Ten Muslims and 10 Christians from within the Diocese of Leicester returned last Saturday from a pilgrimage to holy sites in Turkey.
The visit is part of an ongoing effort to build closer ties between the two faith communities and during their time in Turkey they took time to share ideas and thoughts on the significance of the holy sites they visited from their own faiths' perspective.
Stop-offs included historically important sites such as Istanbul, Ephesus, Konya, the birthplace of the Sufi saint Rumi, and Cappadokia, and the group were also given the opportunity to learn more about modern day Turkey.
The pilgrimage brought together mostly members of Muslim-Christian dialogue groups, which have been meeting at the St Philip's Church and Centre every six weeks for the last seven years.
A reporter from BBC Radio Leicester also accompanied them on their journey, which was their boldest yet. Previous journeys had only been as far afield as Bradford, Burnley and Manchester.
The trip was organised and hosted by a Muslim dialogue organisation in Turkey.
Canon Andrew Wingate, the Bishop's Inter Faith Advisor, lead the pilgrimage but expressed another reason why it was so important to be there.
"We will also wish to express our solidarity with the small Christian community, who have suffered considerably in the recent past," he said prior to the journey.
The Christian community in Turkey has been left feeling even more vulnerable after three Bible workers in a publishing house were brutally murdered.
-
Evangelical vicar accused of abuse won't stand trial
-
Christians protest LGBT nativity play where Jesus is 'King of the Gays'
-
Sarah Mullally reiterates apology as safeguarding record comes under the spotlight
-
The mystery of the Wise Men
-
The origins of ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations
-
Pro-life campaigner who silently prayed in abortion clinic buffer zone criminally charged
Most Popular
News
The first Christmas song to be sung in churches
Every Christmas, people sing the song “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night”. Unlike many other songs and carols that include elements of non-biblical tradition and myth, this song is pure Scripture. It was the first Christmas song authorised to be sung in the Church of England. This is the story …
The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914
On Christmas Eve in 1914, many men were in the trenches fighting the war, but the spirit of Christmas halted the conflict for a brief period. This is the story …
Report highlights injustices experienced by Christians in the Holy Land
Jerusalem Church leaders have released a report detailing the struggles and challenges currently faced be Christians living in the Holy Land.
Have you lost the wonder of Christmas?
For you who have been followers of Jesus Christ for a long time, maybe the pain and suffering of this world and the darkness you have had to live through this past year has gotten you down to the point of complete and utter discouragement. But all is not lost.