Egeria the Pilgrim

Today is the International Day of the Woman. To mark the occasion, I’d like to highlight a woman, who, though her true identity is unknown, was one of the earliest Christian pilgrims, who traveled across Europe and the Middle East, and who, by sharing her account with other women, documented an important time in ecclesiastical and linguistic history, creating an invaluable resource for centuries to come.

Egeria is the name given to the author of a very early travel log, detailing a fourth-century pilgrimage to the Holy Land. It is written by a woman to a group of women back home. It has survived only in fragments, much of it discovered at Monte Cassino in the 11th century. The earliest fragment copy, written in a Carolingian script, is from the 9th century.

Sometimes we forget how much ancient people actually travelled. It is difficult for me to imagine a woman travelling on her own to the Holy Land in the 380s. But actually, it’s almost more difficult to believe that for centuries monks found this woman’s account to other women worthwhile enough to preserve. Because of that, it is the earliest detailed account of Christian pilgrimage.

The name Egeria comes from a Roman mythological water nymph who served an early king of Rome as consort and counselor. The name came to be used to describe a woman advisor.

It is possible that Egeria is really St. Sylvia of Aquitaine. Sylvia was born into a wealthy family in Aquitaine in the fourth century. Her brother, Rufinus, became a chief minister of the Byzantine Empire. He welded great influence in the East, so it’s possible to see how Sylvia was able—socially, physically, financially— to travel to so many holy places at that time. If Sylvia also held any political voice via her brother’s position, it’s easy to see how the name Egeria would apply to her.

In her pilgrimage, Egeria travels to Mount Sinai, Mount Nebo, the tomb of Job (in modern-day Syria), and the burial place of Haran and the city of Nahor (both in modern-day Turkey). She stays in Jerusalem for about three years, making trips to holy places around there, including the Sea of Galilee.

On her way back to Europe, she stops at the shrine of St. Thecla, a follow of Paul, in Turkey. She had a particular following from women. Egeria concludes this portion of her pilgrimage in Constantinople, though her letter mentions that she plans to go to Ephesus as well.    

In her writings, she also goes into detail about how the Church worships in Jerusalem, particularly Holy Week and Easter. The liturgical calendar was still being developed, yet Egeria gives account of observances and how they were practiced. Her records have given researchers a better understanding of the early Church, the development of the liturgical calendar and feasts, and the evolution from Latin to Proto-Romance language.

Although information is much easier to come by today, Egeria reminds us to take the trip, experience things for yourself, and document your journey. You never know who may be inspired or educated by it.