Ancient Woman Talks About Holy Week Pilgrimage To Holy Land

I always find this manuscript of a nun from Spain around the 300's very interesting. That is Egeria appears to have been a nun, likely from the Rhone Valley or Spain, who went on a four year pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the East.



Hyperekperissou has a real nice overview at Egeria and Pilgrimage to Jerusalem
which details the surviving manuscript.


A few things strike you that I suppose might be surprising to a modern reader.


First this is a woman traveling from end of the Roman Empire to the other. Often alone I can we can presume.

Second we good a good glimpse of how well established the ancient Catholic faith was established from again one end of the empire to the other. It appears what was happening liturgy wise or doctrine wise in Jerusalem was not foreign to her though no doubt there were the usual differences that we see in liturgical style from East to West.


Note the link to the transcript does not appear to be working at his site but it is available here.


The whole manuscript is really fun to read as she talks of going to important sites in the East and in Arabia. It is striking how monk are all over the place and have such a critical role.

The role of the daily office (Liturgy of the Hours) in Jerusalem not just among the Clerics and religious but the laity is shown.


On the whole very fascinating reading and a treasure.

There is much more background on this woman here


There is a part about Catholic converts and the liturgy I will right about in my next post

Update See A Catholic Convert in the 300's (Not Your Typical RCIA Program)