The Village of Emmaus: A Spiritual Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Emmaus

(The Gospel of St. Luke relates the story of the risen Christ who appeared before the eyes of two of His disciples, one called Cleophas, on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus; they were walking together and sharing their heart's concern over the recent events in Jerusalem. "Jesus himself came up and walked with, but something kept them from seeing who it was." The risen Christ then explains to them the scriptures; "Was not the Messiah not bound to suffer before entering His glory?" The climax of this enlightening revelation enfolded, when "He took bread and said the blessing; He broke the bread and offered it to them." At that very instant, the eyes of the two disciples were opened and they recognized him as the risen Christ. After that enlightening experience they hurried back to Jerusalem, "they gave their account of the events of their journey and how He had been recognized by them in the breaking of the bread."
(The Gospel of Luke 24: 13-35)

This miraculous scene stimulates many thoughts. Christ, having suffered according to the prophecies, enters into His glory, which was ordained. The 'breaking of the bread' is the means by which the risen Christ makes His presence known to two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus. The summary of the Gospel is that Christ was destined to suffer and rise again, and that, in consequences of this, repentance and forgiveness of sins are to be proclaimed universally.

THE VILLAGE OF EMMAUS
Where was this village of Emmaus, the Emmaus of St. Luke? As in the case, so often in history, small towns disappear from the chronicles of man. One has to rely on the written documents available and archaeological evidence to determine the location of varied sites mentioned in the Bible. There have been controversies as to the exact location of the village of Emmaus, as mention in the gospel of St. Luke, but through careful investigations the site was confirmed to be at it's present location.