Pilgrimage as the religious heritage (part 1)

The author considers the religious pilgrimage, which is not only the phenomenon of world religions, but also one of the most important contemporary socio-cultural factors. Despite the features and significant differences existing in the organization and implementation of pilgrimage in the world religions, one can identify explicit and implicit common generic features of this social and cultural phenomenon. One such sign is the fact that religious pilgrimage at all stages of its preparation and implementation is based on ritual practices and socio-cultural traditions, which had absorbed the experience of different nations. The main common feature of pilgrimage in the world''s religions is the obligatory participation of the religious devotees in the sacral rituals in sacred places. Also the essential common feature is that without a required ritual in the holy places the pilgrimage seems to be not implemented in the eyes of the believers. At the end of the article the author presents the notes and bibliography.