A pilgrimage is the spiritual journey made to a sacred place in order to show religious devotion and is an aspect of every major religion. In the three Abrahamic faiths, Islam, Judaism and Christianity, pilgrimage possesses a similar interpretation that is distinct from other religions. While similar in pilgrimage sites, the three religions vary in their pilgrimage purpose and practices. The five pillars of Islam are five essential acts that every able Muslim must perform; the fifth is the Hajj, the journey to Mecca that must be accomplished once in a lifetime. The three Judaic festivals, Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot required male Jews to travel to Solomon’s Temple at least once per festival, although this is no longer expected as the temple
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Despite this, pilgrimage is a prevalent part of Christianity which grew significantly after the Crusade for Jerusalem. Christians repeatedly fought with Muslims over control of Jerusalem in order to enable Christians to pay homage at the death place of Jesus. Originally, Christian pilgrims limited their journeys to locations associated with the birth, life and death of Jesus, though this slowly expanded throughout the Middle Ages to encompass all of the Holy Land, which maintains a similar importance to the followers of Islam and Judaism. As the years went past and it became safer to travel to the Holy Land, secular importance began being placed on pilgrimage for Christians, along with members of the clergy encouraging the idea that showing interest in visiting sacred places is among the purest ways to display faith. In modern times, due to pilgrimage being a human construct in Christianity rather than a divine imperative, venues of Christian pilgrimage are of a significantly higher variety that the other Abrahamic religions. Locations associated with apostles, saints, apparitions and martyrs are commonly visited by practitioners of Christianity. Cities and cathedrals which hold special significance in Christian history are also journeyed to. Christianity does not have dedicated or predesigned rituals for one to perform on pilgrimage, thus prayer is generally the only activity performed at pilgrimage
Despite this, pilgrimage is a prevalent part of Christianity which grew significantly after the Crusade for Jerusalem. Christians repeatedly fought with Muslims over control of Jerusalem in order to enable Christians to pay homage at the death place of Jesus. Originally, Christian pilgrims limited their journeys to locations associated with the birth, life and death of Jesus, though this slowly expanded throughout the Middle Ages to encompass all of the Holy Land, which maintains a similar importance to the followers of Islam and Judaism. As the years went past and it became safer to travel to the Holy Land, secular importance began being placed on pilgrimage for Christians, along with members of the clergy encouraging the idea that showing interest in visiting sacred places is among the purest ways to display faith. In modern times, due to pilgrimage being a human construct in Christianity rather than a divine imperative, venues of Christian pilgrimage are of a significantly higher variety that the other Abrahamic religions. Locations associated with apostles, saints, apparitions and martyrs are commonly visited by practitioners of Christianity. Cities and cathedrals which hold special significance in Christian history are also journeyed to. Christianity does not have dedicated or predesigned rituals for one to perform on pilgrimage, thus prayer is generally the only activity performed at pilgrimage