The Untold Stories Of Women And The Churchናሙና

Egeria

Not a lot is known about Egeria (whose name, depending on who you ask, might actually be Etheria or Aetheria). Historians can only guess that she probably lived during the fourth century, perhaps in present-day Spain or southern France. No one knows about her family—who her parents were, whether she was married, or whether she had any children.

But God still used her gifts in inspiring ways. 

One of the things we do know about Egeria is that during her lifetime, she went on a years-long pilgrimage to Israel and the surrounding areas. Of course, getting there during the 4th century wasn’t as easy as boarding a plane—it required a significant amount of time and money.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and Egeria wasn’t about to keep her experiences to herself.

Egeria had a group of female friends back home—friends who weren’t able to make the journey with her. Since Egeria didn’t want them to miss out on the things she was seeing and learning, she wrote an impressively thorough letter to them all, detailing her travels to places like Mount Sinai and the tomb of Job. Through Egeria’s experiences and willingness to leave her life of comfort, her friends were afforded the opportunity to see Israel through her eyes.

Not just her friends—but us as well.

Egeria’s letter is the earliest surviving account of a Christian pilgrimage to Israel. In it, we have the opportunity to see what the early Church was like and how certain practices—like the celebrations of Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter—were taking shape around that time. Through it, we can better understand how our own traditions originated—all because Egeria decided to take a trip and write a letter.

Like Egeria, God has gifted some people with a passion for seeing the world. They love driving long distances, setting foot in new places, and meeting people from different cultures and countries. As He always does, God gives people with this passion opportunities to serve Him with it. 

If you love to travel, look for chances to use it well. Serve in areas needing disaster relief, support and be a part of global missions opportunities, or try teaching a new skill to others—whether in your hometown or halfway around the world. The important thing is this: You can serve God no matter where you go.

Pray: God, thank You for giving us opportunities to serve You no matter where we are or where we go. Open my eyes to the opportunities You’ve put in front of me in my city, my neighborhood, or in faraway places. Thank You for creating such a beautifully diverse world to explore. In Jesus’ name, amen.