Friends of Orthodoxy on Iona
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You can read Columba Bruce Clark's Pilgrimage Diary here:
2017 PilgrimageA pilgrimage to eastern Ireland, taking place in July 2017.
The Friends of Orthodoxy on Iona are happy to announce they are planning by the grace of God to organize an Irish pilgrimage in July 2017, based in the seaside village of Rostrevor. The village is a tranquil and beautiful spot, located at the foot of the Mourne mountains near the southeastern corner of County Down, and it is the home of some talented folk musicians. Continued below... |
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LocationRostrevor, County Down, Ireland
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Pilgrims should arrive on the evening of Sunday, July 2, in time for activities which will start the next day. God willing, the pilgrimage will end with a Divine Liturgy early on Sunday, July 9. Father John Nankivell, based in Walsall in the English West Midlands, will be chaplain of the pilgrimage and there will be acts of worship each morning and evening.
His Excellency Metropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia, chairman of FOI, has warmly blessed the pilgrimage and promises that he will join us if his stamina permits. The pilgrimage has also been blessed by His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios, who is senior hierarch of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain and chairman of the assembly of Orthodox bishops in Britain.
The base for our pilgrimage will be An Cuan, a large seafront property which is owned and run by the Irish branch of Youth With a Mission (YWAM), an international voluntary organisation which helps Christian churches all over the world, especially in zones of conflict. Pilgrims are encouraged to help with singing and reading in the services, and there will be rehearsal sessions during the pilgrimage. Most music will be in the Byzantine tradition.
We hope the pilgrimage programme will include:
Lectures on the lives of Saint Patrick and Saint Columba from an Orthodox Christian perspective
Talks and teaching on the emerging iconography of the Irish saints
Discussions with YWAM staff about reconciliation work in places from Belfast to Lebanon and Israel/Palestine.
Excursions to nearby places of early Christian interest, including i) Armagh, the spiritual capital of Ireland where Saint Patrick is said to have founded his church around 445 AD, ii) Downpatrick, the burial place of Saint Patrick and iii) Nendrum, a remarkable monastic site on the shores of Strangford Lough.
A walk to Cloughmore, a massive granite boulder which, along with the surrounding mountains and landscape, inspired the Christian writer C.S. Lewis as he penned his allegorical stories of Narnia.
A walk on nearby Cranfield beach, one of the most beautiful and unspoiled strands in Ireland
A visit to the French monks of the Benedictine monastery on the outskirts of Rostrevor, whose work is highly respected by all the Christian confessions of Ireland. (They recently hosted an important lecture by Father John Behr, dean of Saint Vladimir’s seminary, on Christianity in the second century.)
We can offer about 10 places for young people (defined as full-time students, or those aged 25 or under) and about 20 places for other people staying mostly in twin or double rooms, with single rooms available at a premium.
The following prices are inclusive of the cost of accommodation and three simple meals per day, and also of the excursions to Armagh, Downpatrick and Nendrum. (If plans develop for any more ambitious excursions, we may have to seek an extra contribution.)
Young people or students living in dormitories for up to 10 people: £170
Other people living in twin or double rooms: £275 per person
A single room: £350
People who wish to make their own accommodation arrangements in Rostrevor may do so. If such people wish to join the pilgrimage for talks, meals and excursions we ask that they contribute £100 per head to help with overheads for the week.
Anybody who is really keen to join the pilgrimage but would find it hard to afford should apply to the organizers.
Rostrevor is within easy reach (between 70 and 90 minutes’ drive) of the international airports of Dublin and Belfast. If people need advice about transport to Rostrevor we will try to help.
To apply for a place on the pilgrimage, or to seek further information, please send an email
to the newly established email address, foirostrevor AT gmail.com with a copy to bruceclark17 AT hotmail.com.
Columba Bruce Clark, secretary, FOI
