The Pilgrimage of Discovery is a 7-day, all-expense paid, religious and cultural trip to Constantinople from July 31, 2023 to August 7, 2023. Deepen your Orthodox faith by exploring holy sites and having a private audience with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.

The mission of the Pilgrimage of Discovery is to reconnect Greek Orthodox Young Adults from the Metropolis of Chicago with their religious and cultural roots. Our goal is to bolster the future of the Orthodox Church by educating and inspiring future leaders through this inspired connection to the Mother Church.

This journey will include a private audience with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and visits to sites such as:

  • Zoodochos Pigi Church at Baloukli
  • Agios Demetrios Church of Kuruçesme
  • Hagia Sophia
  • Bosphorus Strait
  • The Blue Mosque
  • Prince’s Islands
  • Pera 
  • Grand Bazaar
  • Halki Seminary
  • Ecumenical Patriarchate
  • St. George Church at the Phanar

The Pilgrimage of Discovery program is

truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Have fun journeying through the holy land of Constantinople with your peers this summer. Learn more about the history and unbreakable thread of our Orthodox faith!

Be part of the first-of-its-kind filming of this experience! A professional crew will follow along the tour capturing key moments. A documentary starring the participants will be created for release nationwide inspiring young adults across the country.

The Pilgrimage of Discovery is funded by the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Trip Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be between the ages of 23-28 by August 1, 2023
• Have received their undergraduate degree from a 4-year accredited institution by August 1, 2023
• Be a citizen or legal resident of the United States
• Be in good standing with the Greek Orthodox Church
• Be a member of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago (IL, IA, MN, WI, IN & MO)
• Demonstrate leadership and show interest in the Orthodox Church

 

For the full list of eligibility requirements, click below:  

Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Frequently Asked Questions

Contact

For questions regarding the pilgrimage of discovery, please emailpilgrimageofdiscovery@gmail.com.

All application materials should be emailed to  pilgrimageofdiscovery@gmail.com.

Interested in applying? Access the application form below!

The Pilgrimage of Discovery is a religious-educational journey that includes an audience with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and visits to historic sites around Constantinople. It is the opportunity of a lifetime for up to five young adult leaders, male and female, of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago to have a transformative and immersive experience in the Queen of Cities and to grow in their Orthodox Christian faith. The Pilgrimage of Discovery is funded by the Archons of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle and is being piloted by the Metropolis of Chicago Archons in preparation for a national program in the future. 

In addition to visiting historic sites around Constantinople, the selected young adults will  be scheduled to meet with His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew where they  will have the opportunity to engage in open dialogue. The young adults may also have the  chance to participate in an environmental service program while on the journey with His  All-Holiness. He is known as the Green Patriarch because he was the first global religious leader to show commitment to education and action on issues of environmental protection and climate change since the 1980’s.

A professional videography crew will accompany the selected young adults throughout  the Pilgrimage of Discovery to record their experiences for use in creating a documentary  film. This film will be released nationwide and used in future years to promote the  Pilgrimage of Discovery.  

Following the Pilgrimage, the young adults will be asked to share their experiences in a  series of speaking engagements over the next two years at various parishes and locations  in the Chicagoland area in order to expand awareness about the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Pilgrimage of Discovery.  

Travel expenses will be paid for up to five young adults that are selected, including  round trip flights from Chicago O’Hare to Istanbul, all transportation while in Turkey, and  entrance fees to programmed sites. The Pilgrimage of Discovery will be seven days/six nights  and will include all lodging (double occupancy), breakfasts, dinners, and most lunches.  Incidentals, personal expenses, and any additional meals will be the responsibility of the  participants. The Pilgrimage of Discovery is scheduled for July 31, 2023 to August 7, 2023.

 

Pilgrimage of Discovery

Eligibility

Applicant must be age 23 to 28 by August 1, 2023.(Required)
Applicant must have received their undergraduate degree by August 1, 2023.(Required)
Applicant must be an Orthodox Christian in good standing of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago and a legal resident or citizen of the United States.(Required)
Applicant has demonstrated devotion and service to Christ and the Greek Orthodox Church.(Required)
Applicant has demonstrated leadership qualities in ecclesial, academic, professional, and/or community life.(Required)
Applicant has never been convicted of a crime.(Required)
Applicant must not be the immediate family member of any Archon of the Order of St. Andrew or of anyone serving on the Pilgrimage of Discovery Planning Committee.(Required)
Siblings are eligible to apply. Only one applicant may be chosen per household.(Required)
Completion of Application. The applicant must complete the entire application required by the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee. This includes the timely submission of all information requested in the application, as well as the timely submission of recommendation letters by both referees.(Required)
If selected, the applicant must be willing to conduct herself/himself in a responsible, respectful manner consistent with an Orthodox Christian way of life.(Required)
If selected, the applicant must be willing and able to adhere to all travel, health, and safety requirements and restrictions mandated by local, state, federal, and international governmental authorities relevant to the applicant’s successful participation in the Pilgrimage of Discovery, including but not limited to provision of a valid passport, second form of legal identification, any necessary visas, and international health insurance at the applicant’s own expense.(Required)
If selected, the applicant must be willing and able to travel at the applicant’s own expense for arrival at Chicago O’Hare International Airport for timely departure to Istanbul, Turkey as part of the Pilgrimage of Discovery.(Required)
If selected, the applicant must be willing and able to execute a legal document provided to the applicant releasing the Archons of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, the Pilgrimage of Discovery committees, and any associated employees or agents from all liability for any injuries or property damage suffered by the applicant in connection with the Pilgrimage of Discovery.(Required)
If selected, the applicant must be willing and able to attend three to four mandatory preparatory meetings in advance of the Pilgrimage of Discovery to get to know the other participants, to learn what the applicant should expect on their journey, and to prepare for their experiences.(Required)
If selected, the applicant must be willing and able to commit to traveling and sharing experiences at various parishes and events from time to time in the Chicagoland area with Archons of the Order of St. Andrew for a period of up to two years after the Pilgrimage of Discovery.(Required)
If selected, the applicant must be willing and able to be photographed, filmed, and recorded during the Pilgrimage of Discovery for the purpose of creating a documentary and promotional materials.(Required)

Application

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: MARCH 31, 2023
Name(Required)
Address(Required)
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Have you ever been to Constantinople/Istanbul?(Required)
If selected, there will be three to four mandatory preparatory meetings in advance of the Pilgrimage of Discovery to get to know the other participants, to learn what the participants should expect on their journey, and to prepare. Will you be able to attend those meetings?(Required)
Participants selected for the Pilgrimage of Discovery must be willing and able to commit to traveling and sharing experiences at various parishes and events from time to time in the Chicagoland area with Archons of the Order of St. Andrew for a period of up to two years after the Pilgrimage of Discovery. Will you commit to this?(Required)
Are you willing to give permission to be photographed, filmed and recorded during the Pilgrimage of Discovery for the purpose of creating a documentary?(Required)
1500 characters (including spaces)
1500 characters (including spaces)
1500 characters (including spaces)
1500 characters (including spaces)
One (1) letter of recommendation must be written by a priest at your parish in the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago and emailed directly from him to the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee. This letter of recommendation should be emailed by March 31, 2023.(Required)
The recommendation letter should verify that you are an Orthodox Christian in good standing of your parish, then discussing how long your parish priest has known you, your strengths, leadership qualities, involvement with the Greek Orthodox Church, reasons why you would be an excellent choice for the Pilgrimage of Discovery, and any other information that would be helpful to the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee in making its decision. Your parish priest should direct this letter to the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee and email it by March 31, 2023 to: pilgrimageofdiscovery@gmail.com
One (1) letter of recommendation must be written by a fellow Greek Orthodox Christian of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago and emailed directly by the referee to the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee. This letter of recommendation should be emailed by March 31, 2023.(Required)
The recommendation letter should discuss how long the referee has known you, your strengths, leadership qualities, involvement with the Greek Orthodox Church, reasons why you would be an excellent choice for the the Pilgrimage of Discovery, and any other information that would be helpful to the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee in making its decision. Your referee should direct this letter to the Pilgrimage of Discovery Selection Committee and email it by March 31, 2023 to: pilgrimageofdiscovery@gmail.com
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