Bishop of Kingston Leads Holy Land Pilgrimage [Updated]

The Rt. Rev. Robert Thompson, Bishop of Kingston, is now in Jordan on the first leg of a two-week pilgrimage to the Holy Land that will also take him and the 24-member group which he is leading to Israel.

One of the highlights to date, was a visit to Petra, the ancient city in Southern Jordan built by the nomadic Arab tribe, the Nabataeans, several centuries before the birth of Christ. The city which was literally carved from the sandstone cliffs in this desert region, was once a thriving trade centre. Petra is now one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.

Bishop Thompson says he hopes that the faith of members on the pilgrimage “will be strengthened by the experience; and we will, in turn, provide support for our fellow Christians in Jordan and Israel as they witness to Christ amidst daily conflicts and challenges.”

The pilgrimage ends on October 8.