Moscow, December 2, 2017
An 8-day English-language pilgrimage to the island nation of Cyprus in March has been announced, and applications are now being accepted. The pilgrimage is organized and sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Discussion Club based at Moscow’s Valaam Podvoriye. The club holds weekly English-language spiritual discussions, featuring relevant passages from the Holy Scriptures and the Fathers of the Church. The discussions are a great way for people to study and practice English, and also to learn more about their Orthodox faith and grow closer to Christ in His Church. More detailed information about the club is available in a video presentation and on its website (both in Russian).
The club also organizes pilgrimages, with the latest being to Cyprus, March 3-10, 2018. The pilgrimage will be led by an Orthodox American with ten years of experience in leading tours, who also speaks four languages, including Russian and Greek.
Highlights of the tour include Divine Liturgy at the Kykkos Monastery, conversations with local monastics, veneration of the relics of St. Lazarus and Sts. Cyprian and Justina, a visit to the Trooditissa Monastery, lively spiritual discussions, and possibly a meeting with Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol, a true bulward of Orthodoxy.
The cost of the pilgrimage is €850 plus airfare.
For those interested, further information is given below, including a detailed itinerary, and contact information for joining the pilgrimage.
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KEY INFORMATION
Outstanding guide -- Alexander Frel:
Orthodox American
10 years of leading pilgrimage tours
Speaks 4 languages, including Russian and Greek
Master of Philology
Tour’s special features: Liturgy at the Kykkos Monastery, conversations with monastery brothers, traditional club discussions, possibly a meeting with the Metropolitan of Limassol
Veneration of holy objects includes the relics of St. Lazarus, the friend of the Lord, a short supplicatory services at the relics of Sts. Cyprian and Justina, and also at the Trooditissa Monastery for child bearing
Approximate cost: €850 (excl. air-tickets, details below)
Hotel: 3-star hotel, twin rooms, half board (breakfast and dinner)
Contacts: Roman: +7-926-113-98-88, R.Chustuzian@gmail.com
PILGRIMAGE TOUR’S PROGRAM
Day 1 | March 3 | Saturday
Arrival at Larnaca
Lunch
Transfer to the Troodos Mountains
Church of the Mother of God Asinou “Healer” (XI c.) at the Nikitari village. Frescoes (XII – XVII c.), architecture
Skete of St. Seraphim of Sarov at the Skouriotissa village
Kykkos Monastery. Dinner. Night at the monastery guest house
Day 2 | March 4 | Sunday
Kykkos Monastery: Divine Liturgy. Veneration of the wonderworking Kykkos Icon of the Mother of God and the saints’ relics. Mountain top above the monastery, where the Cross processions go with the Kykkos icon in times of draught. Tomb of Archbishop Macarios. Breakfast. Monastery’s museum. Room check out.
Kalopanayiotis village: Church of St John Lampadistis, veneration of his precious head
Meniko village: St. Cyprian Church, pieces of the precious heads of Sts. Cyprian and Justina
Short supplicatory service to Sts. Cyprian and Justina at their relics, served by the church’s rector
St. Herakleidios Monastery at Politiko village
Bus transfer to Limassol
Dinner and night at a Limassol hotel
Day 3 | March 5 | Monday
Breakfast
St. Nicholas Monastery at Statos village. In the X c., where St. Athanasios the Athonite lived
Chrysorroyatissa Monastery. The monastery has a restoration center, a Byzantine museum, and a museum of modern Cypriot paintings
St. Neophytos Monastery. St. Neophytos’ relics. Cave church and its frescoes
St. Nicholas Monastery at Akrotiri
Dinner and night at the Limassol hotel
Day 4 | March 6 | Tuesday
Breakfast
Stavrovouni Monastery. A cross with a piece of the Holy Life-Giving Cross granted by Empress St. Helen. This is a strict monastery, women are not allowed to enter. The women will visit a church or skete nearby
St. Thekla’s Convent at Mosfiloti. Relics of St. Thekla. The convent’s church is built upon a wonderworking spring (both mud and water)
Church of the Life-Giving Cross of the Lord at a picturesque village Lefkara. This church also has a piece of the Precious Cross, which the women can venerate as well.
Walk in the village, which has many shops with traditional Cypriot homemade products
Dinner and night at the Limassol hotel
Day 5 | Free time | March 7 | Wednesday
Breakfast
Dinner and night at the Limassol hotel
Day 6 | March 8 | Thursday
Breakfast
Monasteries of the Mother of God:
Amirous
Trikoukiotissa
Trooditissa. One of the monastery’s holy objects is the belt, through which help with child bearing is granted. For women, who are in a Church marriage, the monastery’s priest says prayers for child bearing, with the belt being put on
Omodos village: church of the Elevation of the Cross. Bonds of Christ, precious head of Apostle Philip
Dinner and night at the Limassol hotel
Day 7 | March 9 | Friday
Breakfast
St. George Alamanos Convent. Wonderworking icon with a piece of St. George’s relics
Larnaca: Cathedral of St. Lazarus, the friend of the Lord, relics of St. Lazarus. Walk in the old town
Machairas Monastery
Dinner and night at the Limassol hotel
Day 8 | March 10 | Saturday
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Departure to Moscow
Note: the program is preliminary and can be changed, including shifting the Kykkos Monastery visit.
2-3 discussions in English are planned for the evenings.
Payment:
If you are based in Russia:
Until December 25 (inclusively): €200
Until January 29 (inclusively): €900
Total: €1100
The total payment covers air tickets (see below), stay at a 3-star hotel (6 nights) and at the Kykkos Monastery (1 night), half board (breakfast and dinner), guide’s services, transfers to / from Larnaca’s airport, and bus trips during the pilgrimage
If you are based outside Russia:
Until December 25 (inclusively): €200
Until January 29 (inclusively): €650
Total: €850
The total payment covers stay at a 3-star hotel (6 nights) and at the Kykkos Monastery (1 night), half board (breakfast and dinner), guide’s services, transfers to / from Larnaca’s airport, and bus trips during the pilgrimage
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The total payment amount is approximate. It can change due increasing cost of the air tickets and hotel stay, as the departure date approaches, and due to possible changes in the RUB/EUR rate
Starting from December 25, the payments may not be returned in case the pilgrimage group member refuses to participate in the tour
Entering the pilgrimage group:
The main part of the group is expected to be formed by December 25
Candidates are added to the group upon the first payment of €200
After December 25, it is possible to be added to the group only in the event that vacant places are available. Furthermore, the cost of the tour is likely to increase as the departure date approaches
In order to participate in the pilgrimage tour one should:
Take part in a one-on-one conversation, common organizational meetings, and a dedicated Church service for traveling
Have an international passport, issued at least 7 months before the date of departure to Cyprus, and valid until the date of departure from Cyprus
Provide information required to obtain the pro-visa (issued in 1-2 days at no cost)
Have money to cover out-of-pocket expenses (mainly lunches – approx. €20/day). Recommended minimum amount is: €160 - €240 (€20- €30/day)
Air travel (for those based in Russia):
March 3, Moscow – Larnaca: Aeroflot flight SU2072. Departure from Sheremetyevo at 10:35 am, arrival at 13:30
March 10, Larnaca – Moscow: Aeroflot flight SU2073. Departure at 14:40, arrival at Sheremetyevo at 19:40
Time above is local