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with
a conversation
EVERY Pilgrimage begins
EVERY Pilgrimage begins
with a conversation
that fit your parish’s liturgical calendar, interests, and budget.
Write to us and we’ll help you choose dates and routes
Every pilgrimage is a personal story.
– is not merely to assist in organizing a trip, but to help you undertake a true pilgrimage – one that is prayerful, meaningful, and spiritually enriching.
– drawing on years of experience and a network of trusted partners specializing in pilgrimage – is to help you organize your journey. In this sense, CROSS Pilgrimages serves more as a consultant and coordinator, guiding you step by step toward the realization of your vision.
our mission
Pilgrimage
Is an encounter
You choose the time
We prepare the way
Pilgrimage Is an encounter
You choose the time
We prepare the way
our goal
We approach each pilgrimage with respect for the unique needs, circumstances, and capacities of the participants, always remembering that this is more than tourism; it is a sacred journey — a path of encounter with God in places that have nourished the Orthodox faith for centuries.
We approach each pilgrimage with respect for the unique needs, circumstances, and capacities of the participants, always remembering that this is more than tourism; it is a sacred journey — a path of encounter with God in places that have nourished the Orthodox faith for centuries.

You choose the route and dates based on the life and rhythm of your parish or pilgrimage group. We will help shape the itinerary — discussing pace, duration, and logistics of the journey — guided by your priorities and spiritual goals, whether that includes participation in liturgical services, visits to sacred sites, monasteries and churches, encounters with local Orthodox traditions, hierarchs, clergy, and faithful, or simply time for silence, reflection, prayer, or rest.

You choose the destinations and timing that best suit your community. We are here to help bring your pilgrimage to life.
Who might find this meaningful
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Anyone seeking not just a trip, but a prayerful, meaningful, and deeply personal spiritual journey
Those looking for
a space to connect, reflect, and share — both spiritually
and personally
Those who find it difficult
to plan such a trip on their own, but want it to be organized reliably
and in a spirit
of Orthodoxy
Groups from different parishes who wish
to meet, connect,
and build relationships
Anyone interested
in creating a themed pilgrimage —
for example, “In the Steps
of St. Paul” or “The Holy Sites of Northern Greece”
Those who have long dreamed of visiting the Holy Land, Greece, Egypt,
or Mount Athos, but don’t know where to begin
Families wishing
to spend time together
in a spiritually meaningful setting
Youth groups seeking
a vibrant and inspiring way
to grow in faith and friendship
Clergy looking
to deepen their pastoral ministry by organizing
a pilgrimage for their faithful
Parishes seeking
to strengthen their community through a shared spiritual experience
Italy, France, Germany, Spain, UK, Switzerland
Western Europe
The Holy Land
Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee

Geography
of Pilgrimage

Other destinations – upon request
Balkans & Eastern Europe
Greece, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro
Egypt
Mount Sinai, Alexandria
Turkey
Constantinople, Cappadocia, Ephesus
Mount Athos (special format)
Men only. Organizing a pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain is a unique process. We have extensive experience and all the necessary resources to assist you with it.

Some examples
of possible pilgrimage programs

Greece and Greek Villages
Athens / Korinthos / Nafplio / Delphi / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Philippi / Kavala / Igoumenitsa / Corfu / Bari / Pietrapertosa (Basilicata) / Atrani (Amalfi Coast) / Specchia (Puglia) / Tropea (Calabria) / Bova (Calabria) / Otranto (Puglia) / Cefalù (Sicily) / Erice (Sicily)
Athens / Korinthos / Nafplio / Delphi / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Kavala / Tel Aviv / Caesarea / Nazareth / Bethlehem / Jerusalem / Jordan River / Galilee / Tiberias / Dead Sea / Eilat /
Greece – The Holy Land – Sinai
Egypt / Sinai
Southern Greece – Peloponnese Road Trip
Delphi / Kalavryta / Olympia / Kardamyli / Mani / Monemvasia / Sounio / Athens / Nafplio / Korinthos
Athens / Korinthos / Delphi / Kalampaka / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Philippi / Kavala / Alexandroupoli / Istanbul / Prince Islands / Istanbul City Tour
Greece and Istanbul
The Greek Islands and Northern Greece
Athens / Korinthos / Mykonos / Santorini / Crete / Patmos / Kusadasi / Ephesus /Kalampaka / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Philippi / Kavala
Panorama of Greece
Athens / Korinthos / Delphi / Arachova / Trikala / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Philippi / Kavala / Saronikos Cruise / The Temple of Apollo – Sounio
Athens / Korinthos / Olympia / Delphi / Kalampaka / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Philippi / Kavala
Greece: In the Steps of St. Paul
Greece – The Holy Land – Jordan
Athens / Korinthos / Kalampaka / Delphi / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Philippi / Kavala / Madaba / Mount Nebo / Amman / Petra / Tel Aviv / Jerusalem / Bethlehem / Nazareth / Tiberias / Galilee / Jericho / Dead Sea / Masada
Ascending Along the Steps of St. Paul Through Greece and Turkey
Athens / Korinthos / Nafplio / Delphi / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Kavala / Istanbul / Prince Islands / Troy / Canakkale / Ephesus / Izmir
Athens / Korinthos / Olympia / One-Day Cruise – Argosaronikos / Larnaca / Limassol / Paphos / Troodos Mountains / Nicosia / Tel Aviv / Jerusalem / Bethlehem / Nazareth / Tiberias / Galilee / Jericho / Dead Sea / Masada
Greece – Cyprus – Israel
Athens / Korinthos / Nafplio / Delphi / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Kavala / Tel Aviv / Caesarea / Nazareth / Bethlehem / Jerusalem / Jordan River / Galilee / Tiberias
Greece and The Holy Land
Greece, Istanbul and Cappadocia
Athens / Korinthos / Kalampaka / Delphi / Meteora / Thessaloniki / Philippi / Kavala / Alexandroupoli / Istanbul / Kayseri / Avanos / Mustafa Pasha Village / Kaymakli Underground City / Ortahisar Castle and Village
“The Pilgrimage of Igumen Daniel", 12th century
It is impossible to truly understand and visit all the holy places without a good guide and interpreter
CROSS Pilgrimages, drawing on its experience, connections, and the resources of its partners, will assist you with program development and logistics.
of your pilgrimage!
In reality,
are the organizer
you
About the Organizer
|
The founder and director of CROSS Pilgrimages is Fr. Volodymyr Telizhenko, currently serving at Holy Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Los Angeles (OCA).
Fr. Volodymyr has been involved in pilgrimage work for over 25 years. While still a theology student at the University of Thessaloniki (Greece) from 1998 to 2003, he began serving as a guide for pilgrim groups traveling throughout Greece and Mount Athos.
From 2010 to 2022, Fr. Volodymyr headed the Pilgrimage Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church — a Synodal institution coordinating all pilgrimage initiatives of the Church. During these years, he gained extensive experience and built a wide network of contacts with hierarchs, clergy, pilgrimage departments, and Orthodox tour operators around the world — from the Holy Land to Mount Athos, from Egypt to Western Europe. Through his ministry, thousands of pilgrims were able to encounter the living experience of the Church in various places.
Now, continuing his ministry in the United States, Fr. Volodymyr has founded CROSS Pilgrimages — a project offering organizational support to parishes in planning and realizing their own pilgrimage journeys according to their unique vision and needs.
Fr. Volodymyr is not a tour operator or agent. He is a consultant, an experienced senior pilgrim with many connections, ready to share his expertise with others.
Local Church Partnerships — in Greece, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Germany, and beyond — offering authentic access, spiritual depth, and pastoral context through collaboration with local clergy, monastics, and faithful.
Pilgrimage Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church — the official pilgrimage service of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (under the omophorion of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Onufriy of Kyiv), with years of collaboration across Europe and more than 30,000 Orthodox pilgrims.
Mystakidis Tours (Greece) — over 65 years of experience in pilgrimage travel and more than 120,000 Christian pilgrims served. IATA – and HATTA – member.
06
01
Final payment is due 90 days before departure (see FAQ)
You receive a confirmation packet with detailed instructions and a packing checklist
how it works
05
You do not pay anything to CROSS Pilgrimages!
We serve only as consultants, drawing on our experience and network
of trusted partners to help bring to life what has deeply inspired us for many years: a pilgrimage that is not merely a route, but a journey of the heart, rich in meaning and deeply personal.
You submit a deposit (see FAQ for details) to the account of CROSS Pilgrimages' partner responsible for implementing the program — in most cases, this is Mystakidis Tours
04
Together we refine
the itinerary and confirm pricing
03
You discuss your goals, dates, and other important details
02
Contact Fr. Volodymyr (SMS or email is easiest)
06
01
Final payment is due 90 days before departure (see FAQ)
You receive a confirmation packet with detailed instructions and a packing checklist
05
You do not pay anything to CROSS Pilgrimages!
We serve only as consultants, drawing on our experience and network of trusted partners to help bring to life what has deeply inspired us for many years: a pilgrimage that is not merely a route, but a journey of the heart, rich in meaning and deeply personal.
You submit a deposit (see FAQ for details) to the account of CROSS Pilgrimages' partner responsible for implementing the program — in most cases, this is Mystakidis Tours
04
Together we refine the itinerary and confirm pricing
03
You discuss your goals, dates, and other important details
02
Contact Fr. Volodymyr (SMS or email is easiest)
how it works
• Encounters with Orthodox hierarchs, clergy,
and elders
• Special access to Orthodox sites and clergy
• Thoughtfully selected accommodations near sacred places
• Knowledgeable guides with theological understanding
• Flawless logistics: private bus transfers, flexible accommodation options (3–5 stars), and half-board meals (breakfast and one dinner daily)
• Assistance with group flight arrangements is available — our partner, Mystakidis Tours, is an accredited IATA agent
Why ready-made programs are currently offered only in Russian

Ready-Made Programs (Exclusively for Russian speakers)

паломнические программы
для русскоязычных паломников

English-language ready-made programs are being offered separately by our colleagues
(e.g., Fr. Ilya Gotlinsky), and they
are doing excellent work
That said, individuals or small groups are welcome to join — there are no restrictions
Программа паломнических поездок на 2025–2026
Программы регулярно обновляются! Свяжитесь с нами, чтобы получить актуальную информацию.
К публикуемым здесь программам можно присоединиться как в индивидуальном порядке, так и с друзьями.

Здесь вы найдёте несколько готовых паломнических маршрутов, организованных для русскоязычных паломников паломническими службами в Европе (в первую очередь это — партнер CROSS Pilgrimages Паломнический Центр Украинской Православной Церкви).

Dates, routes, and details are set in advance
and cannot be customized
Грузия
2025: 10.07 - 18.07; 10.09 - 16.09;
29.10 - 04.11
2025: 11.09 - 18.09
Черногория с отдыхом на море
Париж – Шартр – Трир – Кёльн
2025: 30.07 - 04.08
Египет
2025: 12.11 - 19.11
2025: 13.09 - 19.09
Греция + Северная Македония
2025: 07.07 - 14.07
Остров Корфу
и отдых на море
В Италию ко дню памяти святителя Николая
2025: 17.12 - 22.12
2026: 05.01 - 12.01; 01.04 - 08.04
2025: 02.09 - 08.09; 16.10 - 23.10;
18.11 - 24.11;
Израиль
These programs serve
a different purpose — they
are designed more for individual pilgrims than for full parish groups
Израиль
2026
2025
5−12 января — Рождество в Вифлееме (700 у.е.)
1−8 апреля — ПАСХА у Гроба Господня и Благовещение в Назарете (800 у.е.)
2−8 сентября — Акционная программа (670 у.е.)
16−23 октября — Для тех, кто уже бывал: расширенная Галилея и монастыри пустыни (770 у.е.)
18−24 ноября — Праздник Архистратига Михаила в древнем монастыре Иерусалима
В Италию ко дню памяти святителя Николая
2025
17–22 декабря — Бари – Рим – Венеция (850 у.е.)
Греция + Северная Македония
2025
13–19 сентября — Салоники – Афон – Суроти – Верия – Охрид – Корфу (840 у.е.)
Остров Корфу и отдых на море
2025
7–14 июля (780 у.е.)
Грузия
2025
10−18 июля (550 у.е.)
10−16 сентября — Память святой царицы Шушаник + отдых на море (550 у.е.)
29 октября — 4 ноября — Память преподобного Гавриила (Ургебадзе) (550 у.е.)
Черногория с отдыхом на море
2025
11–18 сентября — Праздник благоверного князя Александра Невского на острове Святого Стефана (600 у.е.)
Египет
2025
12–19 ноября — С восхождением на гору Синай и отдыхом на море
Париж — Шартр — Трир — Кёльн
2025
30 июля — 4 августа — Терновый венец, Хитон Спасителя, глава святой царицы Елены, Покров Пресвятой Богородицы, мощи волхвов и другие святыни) (800 у.е.)
Грузия
2025: 10.07 - 18.07; 10.09 - 16.09;
29.10 - 04.11
2025: 11.09 - 18.09
Черногория с отдыхом на море
Париж – Шартр – Трир – Кёльн
2025: 30.07 - 04.08
Египет
2025: 12.11 - 19.11
2025: 13.09 - 19.09
Греция + Северная Македония
2025: 07.07 - 14.07
Остров Корфу
и отдых на море
В Италию ко дню памяти святителя Николая
2025: 17.12 - 22.12
2026: 05.01 - 12.01; 01.04 - 08.04
2025: 02.09 - 08.09; 16.10 - 23.10;
18.11 - 24.11;
Израиль
Why ready-made programs are currently offered only in Russian
English-language ready-made programs are being offered separately by our colleagues (e.g., Fr. Ilya Gotlinsky), and they are doing excellent work
That said, individuals or small groups are welcome to join — there are no restrictions
Dates, routes, and details are set in advance
and cannot be customized
These programs serve
a different purpose — they are designed more for individual pilgrims than for full parish groups
Свяжитесь с нами, чтобы получить более детальную информацию о программе, которая Вас заинтересовала
Не входит в стоимость:
  • авиаперелет
  • медицинская страховка
  • чаевые гиду, водителю
  • личные расходы
В большинстве программ в стоимость входит:
  • экскурсионное и транспортное сопровождение по маршруту
  • двухместное размещение в отелях (возможно одноместное размещение за дополнительную оплату)
  • завтраки и ужины
  • сопровождение профессионального русскоязычного гида по программе
Share the story of the holy places with those who are still on their way to them
Help us fill this section!
Testimonials
St. Gregory of Nyssa, “On Pilgrimages”
faq
Change of place does not effect any drawing nearer unto God, but wherever you may be, God will come to you, if the chambers of your soul be found of such a sort that He can dwell in you and walk in you
  • Our Greek partner “Mystakidis Tours” has over 65 years of experience in pilgrimage travel and has served over 120,000 Christian pilgrims.
  • CROSS Pilgrimages partners with the Pilgrimage Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (under the omophorion of His Beatitude Onufriy, Metropolitan of Kyiv), the official pilgrimage agency of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with over 15 years of experience and 30,000+ Orthodox pilgrims served across Europe.
  • Seamless logistics: private bus transfers, flexible hotel options (3–5 stars), and half-board meals  (breakfast and one dinner daily).
  • Trusted partnerships with local clergy in Greece, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, and other countries.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
650 Micheltorena St
crosspilgrimages@gmail.com
Holy Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Cathedral
CROSS Pilgrimages
© 2025 CROSS Pilgrimages — A ministry of living pilgrimage
Priest Volodymyr Telizhenko
Our whole life is a pilgrimage to Christ.
The ultimate goal of this pilgrimage is to encounter Him.
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