Every journey begins with the first step... On Monday, August 1, Fr. Abraham and a group of 35 pilgrims started their journey to Yerevan, Armenia. Following a long flight to Moscow, Russia, and a quicker flight to Yerevan, the pilgrims were met by their tour guide and brought to the Congress Hotel, which would serve as their home base while touring Yerevan. The first day of touring included a number of famous sites. First, they visited the Matenadaran, home of the Matenadaran Scientific Research Institute and to tens of thousands of ancient manuscripts that provide insight into Armenia's historical, scientific, literary, and artistic development over the ages. The group also learned about Saint Mesrop Mashtots and the creation of the Armenian alphabet as essential to the promotion of the understanding of Christianity for early Armenian Christians through the translation of the Bible into Armenian. Their second stop was to the Cascade and Cafesjian Museum of Arts where the group saw Krikor Khanjyan's Cascade Mural and enjoyed the gardens, fountains and sculptures that enrich the giant staircase. Following a delicious lunch the group visited the Fund for Armenian Relief Headquarters, where they learned about the organization's mission and programs that provide humanitarian aid and advance support for children, health care education, IT, and elder care. As the journey has just begun, the group looks forward to visiting the upcoming sites, continuing to learn about Armenia, and enjoying the amazing fellowship among pilgrims.