2.3.7

Pilgrimage & Celebrations

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Celebrations

Christians celebrate special festivals. Christians believe that festivals are opportunities to witness their faith. Festivals can renew spirits and strengthen faith.

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Christmas and Easter

  • Christmas and Easter are two of the most important Christian festivals.

    • Christmas celebrates Jesus' birth.

    • Easter celebrates Jesus rising from the dead.

  • These festivals recall the central beliefs of Christianity:

    • Incarnation.

    • Jesus’ saving death and resurrection.

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Holy places

  • Important holy places for Christians include:

    • The Holy Land.

    • Rome.

    • Iona.

    • Lourdes.

Pilgrimage

Some Christians travel to special holy places. This is called a pilgrimage.

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Journey

  • Pilgrimage reminds Christians they are on a spiritual journey that will end with God in heaven.

  • Some Christians think pilgrimages are not needed.

    • They believe the important journey is inside a person’s heart.
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Pilgrimages to Lourdes

  • Lourdes is a town in southern France where Jesus’ mother Mary is said to have appeared.

  • Catholics often visit Lourdes because they have a special devotion to Mary.

  • In Lourdes, there are processions, special masses, and prayers.

  • Some sick people go to Lourdes because they believe the water there is miraculous and can heal them.

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Pilgrimages to Iona

  • Iona is an island off the west coast of Scotland.

  • It is linked to early Christianity in Britain, especially St Columba and his followers.

    • These men built a monastery there in the 6th century and travelled to spread Christianity in Scotland and the north of England.

  • Today, there is a monastic community in Iona that welcomes pilgrims and offers spiritual guidance.

  • Christians of all denominations visit Iona to follow the steps of early Christian Saints.

    • Christians believe they gain spiritual rewards by doing this pilgrimage.
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Pilgrimage in other faiths

  • Other religions also have pilgrimages.

  • Muslims travel to Mecca and other places linked to the Prophet Muhammad.

This journey is called Hajj.

  • Many Hindus go on pilgrimage to the River Ganges, which they believe has the power to purify them spiritually.

Jump to other topics

1Buddhism

1.1Key Beliefs

1.1.1The Dhamma

1.1.2The Five Skandhas

1.1.3Aspects of Human Life

1.1.4The Buddha

1.1.5The Ascetic & Enlightened Life

1.1.6Dhukka

1.1.7Samudaya

1.1.8Nirodha

1.1.9Magga

1.1.10The Wheel of Life

1.1.11End of Topic Test - Buddhism Key Beliefs

1.2Practices

1.2.1Places of Worship

1.2.2Objects of Worship

1.2.3Puja

1.2.4Meditation

1.2.5Death

1.2.6Festivals

1.2.7End of Topic Test - Buddhism Practices

1.3Ethics

1.3.1Kamma

1.3.2Five Moral Precepts

1.3.3End of Topic Test - Buddhism Ethics

2Christianity

2.1Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God

2.1.2The Problem of Evil

2.1.3Monotheism

2.1.4Creation

2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation

2.1.6The Trinity and Creation

2.1.7Afterlife

2.1.8Heaven and Hell

2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs

2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs

2.2Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation

2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human

2.2.3The Crucifixion

2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal

2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension

2.2.6Sin

2.2.7Original Sin

2.2.8Punishment

2.2.9The Means of Salvation

2.2.10Achieving Salvation

2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation

2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation

2.2.13Theories of Salvation

2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.3Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship

2.3.2Prayer

2.3.3Sacrament

2.3.4Baptism

2.3.5Other Sacraments

2.3.6Eucharist

2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations

2.3.8Christmas & Easter

2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals

2.4Community

2.4.1Local Community

2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth

2.4.3Worldwide Church

2.4.4Reconciliation

2.4.5Persecution

2.4.6Caring for Those in Need

2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community

2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices

3Catholicism (Christianity)

3.1Key Beliefs

3.1.1The Trinity

3.1.2Creation

3.1.3Incarnation

3.1.4Redemption

3.1.5Life After Death

3.1.6Heaven and Hell

3.1.7End of Topic Test - Catholic Key Beliefs

3.2The Seven Sacraments

3.2.1Meaning & Significance

3.2.2Baptism

3.2.3Confirmation

3.2.4Reconciliation

3.2.5Anointing of the Sick

3.2.6Marriage

3.2.7Holy Orders

3.2.8The Eucharist

3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Seven Sacraments

3.3Practices

3.3.1Prayer

3.3.2Popular Piety

3.3.3Pilgrimage

3.3.4Pilgrimages HyperLearning

3.3.5Funeral Rites

3.3.6The Duty to Love Our Neighbour

3.3.7Catholic Agencies

3.3.8Catholic Social Teaching

3.3.9Justice

3.3.10War

3.3.11Mission & Evangelism

3.3.12End of Topic Test - Catholic Practices

4Islam

4.1Key Beliefs

4.1.1Oneness of God

4.1.2Six Articles of Faith

4.1.3Five Roots of Usul

4.1.4The Nature of God

4.1.5Angels

4.1.6Freedom

4.1.7Life After Death

4.1.8Human Responsibility

4.1.9End of Topic Test - Muslim Key Beliefs

4.2Authority

4.2.1Prophethood

4.2.2The Holy Books

4.2.3The Imamate

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Muslim Authority

4.3Practices

4.3.1Worship

4.3.2Ten Obligatory Acts

4.3.3Shahadah

4.3.4Salah & Its Significance

4.3.5Mosques

4.3.6Rak'ahs

4.3.7Sawm

4.3.8Zakah

4.3.9Hajj

4.3.10Jihad

4.3.11Festivals & Commemorations

4.3.12End of Topic Test - Muslim Practices

4.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Muslim Practices

5Judaism

5.1Key Beliefs

5.1.1The Nature of God

5.1.2God as One

5.1.3God's Name

5.1.4God as Creator

5.1.5Free Will

5.1.6God as Law Giver and Judge

5.1.7The Divine Presence & Beliefs

5.1.8Role of the Messiah

5.1.9End of Topic Test - Jewish Key Beliefs

5.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Jewish Beliefs

5.2Covenant & The Mitzvot

5.2.1The Promised Land

5.2.2Abraham

5.2.3The Covenant

5.2.4The Covenant at Sinai

5.2.5The Covenant at Sinai 2

5.2.6Key Moral Principles

5.2.7End of Topic Test - Covenant & The Mitzvot

5.3The Synagogue & Worship

5.3.1The Synagogue & Its Importance

5.3.2Public Acts of Worship

5.3.3Shabbat

5.3.4Worship & Law

5.3.5End of Topic Test - Synagogue & Worship

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Eucharist

Christmas & Easter