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UMAYYAD CASTLES (QASR AL-HEER AL-SHARQI, QASAR HISHAM, QASR AMRA)

April 14, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Several Locations, Palestine, Jordan & Syria The Umayyads were well known as prolific builders, especially in and around their capital city of Damascus.  Taking advantage of the construction expertise of local Byzantine architects and masons, the Umayyads dotted the region with dozens of palaces and castles.  While few of these early medieval structures are still standing, … [Read more...]

UMAYYAD MOSQUE (MASJID UMAYYAD)

April 14, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Damascus, Syria Damascus was the first truly great metropolis of the Muslim world, the pilgrimage cities of Mecca and Medina notwithstanding, and it is the only place from which the entire Islamic Empire was ever ruled.  During its century as the Umayyad capital, Damascus was one of the largest and most magnificent cities in the world.  As wealth from Muslim conquests poured … [Read more...]

KHALID IBN AL-WALID MOSQUE (MASJID KHALID IBN AL-WALID)

April 12, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Homs, Syria Khalid ibn Al-Walid may be one of the most underappreciated figures in Islamic history.  As he never served as caliph, his historical importance is often overlooked.  But it is quite possible that without the military genius of Khalid ibn Al-Walid, Islam might not have successfully spread beyond Arabia and Mesopotamia.  He began his career as a ferocious opponent … [Read more...]

BAB AL-SAGHIR CEMETERY

April 12, 2015 By Howard Kramer 2 Comments

Damascus, Syria The Bab Al-Saghir Cemetery in Damascus is actually a series of small graveyards located along the street known as the Bab Al-Saghir.  Collectivelly they are the third most important cemetery of early Islam after the Maqbarat Al-Baqi in Medina and the Jannatul Mualla in Mecca, and a number of eminent, if lesser, personages are buried here.  Although it is third … [Read more...]

OUR LADY OF LEBANON

February 15, 2015 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Harissa, Lebanon In a region completed dominated by non-Christians, the Statue and Basilica of Our Lady of Lebanon stand as a defiant reminder of Lebanon’s Catholic history.  Outside of Israel and Palestine, it is probably the most popular Christian shrine between Europe and India.  It is also one of the most visually stunning Christian sites in the Middle East.  In addition … [Read more...]

DAMASCUS FORTIFICATIONS

December 19, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Damascus, Syria The Fortifications of Damascus are among the oldest and most historic on the planet.  Portions of its wall as well as some of its gates date back to Roman times, and the citadel that anchors the city’s northwestern defenses was expanded by Saladin and used as his headquarters in medieval times.  The Damascus fortifications even made several appearances in the … [Read more...]

ALEPPO CITADEL

December 16, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

Aleppo, Syria The Aleppo Citadel is among the world’s oldest extent fortifications of any sort.  Archaeological evidence suggests that the site of the citadel has been in use as a fortress for well over four thousand years.  However, the Aleppo Citadel has passed through too many hands and has been rebuilt too many times to be considered the world’s oldest intact castle.  … [Read more...]

CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE OF ALEPPO

August 13, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE OF ALEPPO

Aleppo, Syria For nearly three millennia, Syria boasted the oldest community of Jews outside of Israel.  For most of this time, the center of Jewish life in Syria was city of Aleppo.  The Central Synagogue of Aleppo is one of the world’s oldest, its original foundations having been established by the Israelite General Joab during the reign of King David in the 10th century … [Read more...]

CEDAR GROVES OF LEBANON

August 12, 2014 By Howard Kramer Leave a Comment

CEDAR GROVES OF LEBANON

Becharre, Lebanon In the midst of the Holy Land’s countless venerated mountains, deserts, ruins and tombs, it is perhaps fair that there are at least a few sacred places that celebrate life.  If there is any such place representative of the early kingdoms period, it is the fabled Cedar Groves of Lebanon.  The cedar trees of Lebanon are mentioned many times in the Bible, most … [Read more...]

MOUNT NEBO

August 8, 2014 By Howard Kramer 2 Comments

MOUNT NEBO

Madaba, Jordan Moses, the great leader and prophet of the Israelites, ended his illustrious career on the top of Mount Nebo, a stone’s throw away from the Promised Land.  According to the Bible, it is also the last place he was ever seen, for he ascended directly to Heaven, one of the only Biblical figures to be so honored.  Despite the fact that the site is considered to be … [Read more...]

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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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