The Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) has made changes in the destinations for Christian pilgrims in the hold lands.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas as well as concern for the safety and welfare of Nigerian pilgrims necessitated the change from Israel and Jordan to the Biblical sites in Rome and Greece.
NCPC’s Executive Secretary, Reverend Yakubu Pam, announced this yesterday in Abuja.
Pam said although the commission had arranged for Nigerian Christian pilgrims to embark on the year’s main pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan late last year, the outbreak of the October 7, 2023 invasion of Israel and the subsequent conflicts that spread beyond the country’s borders necessitated a pause and the new decision to redirect the Christian pilgrimage to Rome (Italy) and Greece instead.
Addressing reporters in Abuja, Reverend Pam emphasised that the safety and security of Nigerian citizens has always been the prime concern of the commission.
The NCPC chairman said the Christian pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan, earlier scheduled for December 2023, was suspended due to safety concerns.
He added that it was being replaced with pilgrimage to Rome and holy sites in Greece by the end of this month.
Pam said it took years before the NCPC under his watch considered visits to remarkable Biblical sites in Jordan, a Muslim country.
The commission chairman said after a prolonged wait for the Israel/Hamas conflict to end, his teams’ previous researches on Biblical sites in Greece and Rome were properly analysed.
Pam said he had personally led teams to inspect accommodation facilities and existing biblical sites, among other tasks.
He said: “I have led NCPC teams to inspect holy sites across Greece and Rome. We have discussed extensively with government and local authorities and security. Accommodation and good hospitality is assured as the very first batch of Nigerian Christian pilgrims visit these places to connect physically with New Testament locations of the gospel and do spiritual exercises, including meditation and prayers for our dear nation.
“Also, arrangements for smooth flight, good meals and local transportation have been concluded for the 2023/2024 main pilgrimage. State governments, states’ offices of Christian pilgrims welfare boards, churches and individuals have been formally informed about the modalities and the N3 million cost that only requires some augmentation of payment previously made for the Israel/Jordan trip.
“Unknown to many, Apostles Paul and Peter, as well as the early Christians are why we have Christian sites in Rome. It was …also in Greece they founded several Christian communities in Asia Minor and Europe from the mid-40s to the mid-50s AD and began the spread of Christianity across the world,” he said.
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