Pilgrims on their way ot Ararat (notes by Gennadiy Mokhnenko)

Dreams come true.
The idea of conquering the Biblical mount had come to “Republic z’ pilgrim” long ago but it seemed so unreal then. There were several reasons: the top is located at the territory of eastern Turkey and in accordance to it there were judicial difficulties with documents to go abroad and the prices along the trip too. Besides the Mount of 16400 ft according to the descriptions of the professionals is not of those mountains which intend to surrender so soon.

However, after definite time the former street kids could see once again that’s dreams come true. 10 teens the youngest is 13 were selected to the part of the team to go to Ararat. Ultimately, only 7 of them could have proper documents. And behold, the great day has come when having packed our backpacks being shot by journalists who showed their interest to the future ascension they jumped in the bus of the Church of Good Changes and started faraway.

7 former street kids, our driver Slava, 4 adults who were rather skilled mountaineers – ministers of the Church and a famous professional mountaineer Sergey Kaifadjan who used to climb up to Ararat twice before.
Ah, Odessa!
We had to start from the glorious Black seaport that was an adventure by itself. Late at night having arrived at Odessa we walked along the famous Primorsky Boulevard admiring prominent construction of Theatre of Opera, fountains and narrow streets with most beautiful facades. But certainly the most special impressions the kids got from Odessa sea station and a huge ferry “Southern Palmyra” that we took. After having passed the customs control successfully we joyfully loaded our bus into the ferry of the ship – giant and went upstairs along the stairway posing before cameras.
To give the mooring!
Our ferry sure enough was tried by the troop of the former street kids. All my lecture in the subject “ don’t tough that!», “ don’t go there!”, “don’t press this button!”, … alas, they couldn’t restrain their curiosity, they boys were on the ship board for the first time in their life. The captain’s team felt the presence on the board of a specialized group of passengers rater quickly. We looked especially different from impressive tourists who wee walking on the decks to the restaurants. In 10 minutes the guys already have got to know where and which hatch was, stairs to different directions and how to get to a definite place faster by stairway. And then they started playing hide –and –seek that was continuing practically without ceasing for 24 hours. They ceased only to get some food and to have some short sleep on the deck in their sleeping backs at the open air. The Black Sea in all its beauty sure enough impressed the guys very much Dolphins, multi-ft loop after the ship, waves and marvelous stars in the night sky – all these will be surely remembered forever. Having tried to restrain ardor of the boys who were running back and forth amid quite imposing passengers and having agreed with the pastor that to restrain them can be hardly possible, the management of the ferry found other approach to the children. They allowed them to have a look at the holy of holies - captain’s watch and they made the most exciting lecture for the kids.

The baseball caps of the local paper “ Priazovsky Rabochiy” in Istanbul!
Entering the Basthor strait we alongside with other passengers gazed at the fabulous views of the former Constantinople. By the end of the voyage probably all the passengers knew about the group of the former street kids from Mariupol who started to conquer Ararat. Since the pilgrims don’t suffer from the lack of communicative abilities they made many acquaintances and we were leaving the ferry hearing many regards from them.

The first day abroad is always special day for a person. And for the boys who grew up in the basements the impact is double. “ Wow”.. “ Ahh!” “ Look here”, “ Unbelievable!” –was heard from them all around.
Having parked the bus we started to the walk around night Istanbul. Saint Sophia and mosque of Omar next to her, night eastern market and of course real Turkish pita couldn’t make a huge impression on the boys.
The boys wearing the brand baseball caps of Mariupol paper felt themselves as a real team. It was interesting to meet in Istanbul Mariupol students who were on vacations in Istanbul and recognized the known paper brand.

At the end of the night rendezvous there was an extreme swimming in Marble Sea at 2 a.m. And then we took our bus again and started our way along the luxury Turkish highways. We had to drive about 1000 miles across Turkey to the foot of Ararat.

“ Short stop for swimming?”

The management of the team made a decision to make a small hook and sheering from the highway to swim in the southern coast of the Black Sea. Having bought several water-melons, and the boys realized one can 3 times reduce the price according to the eastern rules, we found ourselves on the other side of the known to pilgrims Southern Coast of Crimea.

Having a plenty of time for swimming and having tasted special set of “eastern sweets” bought by me for them we moved on trying to find the shortest way from the sea coast to the highway. But we had a great test that night. Instead of 2 hours we expected it took us the whole night to find the way. On the map we were using the highway looked rather solid but soon we found ourselves on first coat. The road was getting narrower and up to the mountains. Eventually we were on 10ft road with abrupt cliffs from both sides. I must admit I saw such things only in Hollywood movies.

With the speed 10 miles/hour with the hottest prayers and sighs at each turn on 180 degrees ( there were about a hundred of them that night) we were moving on in the clouds. This nightmare was continuing up to the dawn until we were out of gas and the engine died. On the height 7500 ft with the visibility close to zero…, with no a single settlement around and with our knees shaking with fear. “Short stop for swimming?!!” – our driver Slava uttered, with the extreme level of adrenaline in his blood.

However the salvation came much faster than we could assume. We saw a Greek man named Ahmed crossing over the pass by his lorry who gave us some gas. Alongside with him we conquered the rest of serpentine up to the first village and the gas station. Answering our question about the difference of the road on the map and the real one he said that the road had been build long ago by Russians, in Tsar times…

Here it is, gorgeous…
The last day of our trip to Ararat was also full of impressions. We were at the territory of Kurds that was demonstrated brightly by tanks, anti-aircraft guns, barricades surrounded with sucks and armed submachine gunners. The recent fight of the Kurds and the Turkish Army with 20000 lost can be felt here at each step. The number of the military bases and fortresses impresses.

On our way the boys and I were learning the history of Turkey I had downloaded from Internet in advance. Many interesting things were told us by Sergey Kaifadjan, for whom as an Armenian, endless fights of Turkey and Armenia is not only history but personal pain. In the city Erzrum where his Dad and grandfather used to live Sergey took a handful of soil…

The tension was felt everywhere within the last miles … they gazed at the bus with Ukrainian numbers, Christian cross on the bumper and Armenian – instructor. However in private talks to people there was no tension but kindliness. Sergey’s friends were waiting for us giving us food and lodging… They also prepared the necessary stuff for the ascension.
Eventually having conquered all in all about 1865 miles we saw foggy shape of our dream. 16952 ft – it’s a height of the treasured mountain… Here it is – Biblical Ararat, legendary mountain, the mountaintop full of mysteries and intrigues… .
We are here and all things are possible. Delicious dinner.. first night in beds for 5-day-trip… we start climbing up tomorrow!

As they say, to be continued… say Good Luck to us,
With pray, former street kids of Republic “ Pilgrim”.

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