Pilgrimage: Greece

Mon., May 12–Tues., May 20, 2025

Overview

Greece is considered by many to be the cradle of Western civilization, introducing ideas that would give rise to modern understandings of democracy, western philosophy, literature, history, science and more. The story of Greece also reveals much concerning the evolution of religion and spirituality over the last three millennia. Beyond ancient and modern Hellenistic tradition, Greece played a prominent role in the rise of the early Christianity and gave birth to the Greek Orthodox Church. Greece’s Modern identity is deeply connected to all of those developments, and yet those are only a part of the Grecian story.

The myth and spirit of Greece is far from a monolith, as it is also home to a unique multifaith heritage. Jewish communities have been present in Greece since the beginning of the Jewish diaspora and developed in response to their local Grecian communities, Muslim communities thrived in parts of Greece under the Ottoman Empire and Islamic influence can be seen throughout the region, and what may often be seen as a Hellenistic experience is actually the conglomerate of many localized Hellenistic practices. In short, Modern Greece is a composite of its diverse religious, national, and regional histories, and the Pilgrimage will explore the complex roots of these many histories while grappling with the way they still impact our world.

Requirements

This program is open to full-time, undergraduate students of all faith backgrounds. Students will participate in a half-unit pass/fail course that meets weekly throughout the spring semester. Through Pilgrimage: Greece, students will use historical, social, political, and spiritual insight to:

  • Understand the religious and historical significance of Greece, particularly as it relates to the development of Hellenistic, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions.
  • Consider the evolving role of religion in shaping and affecting individual and group identities and explore how geography contributed to those religious and national understandings.
  • Learn how religious social capital was leveraged in helpful and harmful ways throughout Greece’s history, and in the formation of modern Grecian identity.
  • Interrogate how Greece continues to grapple with the repercussions of 19th and 20th Century wars, and the significant demographic shifts of the Modern era – especially post the formation of the Nation-State in the early 19th
Applicants should reserve Fridays from 10:30-11:45 a.m. for the spring semester class.

Expenses

Each student will be expected to fully commit spiritually and intellectually to the pilgrimage (the course and the travel excursion) and offer an open and generous heart to the experience of their teammates. The Chaplaincy will cover all costs except passport and visa application fees (if applicable), gear for the pilgrimage, meals in the airport, and spending money.

Leaders

The pilgrimage will be co-led by Josh Jeffreys, Jewish Chaplain and Director of Religious Life, Waleed Ilyas, Muslim Chaplain, and Olivia Rosenblum, Multifaith Program Manager.