3-15 Αugust / 2023

Pilgrimage of Peace

MOSCOW – GREAT NOVGOROD – SAINT PETERSBURG
RUSSIA

visions of beauty 2023

Announcement

The Centre for Science, Religion & Philosophy Programs (https://srph.ru/generalinformation)
St. Petersburg, Russia

will host a 13 Day Program - "Pilgrimage of Peace" to the cities of Moscow , Great Novgorod and St. Petersburg.
The Program will be in English.

Participants will be encouraged to learn about the notions of 'Beauty' and 'Peace' and their progression throughout the ages.

Rich understandings of Russian values, in the light of this notion, will help to highlight the Spiritual, Cultural and Historical developments in Russia during the past ten centuries.

Engagement with Russian traditional icon painting will help to clarify particular perceptions and visions of 'Beauty' through insights into the values of Russian Orthodoxy.

If you are interested in this Russian Summer Program – please contact
Russian Program Co-Ordinator: Dr. Natalia Pecherskaya: natalia.pecherskaya@gmail.com

Expression of Interest

We wish to continue VOB tours and hope for new interested pilgrims for VOB-2023.

I do hope that many participants of the previous years after their own experience in Russia, will agree with the feelings of peace and spiritual growth in Russia. It seems very appropriate to mention the latter during this time.

It will be most intensive Christian peace effort. Travelers will meet with and visit a dozen of Russian museums, churches, choir singing, music concerts and ballet, meeting Russian people including monks of the Russian Orthodox monasteries, nuns and priests.

During the next VOB pilgrimage in 2023 we'll make some changes in visiting the cities to explore not only beauty of culture and religion, buildings and cathedrals, but also of average Russian people souls, their interests, thoughts and concerns, believes and sorrows, and how they carry out their lives. The foreign visitors will share similar topics with them.

We welcome more Christians to travel on the VOB finding beauty, spirituality and special peace mission.

For more trip details please email SRPh VOB Co-Ordinator
Russian Program Co-Ordinator: Dr. Natalia Pecherskaya: natalia.pecherskaya@gmail.com

WE INVITE PEOPLE TO EXPLORE NOT ONLY BEAUTY OF CULTURE AND RELIGION, BUILDINGS AND CATHEDRALS, BUT ALSO MEETING RUSSIAN PEOPLE, HAVING FACE-TO-FACE DISCUSSIONS WITH RUSSIANS
ACROSS DIFFERENT CONFESSIONS AND NATIONALITY.

VISIT RUSSIA, LOOK AT RUSSIA WITH YOUR OWN EYES!

VOB-2018 Participants' Evaluation

Natalia, This VOB -Russia was so remarkable and it feels as if this is the mountain top. I have reached the top with my co-operation with you . The 2 and a half years of detailed work was amazing and very impressive. The trust given to me by the leadership also means a great deal to me. Thank you so much for all you did to realize VOB - Russia 2018 . You are a very experienced and gifted Organiser and Planner at every level. I learnt many things working with you. I feel very satisfied and happy with the results at all levels. Thank you!

Margaret Broadbent rsm

I feel really blessed to have had this opportunity to have visited Russia, …to have experienced so much Beauty in so many forms and in so many places. I feel that I've been soaked in icons and I'm looking forward to doing a course in icon painting. My preconceived ideas of Russia, carried from childhood, have shattered! It was wonderful to sense the faith of people as expressed in the churches and to learn again that the way things are done in my country/culture, religious as well as secular, are not the only ways of doing those things!!!

Ann Thomson rsm

To visit the Winter Palace, the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, the Carl Faberge Museum, the Tretyakov Gallery, to be exposed to these collections of art from different times and places and to dimensions of human inspiration, creativity and craftsmanship was quite overwhelming. ..These visits led me to reflect on the transitoriness of institutions, of how charisms can be for a time, can be reinvested with new life; that life can emerge from the ruins of the past given the perennial search for meaning and beauty…

Anne Tormey rsm

In my reflection and review l looked back on what l outlined in my application: "To be able to participate in a carefully planned and professionally led Program/Pilgrimage through Russia, to visit and drink in the unique history, culture and spirituality via visits to churches, museums, convents and galleries, was something l never thought possible." Not only was it possible but it happened through every aspect l mentioned.

Bernadette Ahearn rsm

Each of the cities we visited was indeed a vision of Beauty. Such wonderful culture and life over the centuries captured in the programmes of each day. And the accommodation and restaurants we visited - nothing missing from our comfort. I have come away with so many preconceptions overturned, some many new understandings, and so many things to reflect on and investigate further - an ongoing feast. Among my special memories are the times of prayer and singing in the monastery churches.

Daphne McKeough rsm

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Pilgrimage of Peace

MOSCOW – GREAT NOVGOROD – SAINT PETERSBURG RUSSIA

MOSCOW – GREAT NOVGOROD – SAINT PETERSBURG
RUSSIA