Part 4/10:
What makes this pilgrimage phenomenon particularly compelling is that it is not an isolated event but part of a broader, continent-wide pattern of renewed Christian engagement. Reports from the Holy Land, Russia, and across Western Europe reveal a significant increase in pilgrimage tourism and religious tourism. For instance, Israeli tourism statistics indicate that nearly 60% of tourists are Christians, with the Holy Land experiencing tripled numbers over the past decade. Similarly, in Russia, the veneration of relics such as those of St. Nicholas in Amyra has drawn millions—sometimes up to 2.5 million visitors—who come reverently to venerate these sacred relics, with prominent figures like President Vladimir Putin participating.