Midnight Conversation turns to Pope Francis and Archbishop

As it is newly midnight in Jerusalem we found ourselves talking about Argentina.  The Archbishop here for the pilgrimage from the Armenian Church shared a story about Pope Francis his friend and fellow clergy in South America.   "The Pope is a very humble man." He didn't want to be elected Pope my new friend tells me because he didn't want to be center stage with all the attention focused on him; a story the world now knows about the new Pope.  "He called me on my cell one night when a terrible tragedy, a fire in a nightclub claimed the lives of 200 young people.  He asked me to come and be with him to say a memorial mass because he didn't want to be alone.  Family members were overwhelmed with grief carrying signs with the names of their loved ones.  They would want to hold us and she'd tears with us.  It was so very terrible.  I had shared ecumenical prayers with him and he called me to share this mass."

This pilgrimage is about sharing stories and praying for unity and a spirit of ecumenism.  There are so many differences in the hierarchies of the world's churches and in the faiths and traditions of each community of believers.  The Archbishop says differences are good because they make a rainbow of beliefs each adding color to light the world.  How to respect differences and avoid conflictive battles that have left deep scars on the psyche of so many believers if the goal of this conference.  To pray for unity, ecumenism, peace, and love.  Good morning.  And good night from Jerusalem.

Interview with Theodora Konidari coordinator of the 2013 Pilgrimage for peace

Theodora has been working on this peace conference for two years.  This is the 9th pilgrimage for Tue Life in God.  Theodora volunteers her time to the work of peace and unity.  Theodora says Vassula Ryden is inspired to have these pilgrimages for the glory of God.  "The clergy Vassula has invited include 112 religious leaders from different denominations including a Rabbi who will welcome the pilgrimage.  The deputy Mayor of Jerusalem and the ministry of tourism will welcome 700 pilgrims from 60 counties including 100 locals who will join in.

This year getting visas was a challenge for some VIPs clergy and pilgrims as embassies have been on strike and it is a challenge to bring so many people from so many parts of the world to Israel for a single pilgrimage.

Theodora worked at an American University for many years and she prays for our country and hopes we will have many blessings from the work she does for peace.  "I hope the True Life in God messages will be widely read because they speak to unity and love for all of us."  Thank you for the interview Theodora Konidari from Greece coordinator of the 2013 Pilgrimage for Peace and Unity

An interview with Archbishop Kissag Mouradian Argentina Chile

This morning in Jerusalem it is a bright beautiful sunny day.  I am talking to Archbishop Kissag Mouradian from the Armenian Apostolic church of Buenos Aires where he is prelate or chief of all that community in Argentina and Chile.  "Jerusalem is my country I was spiritually raised here and studied in the seminary of St. James of Armenian Patriarch.  "The Christians of all denominations come together and pray together in the pilgrimage here in Jerusalem.  The first one I attended was in Brazil the second in Greece the third in Rome and now this very special pilgrimage in Jerusalem where all Christian history has happened."  The archbishop is clear he believes the unity will be united in love and prayers like a rainbow of different faith traditions; to be a variety that is united in a unique colorful arch.  "We are still soul searching as we try to find God the father and feel we are all children of the same father while keeping our traditions and identity."  Translated by Arpy Gouloomian from Los Angeles. The archbishop is participating in the 2013 peace unity and ecumenical pilgrimage in Jerusalem.

Journey to Jerusalem

The journey to Jerusalem began Wednesday morning as I met Malvina and Arpy at LAX.  We have become great friends in our love of the hopeful messages lovingly transcribed by Vassula Ryden.   We arrived ready for three flights that would take us to from LA to Atlanta to Paris to Tel Aviv.  Atlanta is a special city in my own personal life story.  The city of CNN is where my husband and I met and married and had our first son.   We changed planes in the great capital of Georgia and headed over to Paris where a nine hour lay over afforded us the opportunity to take a train in to the city to see the magnificent Notre Dame church and the church of the miraculous medal where the Blessed Mother has appeared three times.  At each holy site we prayed for this extraordinary pilgrimage with Vassula.   Paris seems to be a place that attracts a huge number of tourist to Notre Dame while we had a hard time getting a taxi driver to know here the sacred church of the miraculous medal is visited by the faithful of the city of lights.

We jettisoned back to the Paris airport and got on a fully loaded flight to Tel Aviv one of three pilgrims in a group we expect to reach 700.   Arriving at 5:30 am in Israel we felt a blessing knowing we would follow the sunrise to the Holy Land.   Resting up now as we anticipate the arrival of Vassula Ryden and the many clergy and pilgrims who will attend this 9th pilgrimage to the Holy Land by True Life in God.   Sharon Hardee Jimenez with Malvina Mkhchian at the Don Jerusalem Hotel

peaceunitypilgrimage

Today we leave for Tel Aviv.  The pilgrimage will be a journey of light.  I bring with me hope for a peaceful world where our human family will find the love of God in their hearts as we pray for unity and peace.  I am blessed to be on this journey with hopeful pilgrims blogging for peace.