Hello Victory folks back home! Another adventurous day here in Sicily with us in the pilgrimage crew! Today started with an exciting excursion up to Mount Etna of the coast of the southern region of the country. It’s the most active stratovolcano in the world, with over 2,000 years of documented activity. Luckily, we did not see any lava flow in our time on the mountain, but what we did see was beautiful. The black and sometimes red landscape of the volcano’s path elucidates alien imagery, almost like you’re on a whole different planet. The otherworldly view of the ocean and coast added to that experience as well!
Following Etna, we toured through Taormina, the town we stayed in, and its Roman ruins throughout the city. We learned about the original Greek influence of the island, which was later commandeered by the Romans who took many of the existing chapels, auditoriums, and theaters and renovated them in their times. Of course, later on after Paul’s time in Sicily, many of these places went unused due to being seen as pieces of pagan culture, but the architecture and craftsmanship is just as gorgeous today as it ever was!
To continue the Apostle Paul’s journey, we got to gaze over the portion of the coast of southern Italy that leads into the Messina strait. Meaning, we were viewing the exact route of Paul’s journey out from Sicily and into Rome! Soon we will be flying into Rome to continue where we left off today. Stay in touch with the journey as we continue to follow Paul’s footsteps, and I pray that you all can feel the peace, love, and fellowship that I do as we continue the Apostle’s journey on our spiritual pilgrimage.
