked around
the wins of Pergamum I reflected on my need to hold fast to the wisdom of that’ inner voice
of God’ which, when listened to in prayerful attention and in silence and awareness,
invariably leads me back to my deep rooted and firmly anchored Celtic background. It is
there that I find a sense of ‘True Presence’ which reminds me of the essential unity and
love which God wants for me and all others, regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, faith or no
faith!

Mighty Ephesus

The next day was spent visiting ‘mighty’ Ephesus and the surrounding district. Ephesus was
the first of the seven churches mentioned by John in Revelations. It was also the home and
base of St Paul during his 2nd missionary journey and he returned here during the 3rd
missionary journey. He remained in Ephesus for over 2 years. It is also reputed to have
been a base for St John the Divine and possibly was also visited by St Peter.

Its remains are awe inspiring and very extensive. We visited the 24,000 seated
Amphitheatres. It is here that the famous episode of the riot led by Demetrius and the
Silversmiths took place. This was against Paul’s teachings. This is recorded in Acts 19: 23-
41. It recounts that the riot went on for 2 hours with the crowded Amphitheatre filled with
screaming people. Wow! Whilst we were there, we witnessed one lone Japanese male
tourist singing and his voice echoed loud and clearly around the Amphitheatre. The cheers
and clapping of his 20 or so fellow tourists made quite a noise. So imagine 24,000 people
shouting! We listened to the reading from Acts and sat and reflected on it and then had a
tour of the extensive ruins, which are still being excavated and expanded.

The Church of St Mary The port of Ephesus silted up and it is now several miles inland.
Near the entrance to the port are the remains of the ancient Church of St Mary. It was here
in 431 a.d. (the year before St Patrick came to Ireland) that the 3rd Ecumenical Council was
held. It was at this Council that Mary was proclaimed ‘The Bearer of God’ or ‘Mother of
God’. Thus the Council affirmed that Jesus the Christ, son of Mary, was both God and Man
and one being. This is to set in its context the next places we visited and their connection
with St John and Mary. But as we sat in the ruins of the Church of St Mary, we listened to
Fr Graham reflect on the importance of the council.
The Basilica of St John We visited the nearby Basilica of St John the Apostle. Tradition
holds that John took Mary into his home after the death, resurrection and ascension of
Jesus. The site is reputed to be the burial ground of St John and we had a very lovely and
moving reflection by Fr Graham on the meaning and importance of Baptism and as we
stood beside the Basilica we took in the panoramic view. Because the area is strongly
connected with St John and St Paul, tradition holds that on one of the overlooking hills the
Virgin Mary had her home with St John and this was to be our next place to visit.

Mary’s House A few miles out of Ephesus and up a winding road into the hills leads to
the ‘House of the Virgin Mary’. It is here that local tradition holds she lived with St John and
spent the last few years of her life. This contradicts the general view that she lived and died
in Jerusalem. Whether or not local tradition is true, the site is undoubtedly steeped in a
strong sense of holiness. I could feel it as we alighted from the bus. It seemed strangely
serene, calm and cool. Yet the day was very warm and there were many people about. I felt
this great sense of peace and this was magnified as we celebrated the Eucharist in the
open air Chapel next to Mary’s House. This House is revered as a shrine and has been so
for almost 1600 years. It has been revered by local people over this long period and used
as a place of pilgrimage. Christians and Muslims revere Mary and while we were there we
witnessed Muslims tying white ribbons — a sign of prayer and supplication — on the wall
beneath the garden of the house.

After our prayerful and sacred Eucharist we entered the House. As I lit a candle in the small
shrine within, and sat in silent prayer, I was reminded of the many days during my
childhood when I lit a candle for Mary. The older I get the more and more I return to some
of the ‘certainties’ of my Faith. I also reflected deeply on my relationship with God and
realised that, for me, Mary personifies the powerful reality of the importance of faith in, and
submission to, God’s will. Perhaps that is why she is so much respected by Muslims — a
people who willingly ‘submit’ to the will of Allah (God). My experience of Mary’s House was,
for me, the most spiritually uplifting and rewarding to date. I have seldom felt such a deep
sense of the sacred and the holy and no words can adequately convey this. However, it
was very affirming and had deep connections with my childhood and my continuing sense
of relationship with God.

Miletus and the Importance of Farewells The next day took us south towards Miletus.
St Paul’s visit to this place is recorded in Acts 20: 15-38. This, like Ephesus, was once a
port but is now several miles from the sea. Miletus provided me with the most poignant and
bitter-sweet moments of the pilgrimage. We toured the remains of the site and eventually
reached the part of the city near to the entrance to the old harbour. Nearby was reputed to
be the site of the Jewish synagogue and therefore not far from where St Paul stood when
he bade his sad and emotional farewell to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus. He was
returning to Jerusalem and from there he was destined to travel to Rome and death. Both
he and the Elders knew it was their last meeting.
As I read the account of his farewell from Acts — its bitter sweetness became very
apparent and real. I was reminded of all the farewells in my life, both the small and the not
so small ones. Some of these losses were my emigration from Dublin as a young man, the
death of my father, grandparents and relatives. There was also the loss of friends and other
losses. I was reminded that Buddhists, amongst others, believe that the manner in which
we respond to past losses in our life, influences our response to both current and future
loss, whether it be the coming of old age or the ultimate loss — death.

The Kindness of a Stranger While at Miletus, we were met by the son of a local
farmer. He greeted us with a ‘Salaam’ and have us each a sprig of lavender. He then
walked around the site with us and stopped at a fig tree to pick some and ensure that we
each received one. This was a totally altruistic and generous gesture on his part. Ferit, our
guide, told me that this young man regularly met visiting groups and performed this act of
kindness. He was a young man, of simplicity and great dignity and I was struck by his
gesture and reflected on our common humanity and underlying unity. He reminded me
strongly of the words of William James. ‘Like Islands, we are all connected at the deep’

So, as I walked, I reflected on the young man, on our impending farewell to Ferit, on Paul’s
farewell and on the many losses and farewells in my life. I felt a great sense of joy and
gratitude for the many blessings I have received and the constant ‘sense of Presence’
which becomes stronger and more intense in times of great trouble. So, I can only end this
reflection with some words of St Paul to express my gratitude.

‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with
al/spiritual blessings in heavenly places’ (Ephesians 1:3)

Ferit Our Guide Throughout our journey in Turkey, we were accompanied by our
excellent guide Ferit. An extremely likeable young man, possessing excellent English allied
with an extensive knowledge of history. He was steeped in an understanding of the regions
connection between Christianity and Islam. His enthusiasm, knowledge, sensitivity and
personality helped to bring alive the complexities and importance of the many sites we
visited. Ferit was an excellent example of a person whose ‘very being’ builds bridges
between peoples of difference. I shall remember him with fondness and gratitude.
Samos and Patmos — The Greek Islands
We travelled next day to Samos, visited by St Paul, and there had a relaxing day of rest. It
was during this day that I took time out to swim in the Aegean several times and in the
intervals between each swim I collated my notes and wrote the preceding reflections. Next
day we were to set out for Patmos — The Holy Island.

Patmos — The Greek Jerusalem

Early in the morning we set out for Patmos from the harbour of Potokaki on the other side of
the island. The journey across the beautiful blue sea to Patmos took several hours. I stood
on the deck of the ship, enjoying the sea and sun and was delighted to witness our
welcome by dolphins. These delightful creatures swam alongside the boat for several miles
as if to welcome us to their world and as a fanfare to our visit to Patmos. Patmos is the
island to on which St John the Divine, the Apostle of Love, was exiled by the Emperor
Domitian in 95 a.d. It is remote and was used by the Romans to exile political and religious
dissidents. It was somewhat like the equivalent to Alcatraz. Tradition holds that St John the
Divine was the author of the 4th Gospel, Revelations and three epistles or letters of the
New Testament. For me, the visit to Patmos was to prove to be the highlight of the whole
pilgrimage.

The visit to Patmos would, by itself, have been worth at the time, energy and travel. It was,
and is, a most Holy place. The Greeks call it ‘The Jerusalem of the Aegean’. This is
because — apart from Jerusalem and parts of Palestine, it is the only place where Christian
Scripture recalls the appearance of the Risen Christ, who actually placed His right hand on
John ‘Then he placed his right hand on me and said “Do not be afraid. I am the First and
the Last — the Alpha and the Omega” (Revelations 1:17). This is different from St Paul’s
experience of meeting the Risen Christ. The island is very small. Once we left the port and
began to climb up the hill towards the ancient monastery on the summit, the beauty, peace
and holiness of the island began to ‘saturate’ me. It was also very fortuitous that we visited
Patmos on the day of the celebration of ‘The Transfiguration’, a holy day for both Western
and Orthodox Christianity.

It is reputed that St John the Divine had preached in Ephesus and was also accompanied
by St Peter. But in the persecution by Domitian he was exiled here, where he spent almost
2 years. During his exile he spent most of his time in a cave on the volcanic slopes leading
up to the present Monastery St John, founded in the 11th century.
When we arrived in Patmos we were met by a wonderful and deeply spiritual guide. Her
name meant ‘lady of heaven’ and our drivers name was the Greek for Jesus. Our guide
lived up to her name. A spiritual energy seemed to flow between her and our group and I
definitely felt its power. Our first stop was the Byzantine Monastery of St John, located at
the summit of the volcanic hill. For almost 10 centuries, this place has served as a
Christian presence in the region, including six centuries of Ottoman (Islamic) rule. As we
entered the ancient monastery a ‘wave’ of holiness seemed to reach out and touch me.
The icons seemed to ‘come alive; and speak of the mysteries of the Christian Faith. This
is a very powerful contribution that Orthodox Christianity offers.

As our guide took us around, she spoke with obvious personal conviction. She reminded
us that faith was not just founded on intellect and the written word but also influenced by
the oral traditions passed down through generations of believers. In addition, our
personal experiences contributed but it was our response, our trust that aided our belief. I
was struck by the reflection that God’s revelation comes daily to us, not only in special
experiences such as being on Patmos, but also in creation, through the dolphins that had
swum by us and in our daily contact with others and with nature. In the Monastery, I lit
another set of candles in gratitude and prayerfully for my wife, mother and sister and my
daughters.

We left the monastery and descended half way down the hill to the ‘Cave of the
Apocalypse’. This was a magnificent and powerful place of great and living holiness. It
was here, tradition holds, that the Risen Lord appeared to John and urged him to write
down a message from Jesus to the troubled and persecuted people of the ‘seven
Churches’. This began a process of Revelation (God revealing His truth) over a period of
time, which St John, now a very old man, dictated to his young companion Prochoros. In
the Cave, or Grotto, which has been a holy shrine for over 1900 years, are icons and
signs related to St John. But more importantly, was the deep sense of wonder, awe and
holiness that seemed to seep out of the very walls and ceiling of the cave. I have visited
many holy places, both Christian and other Faith Traditions, but none as obviously holy
as this. It was in Celtic spiritual terms ‘a very Thin PIace’~ This is a place where the veil
between this world and God’s presence, seemed very thin and almost transparent. Here
the Risen Lord had appeared to the Beloved Disciple with a message of hope and love.

This is a message which continues to ring out the loud and assuring confidence that
regardless of pain or suffering, death is no more and that we are all inheritors of life
eternal. And for me, this eternal life begins and continues in the present here and now —
because for God there is no time but the present and this present goes on and in spite all
the people around in the Cave, I sat quietly and thanked God for such an affirming and
faithful personal ‘revelation’ I then mindfully lit a series of candles in honour and gratitude
for my wife Angela, my mother, my sister and my daughters. We then went to the nearby
small amphitheatre, where Fr Graham gave us a short but powerful reflection on the
underlying message of the Book of Revelations. With a reading from the opening and
closing chapters of this often obscure and certainly misunderstood book. We then sat
quietly, each with our own private thoughts and reflections and ended with a mantra or
repetition of the Jesus Prayer of the Orthodox Church.

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What a great privilege to be present on this most ‘Holy Island’. As we sailed from Patmos
back to Samos, I spent time on deck reflecting on all that I had seen and experienced and
gave thanks with a grateful heart. I found myself uttering over and over this paraphrase of
some words of St Paul,

‘To Him who can do so much more than we can ever imagine, to Him, the God of glory,
be thanks and praise for ever more. Amen’

Samos to Athens
Our journey to Athens was not as expected. The flight from Samos was cancelled with no
guarantee as to when or how we might get there. So we decided to go by ship — a
journey of almost 13 hours, and stopping at some of the Aegean Islands enroute. Slower
than we had anticipated but much quicker and more comfortable than the journey of St
Paul in these same waters almost 2000 years previously!

At each stop the boat filled up with more and more people. Some were island hopping but
the majority were joining for Athens. This journey was unscheduled and therefore turned
out to be a ‘rest day’. It provided us with the opportunity to relax and enjoy the beauty of
the Aegean and its many islands. The veil or baffler between us and God, or more
properly the barrier I (and others) erect between ourselves and our awareness of God’s
abiding ‘Presence’, seems so much thinner when nature is present in our awareness. I
was reminded of my Celtic inheritance. Here too, many men and women found God’s
Presence in nature, and particularly in lonely islands and headlands. So, once again, I
was blessed and graced with a great sense of ‘Presence’ as we sailed the Aegean and
realised that it is my sense of the ‘I’ and ‘self which tends to separate me from my
environment and obstructs this ‘Presence’ , which is God. However, throughout the
journey to Athens, I felt less of the ‘I’ and more a sense of ‘oneness’ with all

In many spiritual traditions (Christianity, Hinduism and Islam), special times of prayer are
associated with the position of the sun. In Istanbul and throughout our time in Turkey we
had heard the ‘call to prayer’, associated with the position of the sun, from the mosques.
For Christians and Hindus, the rising, noonday and setting sun are special times. They
mark the coming of light, its highest point and the going down marks the coming of
darkness. And, as I stood and watched the sun set over the bright red Aegean, this sense
of wonder and oneness with all around, seemed very powerful. What a glorious and
totally unexpected way to herald out coming into Athens.

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© 2010- Peter Creagh, Trainer, Supervisor and BACP Registered Counsellor UKRC
Athens and the End of Pilgrimage
Athens Our trip to Athens by boat meant that we were to lose a day and therefore not
see Corinth. So the pilgrimage ended in Athens on Mars Hill and then a visit to the
Acropolis. It was on Mars Hill that Paul addressed the Athenians concerning ‘The
unknown God’ (See Acts) Just as now, his message concerning God was not too well
received. The Greek world was dominated by ‘logic’ and ‘intellect’, by ideas and not faith
nor spirituality. This legacy has greatly influenced the West and Western Christianity. So
just as in Paul’s time, logic and facts dull the ability to recognise the sacred. As we stood
on Mars Hill and reflected on Paul’s account in Acts, I realised that Paul’s experience has
resonance for our world today.

So our pilgrimage ended in the modern city of Athens, whose past and present have
been touched by St Paul and Christianity. The pilgrimage has been a great experience
and one I would willingly repeat. But a pilgrimage is more about the journey and one’s
fellow pilgrims. I was fortunate to share the experience with some wonderful people. We
had moments of great laughter, of mild stress, of interest, of reflection, of prayer of small
kindnesses to each other.

But, before finishing, it seems important to record my thanks to our leader Father
Graham. Throughout the pilgrimage his unceasing patience and unfailing good humour
played a great part in keeping us going. More importantly, his thoughtful and prayerful
reflections at each pilgrimage point were vital ‘anchoring points’ that helped me (and the
group) to remain focused on the primary goal of this pilgrimage. Each of his reflections
was like a dart hitting the bull’s eye. Particularly important ones for me were, at St John’s
Basilica and during the Eucharist at the Virgin Mary’s home, both at Ephesus and finally
the reflection at the Cave of St John. These all helped us to walk in the steps of two
giants of the emerging Christian Faith, St Paul and St John.

But I would like to end these reflections with some words from St John’ Dear friends,
since God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No-one has ever seen God,
but if we love each other God lives in us’ (John 1: 4 Vs 12)

Peter Creagh

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© 2010- Peter Creagh, Trainer, Supervisor and BACP Registered Counsellor UKRC