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Reflections from the back of the bus - the next few days
22nd June, 2009 - Posted by Ursula Stephens -
It’s Sunday and we’re all up early for a very special day - we are travelling by tender boat to Patmos to visit the Monastery of St John the Theologian and the cave that was his home when he was banished there for two years. It is said that St John wrote the text of Revelation in the Cave which is now built into the Monastery of the Apocalypse.
We’re all feeling sprightly - no one was enticed into the disco till the wee hours - although this is a very popular cruise ship filled with the energy and noise of young people on holidays.
One of the American pilgrims we met yesterday in Lindos fell and is now in a fibreglass cast - poor thing! It reminds us that for St Paul there would have been many dangers in his travels too. Lord, may your blessing and protection surround us as we travel in the footsteps of St Paul.
This afternoon we are going to the House of the Virgin Mary and to Ephesus - we’re back on the boat and heading to Kusadasi in Turkey.
Donna has lived in Turkey a few years ago and is practicing her Turkish! Max was also here about 20 years ago - I wonder what will have changed in that time - just a moment in the history of this ancient land.
Yiannis is a bit anxious today - the boat is late getting into the harbour at Kusadasi and that will impact on the time we have here.
Well! There are no words to do justice to our afternoon in Kusadasi, but I will try to describe what has been happening as best I can.
As I said previously we were late getting into Kusadasi- we pulled into the harbour and disembarked - streams of passengers pouring off our ship the Aquamarine.
There were so many people that we had to walk about 500m to our coach - all this takes time of course and our guides were anxious- we didn’t appreciate why but it soon became clear.
The traffic around the port precinct was chaotic - with wall to wall people haggling at market stalls, spilling into the streets from coffee houses, children running in and out, beggars with hands outstretched, often with babes in arms. What contrasts! What a cocaphony of noises, smells, whistles, horns and shouting!
We were shepherded into our bus and set off - to the House of the Virgin Mary, high in the hills overlooking the port city.
As we headed away from the traffic we prayed for all Australians and brought into communion with us everyone who had celebrated their faith today.
Archbishop Mark drew us to the importance of Mary as the mother of God and told us about this place we are to visit: the House of the Virgin Mary is a building where Mary is said to have lived and died.
A tiny space, the building’s foundations date from the first century AD, and it has signs of Byzantine construction too. Its association with Virgin Mary follows visions of a German nun who described the exact location and appearance of the house and that it was Mary’s house.
As always in such stories there is faith and belief. Pilgrimages swell in numbers in the summer - as we were to experience ourselves.
As we climbed higher into the hills we looked down on the fertile plains of the region, understanding now the massive transformation of landscape that earthquakes wreak. Where once was a wide river and thriving ancient city complete with castle and monasteries, there are remnants of ancient walls, porticos, necropolis and a vast expanse of fertile farming lands.
God indeed remakes things in his own image - this is a lush green nourishing landscape - so different from the rocky outcrops of the islands.
As we come around a sweeping curve in the road, past a magnificent statue of Mary- we could see how a more recent earthquake had sheered the rock face leaving what looked like a curtain of rock.
Then we arrived at the House. Rows of buses and cars were in the carpark - an ominous sign! We piled off the bus and followed our guide down the hill towards the outdoor chapel.
There were literally thousands of people milling around, queueing to walk through the House.
Our Bishops and priests prepared to say Mass, scheduled for 3.30, only to hear that this couldn’t happen because the chapel was booked for another larger group!
Archbishop Mark spoke very diplomatically to the Polish nun who seemed to be in charge ( I’m not sure if it was in Polish) . She hurried away to find a Capucian monk, who led us up to their Monastery so that we could have Mass in their private chapel!
What a wonderful privilege we were afforded - a blessed space - cool, quiet, peaceful.- just big enough for all of us.
Our Mass to Our Lady was very moving.
Our prayers were for all of you at home travelling with us in you hearts. We offered special prayers for the intentions we carry with us.
Paul read the first reading again today - he reads with great sensitivity and interpretation.
We sang Hail Queen of Heaven! With angelic voices.
After Mass we joined the queue to make a quick visit to Mary’s house before rushing to the bus, to Ephesus.
“Mary is the dawn that precedes and reveals the sun of justice that is Jesus Christ” St Louis-Marie de Montford.
So, next stop is Ephesus and Archbishop Mark is anxious for us to get there - it’s an important milestone in our journey in the footsteps of St Paul.
Tags: Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, footsteps of saint paul, pilgrimage, st paul
Posted on: June 22, 2009
Filed under: Reflections from the Back of the Bus
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