Green Pilgrim Cities Launch And Celebrations

Etchmiadzin was represented in this very high level meeting by His Grace Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, Dr. Karen Nazaryan and Mr. Samvel Madoyan, Municipality of Etchmiadazin. The Certificate on recognising the Armenian Orthodox Church a founder member of Green Pilgrimage Network says: “…to celebrate and honour that commitment so that together we may all walk more gently upon the Earth”.
Members under the network will share information on greening strategies — from how to receive and accommodate pilgrims, to sustainable infrastructure to support their visits, to recycling, to waste management and refuse disposal to low carbon transport and to ethical eating. The network will extend its activities to the physical and spiritual preparations for Pilgrimage, and to the nature of the journey itself.
Each city/faith group presented a 10-minute report of why their city is a pilgrim city, what environmental initiatives they are building on, what are plans to become a Green Pilgrim City and how the faith and the city will be working together to that end. A series of working sessions took place on different aspects of greening a pilgrim city, including, protecting biodiversity; sustainable food choices; greening faith buildings; and working with local government. In addition there was a workshop dedicated to Sacred Forests and the launch of the Green Guide to the Hajj.
The event closed with a formal reception and dinner.
Pilgrimage destination cities are Etchmiadzin, St.Pishoy in Egypt, Luss in Scotland, Kano in Nigeria, Louguan in China, St. Albans in England, Jerusalem, Trondheim in Norway, Haifa in Israel for the Baha’i faith, Medina, Amritsar for Sikhs, Assisi.