Pilgrimage to Gößweinstein of Rudolf Schiestl (1878–1931)

About meaning and sense

Pilgrimage or pilgrimage, referred to the walk or drive to distant holy places, often in joint processions of pilgrims, with prayer and, in the strict sense, with waiver of travel convenience. Pilgrimages were already in the Greek and Roman antiquity and the ancient Egyptians, made Persians and Indians. The nomadic origin of different peoples (z.B. Israel) was for the development of the pilgrimage being, d. h. the periodical return to certain sanctuaries, a favorable condition. Already Abraham reasoned such a pilgrimage shrine for his kin in Shechem in the “Oak of the oracle donor” ( → Gen 12, 7). Furthermore, the Bible tells us of Jacob's transition to Bethel, to worship only the one true God (→ Gen 35,7), or Isaac revelation in Beersheba, which also has the establishment of a place of worship to follow ( → Gen 26,25). And not to forget, Jacob intuition of the “Himmelsleiter” (→ Gen 28,11 ff).

Sanctuaries or sacred sites were not just built from the ground. They are found proven particularly in places, the sacred, or situated at the vicinity of a deity low, seem to be. In Genesis will total reported by the construction of seven altars. In this play as external signs of worship trees, Fountain and stones an essential role, as we later in tree, Quell- find and baetylus Christian pilgrimages. These places were a result of certain events, selected such as miracles or visionary phenomena. continue reading