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Howard Kramer's, The Complete Pilgrim, Religious Travel Site

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MOUNT EREMOS

June 26, 2016 By Howard Kramer 2 Comments

Israel/Palestine (N/A) – Biblical Site of the Sermon on the Mount Mount Eremos, better known as the Mount of Beatitudes, is the hill which is traditionally associated with the Sermon on the Mount.  Located (according to the Bible) between Capernaum and Gennesaret, Eremos has been recognized as the site of the Beatitudes since the late Roman era, but is not entirely certain.  … [Read more...]

MOUNT ZION & MOUNT OF OLIVES

June 26, 2016 By Howard Kramer 2 Comments

Israel/Palestine (765 m, 826 m) – Biblical Hills Surrounding Jerusalem Mount Zion and the Mount of Olives are two ancient hills which flank the old walled city of Jerusalem to the south and east respectively.  Between them they almost perfectly flank the Temple Mount, the most sacred site in Judaism and also highly revered by both Christians and Muslims as well.  Not … [Read more...]

CHURCH OF STS SERGIUS AND BACCHUS

October 14, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

CHURCH OF STS SERGIUS AND BACCHUS

Cairo, Egypt The Church of Sts. Sergius & Bacchus is believed to be the oldest church in Cairo and one of the oldest in Egypt.  According to tradition, it stands upon the site where Mary, Joseph and the Infant Jesus resided while in exile in Egypt.  It is also one of Christianity’s most sacred shrines in Egypt.  Named for Sergius and Bacchus, two soldiers who served in … [Read more...]

ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY OF HEROD

August 12, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

ARCHITECTURAL LEGACY OF HEROD

Several Locations, Israel & Palestine Herod the Great, the notorious villain of the Christian Nativity Story and generally vilified by Jews and Christians alike, was also one of the most energetic kings and prolific builders in the entire history of ancient Judea.  His architectural achievements surpassed even those of Solomon, and a surprising number of his projects … [Read more...]

LATER JERUSALEM AND THE SECOND TEMPLE

August 12, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

LATER JERUSALEM AND THE SECOND TEMPLE

Jerusalem, Israel When most Jewish visitors to Jerusalem tour the city’s ancient sacred sites, it is generally not the legacy of David and Solomon that they are experiencing, but rather that of Herod the Great.  Herod, the most prolific builder in ancient Israel, spent vast sums remaking Jerusalem into a magnificent capital city.  The archaeological remains of his efforts can … [Read more...]

VALLEY OF JEZREEL

June 8, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

VALLEY OF JEZREEL

Tel Megiddo, Israel The Valley of Jezreel, also known as the Plain of Megiddo, or Armeggedon, is the Holy Land’s most famous battlefield.  Countless armies have raged across this vast, open, and highly strategic valley, from the Egyptians and Canaanites in the 15th century BC to the British and Ottomans during World War I.  The best-known Biblical conflict to have occurred … [Read more...]

HOLY GROTTO OF THE REVELATION

June 1, 2014 By Howard Kramer 1 Comment

HOLY GROTTO OF THE REVELATION

Patmos, Greece The Isle of Patmos in the Dodeconese Islands between Greece and Turkey has the honor of being the setting for the very last book of the Bible.  It was here, sometime towards the end of the 1st century AD, that John the Evangelist received the supreme vision of the apocalyptic end of the world and the final triumph of God’s eternal kingdom.  The Book of … [Read more...]

BASILICA OF ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALL

June 1, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

BASILICA OF ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALL

Rome, Italy The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wall, so-called because of its location outside the old city walls of Rome, is one of the great churches of both Rome and Catholicism.  Although overshadowed by St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican, it is nevertheless a beloved and popular pilgrimage destination.  Aside from its antiquity, it is home to the grave of Paul, the … [Read more...]

CHURCH OF ST. PAUL’S SHIPWRECK

June 1, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

CHURCH OF ST. PAUL’S SHIPWRECK

Valletta, Malta This tiny island in the middle of the Mediterranean was the location of some of the adventures of the Apostle Paul as told in the Book of Acts.  Paul visited the island sometime in the mid-1st century AD, and was instrumental in getting the local Christian community established.  Much of the island’s Christian history is tied directly to Paul’s legacy, and … [Read more...]

VEZELAY ABBEY

June 1, 2014 By Howard Kramer 3 Comments

VEZELAY ABBEY

Vezelay, France Exactly how the relics of Mary Magdalene found their way to Vezelay in France is not certain, and in fact Vezelay is only one of a number of cities to claim them.  Nevertheless popular opinion supports the Vezelay tradition, which seems to be unofficially recognized by the Roman Catholic Church.  While neighboring Spain and Italy claim Apostolic tombs, the … [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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