invited

Published by the Orthodox Church in America, September 2004

Faithful invited to Participate in Pilgrimage in Conjunction with the 10th Anniversary of OCA Representation Church of St. Catherine

SYOSSET, NY [OCA Communications] -- The Orthodox Church in America recently announced that a pilgrimage in early December 2004 will be conducted in conjunction with the 10th anniversary celebration of the OCA's Representation Church of St. Catherine the Greatmartyr to the Moscow Patriarchate.

In addition to participating in the liturgical celebrations at St. Catherine's in Moscow, pilgrims will have the opportunity to visit numerous other religious and historic sites, in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Sergiev Posad.

Prices include round-trip air fare via Finnair from New York, all ground transportation, hotel accommodations with private bath, comprehensive sightseeing and admissions, transportation to and from liturgical services, English-speaking guides, most meals, and much more. Space is limited, so early registration through Friends Over Seas Tours and Travel of Jericho, NY is strongly encouraged. For reservations and further information contact FOS Tours and Travel toll-free at 800/367-3450 or fostours@earthlink.net.

 New York to St. Petersburg
Early evening departure from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport for your overnight flight to St. Petersburg via Finnair. In-flight meals and beverage service.

 St. Petersburg
11.50am arrive in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. After customs and passport formalities, you will be met and then transferred to the Hotel Moskva for check-in. 2.30pm tour the grounds of the St. Alexander Nevsky Monastery. Welcome dinner is at the hotel.

 St. Petersburg
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, begin your panoramic city tour, which includes landmarks such as, Smolny convent, the grand Kazan Cathedral, and of course, the richly adorned St. Isaac's Cathedral. Driving along Nevsky Prospect, the main thoroughfare of St. Petersburg, you will see the Winter Palace of Russian Czars, and the Palace Square; the impressive Admiralty building, tour the Peter and Paul Fortress across the Neva River and the brightly-painted Church on Spilled Blood. Tour the Peter-and-Paul Fortress including the Cathedral, where all the Romanov Czars, beginning with Peter the Great are buried Dinner is at a local restaurant.

 St. Petersburg - Moscow
Breakfast at the hotel. 9:30AM tour the world-renowned Hermitage Museum located on Palace Square, in the Imperial Winter Palace, home to the Romanovs, the last ruling dynasty of Russia. Next, tour the brightly painted Church on Spilled Blood. Some free shopping time on Nevsky Prospect. Dinner followed by transfers to the rail station for the overnight sleeper train to Moscow.

 Welcome to Moscow
Arrive in Moscow, the cultural and political capital of Russia. You will be met and then transferred to the hotel for check-in formalities. 10:00am begin your sightseeing tour of the city. Tour the Armory Museum with its fabulous collection of Faberge eggs, jewels, and royal thrones. Next will be the Kremlin grounds and its many treasures: the Cathedrals of the Assumption, of St. Michael, and of the Annunciation, the Bell Tower of Ivan the Great, the great bronze Czar Bell and Cannon. Lunch at a nearby café or restaurant. Then to Red Square, the center of activity in Moscow, surrounded by the Kremlin, the famous onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral, GUM department store, and the Kazanski Cathedral. You will have time to see the Resurrection Gate with the Chapel and the “Iverskaya Mother of God” icon, and Manezh Square, Europe’s largest underground shopping mall. 6:00PM Dinner at your hotel.

 Moscow (Excursion to Sergiev Posad)
After breakfast depart by van for Sergiev Posad, an ancient town renowned for its Trinity St. Sergius Monastery, one of the oldest and most prominent in Russia. Discover the monastery's thirteen churches, the Tomb of Boris Godunov, the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh, St Filaret and St. Innocent, Apostle to America. Lunch at the Trapeznaya Restaurant.

Stop at the Sofrino Factory and then return to Moscow for 5.00pm Vigil for the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple at the Epiphany Cathedral. Dinner following vigil.

 Moscow -- The Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
8.00am transfer from the hotel to the Kremlin Church for the Festal Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Alesky II. After Liturgy tour to Novospasky Monastery and Icon Store, then to the Sretensky Monastery for vigil. Dinner follows.

 Moscow
8.00am transfer from the hotel to Christ the Savior Cathedral for Divine Liturgy. 1:00pm lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, tour of the Tretyakov Art Gallery, which features the works of many centuries of Russia’s master artists and its most famous collection of priceless icons. 5:00PM return to the hotel to freshen-up prior to dinner and an evening at the theatre.

 Moscow
Breakfast at the Hotel followed by a Tour of St Daniel’s Monastery and Tour of Donskoi Monastery. Venerate the relics of St Tikhon, Apostle to America. Afterward visit the Sofrino store in Moscow, which contains a large selection of Church articles that you may wish to purchase. Lunch. Then tour the Christ the Savior Cathedral transfer to St Catherine’s Orthodox Church for Vigil.

 Moscow - 10th Anniversary of St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church
Divine Liturgy at St. Catherine the Great Martyr Church. Festal banquet following Liturgy. Remainder of the day is free for shopping in central Moscow.

 Moscow - New York
Breakfast at the hotel. 9.30am transfer to the airport for your flight to New York via Helsinki onboard Finnair. Everyone is expected to proceed through customs and passport formalities prior to departing Russia.



Volume 6 Number 40 - Tuesday, October 4th, 2004	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY