From mid-July to early August, the Diocese of Parramatta sent 32 young people on pilgrimage to experience the Jubilee of Youth in Rome. Before reaching Rome, the pilgrims travelled throughout Greece – following in the footsteps of St Paul – visiting key cities to his ministry.
Hannah Portelli, Facilitator – Youth, from the Diocese’s Mission Enhancement Team, offers this reflection of their time in Greece.
A secondary reflection on the Jubilee of Youth will be published later in the week.
Our group of pilgrims from the Diocese of Parramatta arrived in Athens filled with anticipation and hope. The pilgrims understood this time in Greece was not a holiday. It was an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of St Paul, to reflect on the early Church and to prepare our hearts for the journey ahead to the Jubilee of Youth in Rome.
On our first evening, as we were settling into our accommodation and recovering from the long flight, we were blessed with a beautiful sunset from the rooftop of our hotel. Overlooking the Parthenon, the city and the mountains, we caught a glimpse of our pilgrimage community (which we now call family) that would flourish over the next two weeks.
The first full pilgrimage day began with a visit to the Acropolis. We climbed the marble steps, scattered on the hill with many tourists and the sun beaming down on us. Once we reached the Parthenon, we uncovered the pagan lifestyle of Ancient Greece. We learned about the ancient temples dedicated to the many gods and how their pagan rituals were assimilated into the Christian practices once the population began to convert.
Diocese of Parramatta pilgrims at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Image: Hannah Portelli/Diocese of Parramatta
With this understanding about the pagan lifestyle, we made our way to the Areopagus. On the very hill that St Paul once stood, we paused for our first formation and reflection on scripture. I imagined him on the same hill we were standing on, communicating with the philosophers about the “unknown God.” We reflected on how his witness changed this pagan city into the Greek Orthodox city we now know it as. This moment was the first of many special encounters with St Paul along our journey together.
In the days that followed, we visited several ancient ruins, Greek Orthodox churches and incredible Monasteries which were the fruit of St Paul’s conversion of Greece. The ancient ruins continued to provide a glimpse into St Paul’s experiences. We shared a mass together in Ancient Corinth, where St Paul spent 18 months with the Corinthians.
Another highlight for many was visiting St Paul’s prison cell in Phillipi. As we stood beside the cell, Alison Ryan, Facilitator from the Mission Enhancement Team, shared a reflection for the group about St Paul and then we sang a song of praise together. It was incredible to once again be standing where St Paul stood and to be encouraged by his witness in our own faith.
Diocese of Parramatta pilgrims at St Paul’s prison cell in Philippi, Greece. Image: Hannah Portelli/Diocese of Parramatta
We were left in awe over the monasteries in Meteora where they had built these sacred spaces on top of towering rock formations. The monasteries in Meteora along with the monastery of Hosias Lukas offered peaceful oases and a chance for contemplation. Our guide was thorough in explaining the symbolism within the iconography that covered every inch of these beautiful sacred places. Within the iconography, we were reminded of our core beliefs and the many martyrs who stood firm in their faith even in times of persecution.
Iconography at the monastery of Meteora, Greece. Image: Hannah Portelli/Diocese of Parramatta
Throughout these incredible sites, our pilgrimage Chaplain, Fr Jack Elkazzi, celebrated Mass for us. A highlight location for many of us was the Mass at the Baptistery of Lydia. Some sat with their feet in the cold flowing water, whilst others sat on the stone steps nearby. Surrounded by the beautiful nature and a sense of calm, we felt a strong connection to St Paul and the beginnings of the Church. Standing where St Paul once baptised Lydia, the first European convert, we renewed our baptismal vows together. After this special Mass, we all enjoyed dipping our feet in the cool river water and being blessed (or more accurately, splashed) by Fr Jack.
Pilgrimage chaplain Fr Jack Elkazzi celebrates Mass for Diocese of Parramatta pilgrims at the Baptistery of Lydia in Philippi, Greece. Image: Hannah Portelli/Diocese of Parramatta
Reflecting on these first days, our time in Greece was a chance to discover God deeper through the lens of St Paul. At every site, whether directly connected to St Paul or not, we were inspired and encouraged to live out our faith with the same courage and conviction as the early Christians. We found ourselves growing together as a community, ready to follow Paul’s example of faith as we moved toward the Jubilee of Youth.
The Jubilee of Youth Pilgrimage aligns with the priorities of Mission and Formation in the Diocesan Pastoral Plan.
View images from the pilgrimage as they visited Athens, Corinth, Hosios Loukas, Meteora, Thessaloniki, Philippi and Kavala.
