Pilgrimage through Erfurt

As long ago as in the early thirteenth century, pilgrims amongst many others were compelled to travel through Erfurt because of its importance as a centre of commerce, learning and religion.

"People travel to wonder at the height of mountains,
at the huge waves of the sea,
at the long courses of rivers,
at the vast compass of the ocean,
at the circular motion of the stars....
and they pass by themselves without wondering."   St Augustine (Augustine of Hippo)

According to Augustine, the founder of the order that bears his name and a church father, the restless heart was the root of the pilgrimage. He used the expression 'Pilgrim' as another way of describing the daily Christian life in the world and yet solely grounded in the Divinity.
The most famous monk to enter St Augustine's, Martin Luther, was not the only one who saw his own life's experiences in terms of pilgrimage theology.
The present day station in Martin Luther's life, St Augustine's Evangelical Monastery in Erfurt has remained true to its original customs, and still today offers suitable accommodation for people on pilgrimages.
The centre of our pilgrimage route runs through the medieval heart of Erfurt, a path packed with the evidence of history. Following on from this tradition a new “Ecumenical Pilgrimage Route” has been created. It follows the path of the ancient Via Regia, or 'Kings Highway', the long-distance trading route which runs through the federal states of Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia. This links into the Europe-wide network called Jacob's Way which leads to Santiago de Compostela.

Guides from St Augustine's will lead you through Erfurt, the city with many towers and an important centre for academic and religious life.

Let us go out and break away from everyday life.
We discuss pilgrimaging as we walk the former pilgrimage route through Erfurt. We cover the history of the pilgrimage and together look for the traces of St Jacob in the churches, monasteries and convents and learn interesting facts about the pilgrims of yesterday and today.
To test yourself - in walking and being together, in the acceptance of others and in quiet presence of God – is the aim of our pilgrimage through Erfurt.
As pilgrims, we will experience the spirit of Erfurt, as a city of Luther and a city of flowers. Nature wears different clothes for every season.

Leaving in the early morning, following the course of the Gera, letting go and listening to what happens inside us as we walk. In this way we want to take in the feeling of the moment, enjoy nature and harmonise our own lives with it.
Join in the services and prayers conducted by the sisters of the Casteller Ring Community, who live at St Augustine's and experience pilgrimaging as an inner change.
Stay at the Woadhouse, a place for contemplation with its own special identity. Find peace and quietness and enjoy the hospitality of St Augustine's.
We warmly invite you to join us on the way.
When we finish we return to everyday life enriched. These experiences give us strength for a fresh way.

These pilgrimages are intended for interested people, groups of children/young people, walking friends, guests of the City of Erfurt and of St Augustine's.

You can find further information at:
www.pilgern-in-mitteldeutschland.de