Garrison, NY - The Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and the Young Adult National Committee announce the "Young Adult Pilgrimage to Greece and Constantinople". His Grace Bishop Savas of Troas, Chancellor of the Archdiocese, will lead the faithful young adults on a pilgrimage to explore sites of great spiritual and historical significance for all Orthodox Christians. The highlight of this experience will be an audience with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in the historic city of Constantinople.

Young adults will stay for three nights at the newly renovated Ionian Village campgrounds, and two nights each at hotels in Athens and Constantinople. They will visit the islands of Zakynthos, Cephalonia and Aegina, to see the home villages of Sts. Dionysios, Gerasimos and Nektarios, as well as have the opportunity to travel to Patras, where they will venerate the relics of St. Andrew and the X shaped cross on which he was martyred. Additionally, young adults will visit the monasteries of Mega Spiliaion and Agia Lavra where they will venerate St. Luke the Evangelist's icon of the Theotokos and visit sites associated with the Greek War of Independence and World War II. In Constantinople, young adults will visit the Phanar, the great Cathedral of Agia Sophia, and the Church of Christ of the Chora (karkiyedjami). They will also visit Theological school on the island of Halki, the Topkaki Palace Museum and have the opportunity to shop in the great covered bazaar.

According to Fr. Mark Leondis, National Director of the Department, "This pilgrimage is being made available in order that young adults experience the Orthodox Faith in a way they have never experienced before. They will be able to walk in the land of the saints, visit various religious and historical sites, and have an audience with the Spiritual Father of World Orthodoxy while experiencing the fellowship and love of the participants".

The Pilgrimage is limited to 25 participants and is on a first come, first serve basis. The dates for the Pilgrimage are October 8-16, 2004, departing and returning from New York (JFK). For information on registering please log onto www.youth.goarch.org or contact the Young Adult Office at 646.519.6180.