With a Cross around the world

Arthur Blessitt has been taking his walking pilgrimage around the world since Christmas Day of 1969, by carrying a full-sized wooden Cross. So far, he had walked close to 70,000 kilometres, had passed through 54 war-zones, and had been arrested 24 times.

The nearly 80 years old Arthur started his life as the Hollywood hippies’ Baptist pastor. He left his college studies to serve as a preacher of the young, in a small coffee house in the entertainment district of California. Later on, this coffee house had been transformed into the community’s church, this was the place where he, with the help of his faithful followers, first made a life-sized Cross.

“I heard Lord’s voice. He called me and gave me the mission to carry the Cross on his behalf around the world.”

- says the pilgrim in the documentary movie on his life.

Yet, his pilgrimage did not started the way he had planned: two weeks prior to his first walking around the world journey, his right side had been partially paralyzed by stroke. “I was lying there in the hospital, waiting for a surgery and put up the question. Lord, what is your intention with all this? How can I fulfil my mission? But, first in my life I didn’t get any answer from Him. Then I understood. He had already spoken to me, now I just had to trust His words. Your will be done! I sat up, went to the toilet and poured all of the medicine down it. I put on my dress, and a few days later, on Christmas Day of 1969, miraculously I started my trip towards the Eastern shore.” – writes Blessitt in his memoir.

His first overseas pilgrimage led him to North Ireland, the country weighted by civil war that time. When crossing the frontline alone with the Cross on his shoulder, instead of the inevitable death, a huge hug was waiting for him. He was preparing his cross walking journeys for a long time, the organisation to North Korea, Iran and Iraq took him 10 years, while he spent 12 years to put together the trip to Saudi Arabia. During the coolest days of the Cold War, he was passing through the enemy lines of Afghanistan, China, South-Africa, Sudan, Israel and Lebanon, all on foot, Cross on his shoulder, just like as a routine walk.

He outlived many wonders and miracles during his 50 years of pilgrimage, which had been film documented by his wife. He has set up an online museum to show us around his journeys, as well as a You Tube channel, where he gives reports on the providence experiences during his pilgrimage.

Source: Petőfi Live

Photo source: The Official Website of Arthur Blessitt