9th True Life in God Ecumenical Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

August 26, 2013-September 1, 2013

The 9th True Life in God Pilgrimage was to the Holy Land. The Pilgrimage lasted exactly 1 week, from Monday 26th August until Sunday 1st September. Our first 5 nights were spent in Jerusalem in the big “Dan Jerusalem Hotel”.  The pilgrims were split up for the remaining 3 nights between 3 hotels in Nazareth, as that town had no single hotel where all of our group could be together, there were so many of us!  We needed 16 buses in convoy to transport us every day! 

In the True Life in God messages, we gain an intimacy with Jesus.  The pilgrimage is meant to be a physical manifestation of this intimacy through the talks we heard, through the friendships we made and rekindled, the prayerful worship services, and the experience of placing ourselves where Christ lived, preached, prayed, died and resurrected.  The International Pilgrimages afford an opportunity for Christians and participants from other religions to  come together as an a living expression the Lord’s message about Unity and desire for Unity  . 

Monday, August 26, 2013 Featuring a visit to Bethlehem

We began our pilgrimage as we began each day by praying in song the “Our Father” in Aramaic.  We all followed along by reading it phonetically; the beauty of the words carried us in prayer.  After prayer, Vassula welcomed everyone.  All 750 pilgrims were excited to begin this Holy Land journey.  Visiting the Biblical steps of Christ inspired us to seek and anticipate the intimacy with God that He has in store for us through the events and experiences that we would encounter through this pilgrimage.   We further open-heartedly communicated with old True Life in God friends, and looked forward to the opportunity the Holy Spirit would bring to meet new friends.   The welcoming was extended by some of our clergy and clergy that were with us in Spirit. 

Vassula thanked our Lord for the opportunity to have the pilgrimage in Jerusalem.  She thanked Theodora, Ann Marie Peters, and the entire American group who sweated blood to promote True Life in God through the new book: Heaven Is Real but So Is Hell.  She thanked those from other countries as well who took part in the cause.

Vassula said that Jesus is our spiritual guide and spiritual travel agency.  Sixty countries and twenty church denominations are today represented at our pilgrimage. She added by saying that we have enormous wealth through the Holy Spirit.  We see the Unity that Christ has in mind: God’s approach.  In an intimate way, He is approachable, reachable; He is Father.  He proclaims His message of Love everywhere.  We will gather in places where He was rejected, where He performed miracles, resurrected and triumphed over death; where His Spirit was lifted.  Today with any move to restore Unity all Heaven and Earth rejoices.  The Father’s wrath diminishes.  With Unity, Blessings are shed out for our meetings. 

In the video that was shown about Pope Frances and the prospect of Unity, the pope stated that he and the Russian Orthodox Patriarch will meet in Jerusalem.  The different denominations are encouraged to promote Unity.  Unity builds the church and we should ask the Lord for Unity. 

Jesus tells us to unify the dates of Easter.  Double is His grief as He goes through Pain year after year.  If we unify the dates all the while rejoicing in Him, the Sight of Many will be restored.  He drinks the cup of division and tells Vassula to drink what is bitter.  There will be a more severe sentence the longer we wait to unite the Easter Dates.  He feels the Gravity of our division; He needs our hearts to be united into one and to unite our hearts with His. 

The clergy made procession into the room and each announced themselves and country of origin.   There were 107 clergy and spiritual leaders from 20 church denominations.

Vassula with the clergy

Cardinal Felix Toppo who could not be with us sent his heart-felt regards for the pilgrimage.  He stated that his heart goes out to the Holy Land.  He is extremely happy and he conveys love, peace and joy to the beloved in the Father.  May we grow in deeper faith and feed ourselves deeply in Jesus.  The Spirit of Jesus makes us missionaries of love and faith as is the intention of the Father and the Church. 

The Buddhist monk, the Ven. Suddhananda, has come to five of our pilgrimages.  Since he too could not be with us, he sent his congratulations on behalf of himself and the Buddhist monks.  He claimed congratulations to all the pilgrim participants: cardinals, priests, bishops.  He wished us a safe completion of our pilgrimage and stated that we are with the Great Spirit of Christ in the Holy Land. 

The warm welcome was furthered by  Armenian Archbishop Aris Shirvanian of from the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem.  He welcomed us to the Holy Sights of Jerusalem and Galilee: the Holy Sepulcher, the place where the Lord was crucified and buried, Bethlehem, where love was born for peace to all, Galilee, the places related to Christ’s life, and the Annunciation Church where the message was received of the Son of God Divine.  He reminded us on the pilgrimage, we have the opportunity of communicating with God. 

The Anglican retired Bishop Riah Hanna Abu El-Assal of Nazareth welcomed the pilgrims on behalf of the Christian community and the Palestinian Christians to the Land of the Holy One.  He wished us a spiritual visit and claimed that he wants us to feel the Human life of the people of this land.  He asked us to pray for unity so that we may live in the Mind of Christ.   

In tune with our gathering, Father Eugene Pappas spoke about the array of the priests of God, a bouquet.  All have the same commitment, and sacrifice for unity. 

In turn, Father Abba Gabriel welcomed the fathers, brothers and sisters. He claimed that he is happy for this condition, this season.  We are together; we pray together.  Jesus is with us.   

Moreover, Father Georgeos Kokonos from South Africa welcomed the brothers and sisters in Christ.  He welcomed us in Christ’s name.  He asked us to pray for unity.  Pray every Sunday for Unity.  Pray to our Lady; seek unity.

Father Mouradian from Argentina emphasized  that the work we are doing here is not enough.  Each person needs to work in his own place for unity, by acting and looking for unity.  In Buenos Aires there have been interreligious encounters between Islam and Christian religions.  There has been ecumenism in many churches.  Better than 50 years ago they thought they were united, but each person can only be united in Christ as he/she is, always thinking of unity in diversity.  We need a unity of the churches; a deep unity of love, understanding, acceptance.  He claimed a testimony to the Pope, who is a great friend of his that when he was a Cardinal of Argentina, and Father Mouradian was with him, he would always say, “Please pray for me” On his behalf, he asked all of us to pray for the Holy Father. 
We need blessings through your prayers to continue our mission.  Please pray for us. 

Lastly, Bishop Mourad of the Syrian Orthodox Church of the Holy Land and Jordan welcomed us to the Holy Land.  He said we are living life here in difficult times.  In his church they pray the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic.  He asked us to pray for unity with thirst in Heart.  He said that the Lord chose Vassula. We have to listen to the call of Jesus; the call to be one.  (Chapter 17 of St. John’s gospel)  We are all servants of Heaven and are created to be in Unity.  Always ask.  Say “I Love You” to the Holy Spirit.  We love the Holy Spirit as He is united with God.  We are spouses of Jesus; all creation is called, not just in show.  The strength is the Unity of the Trinity.  Jesus is calling us to be one.  Through the Virgin Mary everyone in is called to love. 

Country Call:  There were 750 pilgrims in total. The following countries were represented in the pilgrimage, including 107 clergy from 20 church denominations.

  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bening, Africa
  • Brazil
  • Bounin-Faso
  • Bouroundi
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • China
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Egypt
  • England
  • Ethiopia
  • Farrow Islands
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Latvia
  • Lebanon
  • Luxemburg
  • Malawi
  • Montinique
  • Mavicias
  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Norway
  • Palestine
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Puerto Rico
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Scotland
  • South Africa
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Trinidad
  • Uganda
  • Uruguay
  • United States
  • Venezuela

Monday 26th August

 We went to Bethlehem (Mark 2:1-23), a mere 10 km from Jerusalem, now effectively a southern suburb, but separated from Jerusalem by a high wall and door with a checkpoint.

After our morning session which included a Roman Catholic Holy Mass, we visited the Basilica of the Nativity including the grotto where Jesus was born. 

The Basilica of the Nativity

All 750 pilgrims waited two hours to walk though a narrow row of stairs going down, underground into the small space where Jesus was born.  We each prayed at this Holy spot and could place our hand into a hole in reverence to where our Lord was born.  Although there were so many of us, the crowd remained silent, moved peacefully, carefully, caringly and in prayerful thought within the sacred grotto.   The prayerfulness of the group reminded us that we were on sacred grounds. 

After visiting this Holy site, a Holy Rosary was said by all at the church of St. Catherine before departing for the hotel. 

A surprise meeting took place with a group of 600 pilgrims guided by Mgr A.-J. LEONARD, in Saint Catherine’s church in Bethlehem adjacent to the Church of the Nativity .

The Archbishop’s  group also had with them Vicka one of the seers from Medjugorje (but not at the time of the encounter with True Life in God) . This group of pilgrims had an ecumenical and even interreligious dimension similar to True Life in God and together both groups prayed the rosary and to quote the Archbishop; there was a “fervent communion of hearts, and to everyone’s satisfaction”. 

Tuesday, August 27, 2013: A visit to Jericho, Dead Sea and Bethany

After praying the Our Father in Aramaic, Speeches on Unity were given by Father Theodoros, Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Jerusalem/Holy Land, Archbishop Shirvanian and Rabbi Alon.

Archbishop Theodoros stated: “to your Excellencies, Graces, Brothers, Sisters, and all the pilgrimage team, I thank the Lord that we are together. What unites us is our love for Christ.  We have traditions and practices, but Christ unites us all.  Thank you to Christ.  He continued saying that the first church of the entire world was resurrected here.  Jesus resurrected, lived here.  The apostles preached the gospel and all the churches are brought about through the apostles of Jerusalem; this is from God and therefore the Mother of all the churches.  This is why we need to show love to the entire world.  We love all of God’s children.”  He complimented us by saying that we have a rich program, as we are in Jerusalem where Jesus gave His Blessings and Salvation. Our prayers and spiritual life give us love from the church and so from the Orthodox, he welcomed us.  He Thanked Vassula and the True Life in God Team.  (He gifted Vassula an icon.)

Archbishop Shirvanian  spoke next.  He said that our spirituality is strengthened, filled here at the Holy Land, the birthplace of Christ; in faith we believe He is the Son of God and the Son of Man.  It has been 2000 years since His birth and resurrection.  His church was established through the Pentecost, where 3,000 people were baptized and received the Holy Ghost.   Since then, the Holy Ghost has enabled the evangelization of the whole world.  St. Paul was 1st persecuted.  He saw the light of Christ himself, who said to him, “Why do you persecute me? Now become my disciple.” He took the gospel to other countries so as to uphold the Christian faith.  When visiting the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus was crucified, buried and rose, He showed a way to eternal life; death is not the end, there is life after death.  When we are baptized in His name, we are brothers and sisters in the Lord.  This is the Archbishop’s 4th pilgrimage with True Life in God.  He thanked Vassula for organizing these pilgrimages as they are following the gospel.  The pilgrimage brought us to the Holy Land: Syrians, Anglicans, Lutherans, Coptics.  As Father Theodosios stated, we are united in Christ.  Keep the faith strong in spite of challenges

Rabbi Alon Goshen Gottstein recited a psalm in Hebrew:  A Quest for Unity for all Humanity Prayer “Bless us Father that we all be one in the light of your countenance” We all have a spiritual home which we all go to.  It is a space that belongs to Jews, Moslems or Christians all over the world.  In echoing the prophecy “My house is a house of Prayer for many Nations,” Jerusalem is the Heart of Humanity.  The world is looking to Jerusalem; what do we offer the world?  We ignore each other and pray despite one another.  We have no common prayer space.   A Space of Prayer will fulfill this biblical prophecy.  Rabbi Alon stated that “Hope House of Prayer and Education” will be built in Jerusalem as a place where people will function and work together.  They will work on a vision.  There is now a drawing of the Space, a concept.  The idea is in having a space where there is a common interfaith institute.   His vision of unity and peace inspired all of us.

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