Some ideas and thoughts to help you get ready
Before you go
Try and see if there is a Greek Orthodox Church in your neighbourhood. Would it be possible for you to go and take part in one of the services? You could tell the priest that you are going to spend the feast of the Theophany in Constantinople.
Don’t forget to let other young people from your parish or chaplaincy know that you are taking part in this pilgrimage. You can tell them what you will be doing and then share your experiences when you get back.
You will be staying with families in Istanbul. Please remember to bring them a small thank you gift from home. It could be something that represents your own parish or region.
Istanbul – Constantinople
Istanbul [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul] is a vast modern agglomeration with a long history. At its heart is ancient Byzantium, which was refounded by the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine, and given the name Constantinople [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople] in 330 CE.
Constantinople played a great rôle in the history of the Church. The creed known as the Nicene creed came from the First Council of Constantinople [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Constantinople] in 381. The 5th and 6th ecumenical councils also took place in Constantinople.
The city was conquered in1453 by Sultan Mehmed II, but Christians continued to form a large proportion of the population right up to the middle of the 20th Century. Today, they are a tiny minority.
They belong to different Churches:
The Greek Orthodox Church, with the Ecumenical Patriarch [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarch_of_Constantinople] at its head. Ecumenical means “universal”. He is the first on the list of Patriarchs of the different Orthodox Churches. See also http://www.patriarchate.org.
The Armenian Apostolic Church [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Apostolic_Church], which has its roots in the conversion of Armenia by St Gregory the Illuminator at the beginning of the 4th Century. It is today the biggest church numerically in Istanbul.
The Syriac Orthodox Church [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_Orthodox_Church], which is present above all in the east of Turkey. It also has a diocese with the see in Istanbul and is the second largest church today numerically.
The Catholic Church in Istanbul is not only Latin (with the Roman rite), but also Byzantine, Armenian, Syriac and Chaldean, with some Maronites as well. Christians coming from Africa and Asia add to its universality.
The Anglican Church, with a Turkish-speaking parish.
The Lutheran Church
The “Union Church”, from the Presbyterian tradition
Free Evangelical Churches
Participants in the meeting will stay with Christian families from these different Churches.
First evening
On Thursday January 3rd, we will take part in the Vespers of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in Taksim, which will be celebrated in Greek. To help you prepare for this, you can find the English text by clicking here [http://biserica.org/Publicatii/ServiceBook/Gvespers.htm]. Afterwards, His All-Holiness, the Patriarch Bartholomew, invites us for supper in the parish rooms.
Hagia Sophia (Church of Holy Wisdom) and Holy Saviour in Chora
On Friday morning, we will visit two of Christianity’s most historical places in Istanbul; Hagia Sophia [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia] and Holy Saviour in Chora [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chora_Church]. At 9am, half of our group will meet in front of Hagia Sophia and the other half at Holy Saviour in Chora. Buses will drive the two groups to the second place once the visit of the first place is over.
Once the second place has been visited, the two groups will be driven by bus to the Greek Orthodox monastery of Balıklı [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St._Mary_of_the_Spring_%28Istanbul%29]. The tombs of the patriarchs (including Athenagoras, who Brother Roger visited several times) are found here.
Halki and Phanar
On Saturday morning, we will go to the island of Heybeliada (Halki in Greek), to the Monastery of the Holy Trinity [http://www.patriarchate.org/patriarchate/monasteries-churches/halki], which houses the buildings of the Orthodox Theological Seminary. As it will be the Eve of the Feast of the Theophany (Epiphany), around 9am there will be a prayer for the Blessing of Water [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Blessing_of_Waters#Great_Blessing_of_Waters_at_Theophany]. If you would like to read the whole text of the ceremony click here [http://biserica.org/Publicatii/ServiceBook/Services/Waters/Greater_Waters.htm].
The Feast of the Theophany is very important in the Orthodox Church. To know more about this click here [http://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship/the-church-year/epiphany] or here [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_%28holiday%29#Eastern_Orthodox_Christian_churches]
On Saturday afternoon at 4pm, we will be at St George’s Church [http://www.patriarchate.org/patriarchate/stgeorge] for the Vespers of the Eve of the Theophany with His All-Holiness, the Patriarch Bartholomew II. You can download the text for the vespers here [http://biserica.org/Publicatii/ServiceBook/Gvespers.htm].
Saturday evening and Sunday morning
On Saturday evening, we will be received in different places by the Christian communities of different Churches (see the above list), sometimes together with their Muslim friends or neighbours. When you arrive on Thursday, each participant will be told who will be their host family and what will be their programme for Saturday evening.
On Sunday morning, everyone will take part in the celebration of the church of their host family.
More precise practical information about your arrival at the airports, provisional sleeping places for those arriving already on January 2nd, central phone number, etc, will be sent to you mid-December.