Pilgrimage Day 1: Arrival in Constantinople

Our journey to Constantinople is underway! After meeting everyone at JFK Airport, meeting new friends as well as familiar faces, 25 young adults from across the U.S. (New York, Alaska, California, Rhode Island, Ohio, Colorado, Texas…the list goes on!) embarked on the 8 ½ hour flight to Turkey. Our plane touched down on Saturday morning and we headed toward our first tour stop. We arrived at Yedikule fortress, which is positioned within the great Theodosian land walls and the Golden Gate, the main ceremonial entrance into the capital. After climbing to the top of the fortress and peering out over the Sea of Marmara, our group began to get oriented with the triangular geography of the city. His Grace Bishop Savas also pointed out that we had arrived at the great city walls a day before the anniversary of the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire on May 29, 1453. Our next stop was the church of Zoodogos Pigi at Balukli Monastery, also located to the west of the city and right outside of the land walls. After drinking from the Holy Spring, the group visited the beautiful church, as well as honored the graves of former Patriarchs, including Athenagoras, the former Archbishop of America, and Dimitrios. We had the afternoon off for some well-deserved rest and to explore the city before liturgy tomorrow morning.

Pilgrimage Participants at Yedikule Fortress

Patriarchal Graves at Balukli Monastery

Inside of the Church at Balukli Monastery