Pilgrimage to the Holy Land 2023

Posted: March 6, 2023

Tomorrow, March 7, a group of pilgrims from Holy Comforter are making their way from Vienna, VA to East Jerusalem in Israel/Palestine. We will be embarking on a course called The Footsteps of Jesus offered by St. George’s College, the Anglican Centre for Pilgrimage, Education, Hospitality, and Reconciliation. St. George’s College is connected to St. George’s Cathedral, which is the Anglican Cathedral in Jerusalem and offers services in English and Arabic. From that home base we will join up with other pilgrims and spend 10 days exploring the sights and scenes of Jesus’ life and ministry. A course director and a chaplain travel with us. The aims of Footsteps of Jesus course are:


  • To study the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, including the historical contexts and cultures of the land of Jesus’ ministry;
  • To explore the Holy Land as Christian pilgrims by integrating biblical and contextual studies with spiritual reflection;
  • To encounter the roots and traditions of the Christian faith as they were formed in the Holy Land;
  • To engage local Christian communities, Jewish and Muslim perspectives, and contemporary issues in Israel and Palestine, including its problems, hopes, and aspirations; to share these experiences with people back home;
  • To return home renewed in faith.


It is sometimes said the difference between a tour and pilgrimage is that on a tour, you move through the land; on a pilgrimage, the land moves through you. We will be sending reflections back from our journey so you can experience vicariously some of what we’re doing.


Shalom! Salaam! Ann+

Continue Exploring Holy Comforter

By Elys McLean June 22, 2026
Our youth group has officially landed in Puerto Rico! Through June 28, our teens are embarking on an incredible journey of service, discovery, and growth. They will be rolling up their sleeves to help local communities, building lifelong friendships, and exploring the rich culture of the island. Don't miss a single moment of their journey! We will be posting regular updates, photos, and reflections straight from the trip. Bookmark our blog and check back often to see the amazing impact they are making!
By Elys McLean June 21, 2026
June 22–28, our Youth Group will be in Puerto Rico creating friendships in the task of helping others; exploring and reflecting on new places and cultures. Please check back soon for updates from the Puerto Rico trip.
By Elys McLean May 29, 2026
One of today’s major highlights included, attending the pilgrim’s mass in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. At the beginning of the pilgrims' mass, the church read out a list of the number of pilgrims received in the pilgrims' office in the last 24 hours—where they traveled from and where they began their pilgrimage. Pictures cannot completely capture the stunning beauty of the altar. At the end of the mass we received an amazing surprise which was to see the famous Botafumeiro —the giant swinging incense burner weighing 53 kg that only swings during certain masses. Today it was privately sponsored by a group of pilgrims from Colorado. The experience was emotional and deeply moving for all of us.
Show More