Christian pilgrimage

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Christianity.
Christian pilgrimage was first made to sites connected with the ministry of Jesus. Surviving descriptions of
Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land and Jerusalem date from the 4th century, when pilgrimage was encouraged by
church fathers like Saint Jerome and established by Helena, the mother
of Constantine the Great. Pilgrimages also began to be made to Rome
and other sites associated with the Apostles, Saints and Christian
martyrs, as well as to places where there have been apparitions of the
Virgin Mary.
In Christianity however, according to Paul, pilgrimage is not a
necessity according to an interpretation of this passage of the Bible:
1st Corinthians 9: 19 "Or do you not know that your body is the temple
of the Holy Spirit who is in you,
whom you have from God,
and you are not your
own? 20 For you were
bought at a price; therefore
glorify God in your body
and in your spirit, which are
God’s."

Major Christian pilgrimage sites

France
Basilica of St. Thérèse in Lisieux.
• The several churches and basilicas in Lourdes - associated with Marian apparitions receive over 5 million pilgrims
a year, making Lourdes the second most visited Christian pilgrimage site in Europe after Rome.
• Paris - the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, and Basilica of Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre
• Basilica of St. Thérèse (Lisieux) - in Normandie. The second pilgrimage site in France after Lourdes with over 2
million visitors per year.

Israel

The Holy Land, location of many events in the Old Testament and New Testament:
 • Bethany, site of the resurrection of Lazarus
• Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus and King David.
• Jerusalem, site of the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus.
• Mount Tabor, site of the Transfiguration
• Nazareth, hometown of Jesus
• Sea of Galilee, site of Jesus' early ministry.
• The House of Peter in Capernaum.
• The Jesus trail.
• The Via Dolorosa.
Italy
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
• Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
• Rome - on roads such as the Via Francigena. Site of the deaths of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and other early martyrs.
• Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church - the Padre Pio shrine located in San Giovanni Rotondo of southern Italy; also
Pietrelcina as the birthplace of Padre Pio
• Basilica of St. Francis - in Assisi; also church of Saint Clare
.The Vatican
Location of relics of various saints, relics of the Passion, important churches and headquarters of the Roman Catholic
Church.
Other pilgrimage sites

Canada
• Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec, associated with miraculous healings.
• Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec, in honour of Our Lady of the Cape.

Egypt
• Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai, traditional site of the Burning Bush and the reception of the Ten
Commandments has been commemorated since the time of Constantine the Great
France
• Cathedral of Chartres.
• Conques.
• Issoudun. Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur
• La Salette, Our Lady of La Salette
• Saint Catherine Labouré of Paris
• Pellevoisin. Apparition of the Virgin Mary.
• Taizé Community, modern monastery that actively encourages pilgrimages to it.
Germany
• Basilica of the Vierzehnheiligen.
• Cologne Cathedral. Relics of the Three Magi.
• Kevelaer
• Wittenberg. Church of Martin Luther and center of the Protestant
Reformation.
India
• Goa. St. Francis Xavier
• St. Thomas Mount. Place where St. Thomas was martyred.
• Vailankanni. 16th-century Marian apparition site.
Italy
• Padua, St Anthony, relics
• Sacri Monti. The Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy.
• Turin, the location for the Shroud of Turin.
Lithuania
The pilgrimage of Žemaičių Kalvarija in Lithuania is one of the most important pilgrimages for Catholics.
• Hill of Crosses, near Šiauliai,
• Žemaičių Kalvarija, Samogitia,
• Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn, Vilnius,
• Šiluva.

Philippines
• National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. One of the most venerated Marian images in Asia.
• Quiapo Church. Home to the much venerated Black Nazarene, a much venerated statue of Jesus Christ which many
people believe has miraculous attributes.
Poland
• Częstochowa. Black Madonna of Częstochowa is housed permanently in the Jasna Góra Monastery
• Kalwaria Zebrzydowska.
• Licheń Stary, Sanctuary of Our Lady of Licheń.
• Święta Lipka.
Spain
• Ávila, St Theresa of Avila, relics
• Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar in Zaragoza. It's reputed to be the first church dedicated to Mary in history.
• Caravaca de la Cruz, Region of Murcia
• Montserrat, Catalonia. The Virgin of Montserrat is housed permanently in the monastery of Santa Maria de
Montserrat.
 • Guadalupe.
UK
• Canterbury Cathedral associated with Saint Thomas Becket.
• Glastonbury, England. St Joseph of Arimathea.
• St. Andrews, Scotland. It is said that Saint Andrew was given, by God,
directions to the location of St. Andrews
• Walsingham, England. Virgin Mary apparition site.
• Holywell, Wales. St Winefride's Well it is the oldest continuously operating
pilgrimage site in Great Britain.
• St Davids, Wales. Pilgrimage site since canonisation of the saint in the twelfth century.
USA
• Carey, Ohio to the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation. Catholic pilgrims from the Middle
East journey here to mark the Feast of the Assumption.[2]
• El Santuario de Chimayo, New Mexico
Record-breaking Pilgrimages
World Youth Day is a major Catholic Pilgrimage, specifically for people aged 16–35. It is held internationally
every 2–3 years. In 2005, young Catholics visited Cologne, Germany. In 1995, the largest gathering of all time was to
World Youth Day in Manila, Philippines, where four million people from all over the world attended.
In the media both manifestations are usually referred to as 'pilgrimages', but actually in the strict meaning of the word they
are not pilgrimages as they are (each time) once-only religious gatherings for a specific purpose (funeral, religious renewal
for the youth) and not focused at a shrine based cultus-object for veneration. However, since the funeral, the proper grave
of John Paul II is actually indeed becoming a new site of pilgrimage in Rome.
FAMOUS CHURCHES OF THE SOUTH:
1. Velankanni (Tamil Nadu):
Catholic Church of Our Lady of Velankanni, believed to cure ailments.
2. Malayattoor (Kerala):
Church of St. Thomas famed for annual festival.
3. Vagomon (Kerala):
Kurisumala Ashram, Christian centre
OTHER CHURCHES:

Goa
○ Ruins Of St. Augustine's Tower Se Cathedral
○ The Chapel Of Our Lady Of The Mount
○ The Chapel Of St. Catherine
○ The Church And Convent Of St. Monica
○ The Church Of Our Lady Of The Rosary
○ The Church Of St. Cajetan
○ The Church Of St. Francis Of Assisi
○ The Church Of St. Francis Xavier
○ The Church Of The Carmelites
 ○ The Convent And Church Of St John Of God
○ The Convent And The Church Of The Cross Of Miracles
○ The Royal Chapel Of St. Anthony
Himachal Pradesh
○ Christ Church and St Michael's Cathedral
○ The Catholic Church of St. Francis
○ St. John's Church-In-Wilderness
○ The Christ Church
Kerala
○ Valiya Palli Church
○ Santa Cruz Basicillica
○ St. Francis Church.
Tamil Nadu
○ Christ The King Church
○ Kandal Cross Shrine
○ Luz Church
○ Manappad Church
○ Santhome Cathedral Basilica
○ St. Andrew's Church
○ St. Mary's Church In The Fort
○ St. Thomas Mount Goa Churches

Goa

Goa on India's west coast was once a Portuguese enclave. The legacy of Christianity and of the Gothic architectural style
popular in Portugal during previous centuries can still be seen in the churches of Goa today. Many of the significant churches can be
seen in Old Goa and in Panaji, the capital of Goa. Some of the churches of interest are:

Old Goa:
The holy Basilica of Bom Jesus, houses the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. It is a famous pilgrimage center among Roman
Catholics. Other well-known churches are the Convent and Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Church of St. Cajetan, Church of St.
Augustine Ruins, Church and Convent of St. Monica, Church of Our Lady of Rosary, Chapel of St. Anthony and Chapel of St.
Catherine.

Panaji:
The capital of Goa is a heritage location with many renowned Churches and buildings constructed in Gothic style, situated on the left
bank of the Mandovi River. The church dedicated to our Lady of Immaculate Conception, the Chapel of St. Sebastian and the statue of
Abbe Faria is must-see stops on the itinerary of any religious travelist.

Velankanni
Place: Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu
Significance: Shrine of Virgin Mary
Best time to visit: August to September
 Velankanni is located 12 km south of Nagapattinam on the Coromandel Coast, in Tamil Nadu. The shrine here is dedicated to
Our Lady of Health, the Madonna of Velankanni and is popularly known as 'Sacred Arogya Matha Church'. Virgin Mary is believed to
have miraculous healing powers. Thousands of pilgrims belonging to various castes and communities flock daily to this 'Lourdes of the
East'. The church has an imposing facade with tall spires and the wings present the shape of a cross. In a niche in the alter is
enshrined the statue of Our Lady of Health.

In 1560, Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to a shepherd, asking him for milk to quench the thirst of baby Jesus. When the
shepherd returned to his master, after performing the good deed, his pitcher kept filling up with milk. Consequently, a small thatched
chapel was built at the site. At the end of the 16th century, Virgin Mary appeared again in front of a lame boy, who regained the use of
his limbs. The actual church was constructed after the incident.

The tradition is to offer Our Lady of Health, a candle in the shape of the respective ailment- a heart in case of cardiac complications, a
liver in case of jaundice, and lungs in case of tuberculosis and so on. In case of the ailment getting cured, many bring with them small
gold and silver replicas of parts of the body that has been cured to donate to the church.
Some times offering are sent in sealed bottles or big hollow bamboos duly closed and thrown in to the sea with the address of the
shrine written on them. Such offerings are believed to reach the holy spot. There is a small church museum which has a display of the
offerings made by those whose prayers were conceded.

A festival is celebrated for ten days from August 28 to September 10 every year and pilgrims from all over the country and even
abroad flock to the site, bathe religiously in the sea, have their heads shaved and then walk on their knees or roll up to the shrine as
rituals.