By Anthony Maliki in Jerusalem, Israel
Batch nine of Nigerian Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land of Israel have rounded off their spiritual journey Thursday evening.
The pilgrims are mainly from Nasarawa State.
Pilgrims culminated their spiritual journey to the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, where pilgrims prayed.
Earlier, pilgrims Mount Zion, the Upper Room where Jesus and his disciples had the last supper, King David’s Tomb, St. Peter in Gallicantu Church, where Peter denial of Jesus, the prison where Jesus was kept and the Garden Tomb.
At the Garden Tomb, the tour guide, Liz Tingman, explained to pilgrims that it is believed to be Tomb of Jesus Christ because it is outside Jerusalem and the nearby Golgotha.
Pilgrims where given the opportunity to go into the empty empty Tomb for few seconds to pray. At the Garden Tomb, Rev. Father Joseph Gandu was given the opportunity to preach, where he urged pilgrims to forgive.
Pilgrims listen to tour guide Liz Tingman at Garden Tomb in Jerusalem
At the Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP) ceremony in Bethlehem, Batch nine spiritual leader and Bishop of Lagos Central, Methodist Church Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Dr. Samuel R. Nortey, said pilgrims who came with sincerity of purpose will have transformation and will never be the same.
The spiritual leader praised pilgrims for good conduct exhibited during the spiritual journey especially with diverse cultures and backgrounds.
He thanked staff of the Nigerian Embassy in Israel for the vigor put into the success of the Pilgrimage.
Bishop Nortey also acknowledged the work put in by staff of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), led by Mrs. Stella Agah.
A pilgrim, Mr. Anthony Tough Yongo prays at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem
Representative of Ophir Tours, the Ground Handler, Israel Goldstein appreciated the President Bola Tinubu for supporting the pilgrimage.
He noted that without President Tinubu’s support, the pilgrimage won’t have been possible.
The Executive Secretary of Nasarawa State Pilgrims Board, Hon. David Ayewa thanked the state Governor, Abdullahi Sule supporting the pilgrimage.
Speaking to reporters at the JP ceremony in Bethlehem, Mrs. Tosin Ayobami Yohanna, wife of Senator Yohanna Amos representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, urged pilgrims to return to Nigeria and let peace reign from their homes, to the churches and all over the country.
According to her, pilgrims should go home with the message of unity.
Certificates and pin-up badges were given to few pilgrims while a cake with Nigerian colours of Green, White and Green was cut and distributed to pilgrims.
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