Annual Pilgrimage to Depart the 18th
The 18th of December marks the beginning of an annual pilgrimage from Sudmark to the
Ecclesiastical State. The Christian holiday of Christmas, or the Birth of Jesus of Nazareth, is not recognized as a national celebration within Sudmark as either a religious or secular holiday. Despite this the annual pilgrimage has become ingrained within communities of Christian Practitioners in Sudmark as both a spiritual and a cultural undertaking. The Pilgrimage itself can be dated back to the earliest settlements of Sudmark by Derusmian settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries in which faith is believed to have played a major role in the establishment and societies of said settlements. The new settlements, lacking the great cathedrals of the old country and often absent any major religious institution beyond a village chapel themselves, would look to the holy city of Celestis for inspiration and spiritual guidance given both to the ES closer distance and its prestigious status among the Celestian Catholic world. Thusly the faithful would band together and journey by sea from their settlements in Sudmark to the Ecclesiastical State each year nearing the 25th in celebration and piety. The earliest voyages due to limitations in nautical technology would initiate a month prior to the 25th however as developments in technological progression would reach Sudmark the time constraints for voyages would progressively lessen. Today the journey often lasts a little less than a week and can alternatively be bypassed via aviation means. The journey will be conducted via a cruise liner currently docked within Eilenburg from which it will traverse through the Sargon Bay and along the coast of South Ardia docking at the Ecclesiastical shore city of Miragliano.
The Defense Ministry has made an official announcement that this year the FNS
Höffner, a corvette class, will accompany the Pilgrimage as Escort. Though today little more thana ceremonial gesture and part of Sudmark Naval Culture, historically it was necessary for the Pilgrimage to be escorted by naval vessels to deter pirates and hostile naval vessels. These escorts were first provided by the Faithful themselves with those who held Whaling and nautical professions offering up their vessels to protect the pilgrimages. When Sudmark officially became a colony of the Derusmian Empire, colonial naval ships would take up this endeavor. Since then, it has traditionally been customary for the Sudmarker Navy to accompany the voyage for 2/3rds of its trek from which the Sudmark Navy will ceremonially pass on the pilgrimage to ES own navy “escort” which will accompany the pilgrimage for the Remainder of its trek into ES territorial waters. It is said that this year’s voyage will be seen off by Premier herself, the first such appearance from a Head of State of Sudmark since 2014 and the Long Winter.
OOC: Edited
Duke to
Premier