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SEVEN EXCELLENT MOVIES TO WATCH ON INDEPENDENCE DAY – CIVILIAN EDITION

June 28, 2022 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

SEVEN EXCELLENT MOVIES TO WATCH ON INDEPENDENCE DAY – CIVILIAN EDITION

America’s 243rd birthday is fast approaching, with all of the barbecues, parades and fireworks that that entails.  But for those planning on taking in a movie or two on this Independence Day, what to watch?  Well, thankfully, Hollywood has produced nearly a century of films to stir the patriotic fervor of every American’s heart.  But which ones to watch?  As a movie lover, I … [Read more...]

SEVEN EXCELLENT MOVIES TO WATCH ON INDEPENDENCE DAY – MILITARY EDITION

June 21, 2022 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

SEVEN EXCELLENT MOVIES TO WATCH ON INDEPENDENCE DAY – MILITARY EDITION

From the earliest days of Hollywood, movies about war have proved to be one of the most prolific and popular cinematic genres; and with America’s military history, there is no shortage of stories to tell. From the American Revolution to the modern day wars in the Middle East, Hollywood has covered everything in perhaps over a thousand films.  But there are a few that stand out … [Read more...]

HONORING AMERICA’S GREAT MILITARY MUSICIANS

June 14, 2022 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

HONORING AMERICA’S GREAT MILITARY MUSICIANS

The military history of America has many great traditions, but few permeate the lives of day to day Americans the way that military music does. Some of America’s greatest composers and lyricists have contributed to the genre, from poets like Francis Scott Key and Julia Ward Howe to full time musicians like John Phillip Sousa.  Their music is both inspirational and timeless, and … [Read more...]

CHURCHES OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS

June 7, 2022 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

CHURCHES OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS

Much has been said about the theological roots of the United States and the extent to which the Founding Fathers were truly religious men.  Whatever the truth about their religious convictions, there is no doubt that most of the Founding Fathers were, in fact, churchgoers throughout their lives.  George Washington, John Adams, Alexander Hamilton and even the unorthodox Benjamin … [Read more...]

HOW MANY CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS ARE THERE IN AMERICA AND THE WORLD?

May 30, 2022 By Howard Kramer 33 Comments

HOW MANY CHURCHES AND DENOMINATIONS ARE THERE IN AMERICA AND THE WORLD?

As an enthusiast of religious history and architecture I have visited many churches over the years. Many many churches.  Churches of all ages and denominations.  I estimate that over time I have probably made pilgrimages to hundreds of churches, perhaps more than five hundred.  I have honestly lost count. I was recently asked how many churches I have visited, and how many I … [Read more...]

AMERICA’S NATIONAL MILITARY MUSEUMS

May 23, 2022 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

AMERICA’S NATIONAL MILITARY MUSEUMS

In the United States, you can find museums for virtually anything related to the country’s history, especially its military history. As America approaches its 250th birthday, that means a lot of museums.  There are museums documenting everything from battles and wars America has fought to the leaders and heroes who have fought in them.  But it is only relatively recently that … [Read more...]

BEST OF THE CALIFORNIA MISSION TRAIL

May 16, 2022 By Howard Kramer 1 Comment

BEST OF THE CALIFORNIA MISSION TRAIL

Unlike the East Coast, where Christianity was introduced in a haphazard multi-denominational fashion which followed the Colonial settlements, Christianity was established on the West Coast in a highly organized pattern under the auspices of the Spanish Empire and the Roman Catholic Church.  This was specifically true in California, where twenty one Catholic churches were … [Read more...]

CHRISTIAN HYMN SITES OF AMERICA

May 9, 2022 By Howard Kramer 2 Comments

CHRISTIAN HYMN  SITES OF AMERICA

Christians have embraced religious and spiritual music since ancient times, and there are few traditions as strong as that of hymn writing. This was especially true in the 19th and early 20th century, when prolific writers turned out literally thousands of hymns, especially in the English speaking world. America was no exception. While not all hymns are great or achieve … [Read more...]

WHERE TO SEE A GUTENBERG BIBLE

May 2, 2022 By Howard Kramer 16 Comments

WHERE TO SEE A GUTENBERG BIBLE

In the 1440s, Johannes Gutenberg, a German inventor, developed the world’s first true printing press.  His invention revolutionized the production of printed materials, greatly contributing to the availability of less expensive books and subsequent increase in literacy.  One of Gutenberg’s first major printing projects, and arguably his famous, was the production of the first … [Read more...]

WERE THERE EGYPTIANS AMONG THE ISRAELITES OF THE EXODUS?

April 25, 2022 By Howard Kramer 15 Comments

WERE THERE EGYPTIANS AMONG THE ISRAELITES OF THE EXODUS?

The Biblical story of Moses is one of the great narratives, if not the definitive story, of the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament). It is a great personal favorite, and watching “The Ten Commandments” with Charlton Heston during Holy Week is a cherished tradition in many families.  Beyond the familiarity of the film is the Biblical text of course, which has been endlessly pored … [Read more...]

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THE COMPLETE AMERICAN PILGRIM – NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

THE COMPLETE PILGRIM

Welcome to The Complete Pilgrim(TM)! This site, created by Howard Kramer, is a combination travel blog and online guide to the world's greatest sites of religious interest (with some historic and recreational places thrown in for good measure). All written content has been originally researched and produced and is provided free for public research and enjoyment. Thank you for visiting!

Site of the Week

WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH

WITTENBERG CASTLE CHURCH

Wittenberg, Germany The … [Read More...]

Friends of TCP Spotlight

5 PLACES TO VISIT IN HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA – MUSLIM TRAVEL ROCKS

5 PLACES TO VISIT IN HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA – MUSLIM TRAVEL ROCKS

by Glory Ali The City of Brotherly Love offers tons to see and do and get this, it’s FREE. That’s right you heard it right it’s FREE. Click here for complete article  

MOVING THE U.S. EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM – FAITH IN FAITHS

MOVING THE U.S. EMBASSY TO JERUSALEM – FAITH IN FAITHS

by Mary Neuhauser President Trump recently announced his intentions to move the United States Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, thereby recognizing Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel. The purpose of this article is to give you a brief overview of what this decision means and why it matters. Click here for […]

Photo of the Week

BASILICA OF ST. DENIS

Last month, I visited one of the most fascinating churches I have ever been to, the almost completely ignored Basilica of St. Denis in the northern suburbs of Paris.  Almost every French monarch is buried here, and almost nobody goes here.  Here are some pics I took:

Basilica of St. Denis

Tomb of Clovis

Tomb of Clovis

Tombs of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Tombs of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Tomb of Louis XIV The Sun King

Tomb of Louis XIV The Sun King

Royal Tombs

Royal Tombs

The Crypt

The Crypt

 

 

 

 

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Contact Us

Have a comment, a great photo or a religious site you'd like to nominate for the weekly spotlight? We would love to hear from you. Email us at hkramer@thecompletepilgrim.com.

About the Author

Howard Kramer is the creator and author of The Complete Pilgrim. He first took an interest in religious sites in his early twenties when traveling through Italy after college. In the two decades since he has traveled to more than two dozen countries and almost every state, visiting and photographing hundreds of the world’s greatest churches, synagogues and other places of religious interest. Howard has been writing about religious sites for the better part of the last decade, and The Complete Pilgrim is the culmination of years of his work and passion.

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