The Circle of Life. Returning to the Holy Land is the final Pilgrimage.

It is estimated that seven percent of the world's Christians, over 150 million people make the pilgrimage to the Holy Land every year. Since the 1950s, millions of Christians have traveled to the Holy Land to visit the historic sites associated with Jesus' life and death. The Holy Land is one of the most popular tourist destinations on earth.

Why visit the Holy Land?

Why do so many people visit the Holy Land?

The Holy Land has witnessed the origins and early history of three of the world's great religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

With earth that has been walked by Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus, the apostles, and the Prophet Muhammad, the Holy Land has been a sought-after destination from ancient times until today. History stands still here.

· In Jerusalem, Jews still pray at the Western Wall.· Christians still visit the place where Jesus' body was laid in the tomb.
· Muslims still worship at the ancient Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque

Why Christians make the pilgrimage.

Some Christian Protestants are spiritual and therefore more place-centered, whereas Catholic pilgrims are more focused on the Bible and a "personal relationship" with Jesus. There are also those whose pilgrimage is initiated by life cycle transitions such as the death of a spouse, retirement and the birth of grandchildren. For all it’s the journey of a lifetime.

What is a pilgrimage?

Pilgrimage is both ordinary and extra-ordinary, since pilgrims leave home in a dramatic way, often for the first time. Pilgrimage to the Holy Land is the one way Christians travel with the purpose of stabilizing and preserving their faith.

Most pilgrims report that their journey to the Holy Land was a life changing experience. Some feel transformed and at peace with themselves. Still others report a renewed awareness of their spiritual roots. 

For each traveler, the experience is different.

The impact of a pilgrimage.

In the words of Martin Buber -"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware."

For the Christian, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is the ultimate spiritual journey to the birthplace of Christianity, to the place where "the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us".

Attesting to its’ powerful impact on the visitor; William Johnston, author of the acclaimed handbook on the Holy Land, says:

"Here the pilgrim who is open to God's grace will be deeply enriched in the Faith, for the mind will be filled with the awesome wonder of so many sacred shrines and this will be cemented in the heart never to fade". 

Scattering in the Holy Land

If a pilgrimage to the Holy Land changes lives and is the ultimate spiritual journey for millions of people during their lifetime, returning to this sacred place after our lives are completed would be the ultimate final destination. For those choosing cremation, your final resting place can be the Holy Land. Your ashes can be placed in a private garden overlooking the Sea of Galilee. A new service called HolyLand Ash Scattering can place your ashes in the most spiritual place on earth, for all eternity.

In the Holy Land there is a private garden overlooking the Sea of Galilee, near Tabgha, the Mount of Beatitudes. It is the traditional site of Jesus' delivery of the Sermon on the Mount, probably the most famous sermon of all time. Pilgrims have been drawn to this historic place since the 4th century.

After your journey in life is complete, you can choose to return to the birthplace of civilization for all time.

You can make yours or your loved one’s final pilgrimage to the Holy Land possible. Ashes can only be scattered once. Make it memorable.

HolyLand Ash Scattering and other scattering services can perform a sacred ceremony to honor yours or your loved one’s memory. You can complete the circle of life and find a forever home for yourself or your loved one in a memorial garden in the Holy Land. 

The Source

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