Day Zero: Intro

 

Grace and Peace to you, Beloved Palmers,

 

 

Paul wrote these words in his second letter to the Thessalonians, lauding them once again for their steadfast faith and the love they increasing shared with one another even in times of great persecution. I offer these words to you all as I make ready for an 18 hour journey from Houston to Greece. 

 

I'm headed to Greece for an 11 day pilgrimage in the footsteps of Paul. A group of clergy from the diocese will begin our time together in Thessaloniki and travel by land and the Aegean Sea to some of the well known sites of early Christian communities in the western region of Anatolia (modern day Turkiye) and Hellas (Greece): Thessaloniki, Ephesus, Patmos, Crete, Athens, Corinth, Philippi, and more. 

 

I plan to send daily dispatches keeping you all in the know of what we are up to, what I am learning, and reflecting on the ways ancient and modern worlds collide in this region. 

 

A deep thanks to Neil for his support of my accepting the invitation to participate on this pilgrimage, and to Bishop Monterroso for his invitation. 

 

 

Faithfully yours, 

Ryan+