List of Christian pilgrimage sites

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of sites notable as destinations of Christian pilgrimage, sorted by region and by (modern) country.

This page has a wider view of the topic, while the "pilgrimage church" page offers, Catholic sites.

Old World[]

The Holy Land[]

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

The Holy Land, location of many events in the Old Testament and New Testament. After Jerusalem, the list is alphabetical.

  • Jerusalem, site of the Passion (The Via Dolorosa), the site of Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus (The Calvary in The Church of the Holy Sepulchre), Ein Karem in westernmost Jerusalem is the birthplace of John the Baptist, Cenacle is traditionally considered be the site of the Last Supper, Monastery of the Cross in central Jerusalem is the site of Jesus' Cross trees which the Cross made from.
  • Abu Ghosh - of one of the resting places of the Ark of the Covenant and the town identified by the Crusader as biblical Emmaus.
  • Beit Jimal Monastery - the traditional burial site of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, St Nicodemus, and - only to Christians - that of Rabban Gamliel.
  • Caesarea Maritima
  • Caesarea Philippi
  • Cana in Galilee
  • Deir Rafat Monastery - Catholic Shrine of Our Lady Queen of Palestine and of the Holy Land (Notre-Dame de Palestine) in the Elah Valley.
  • Ein Karem, the traditional birthplace of St John the Baptist, with several churches dedicated to his family, birth, and ministry.
  • Emmaus - different places identified as biblical Emmaus, where Jesus revealed himself to two disciples after his resurrection
    • Emmaus Nicopolis - the most traditional site identified as Emmaus, with ruins of Byzantine and Crusader churches and home to the Catholic community of Beatitudes.
    • see Al-Qubeiba under Palestine: the West Bank
  • Hebron, the site of Cave of the Patriarchs where the Patriarchs and Matriarchs Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Leah are believed to be buried.[1]
  • Jaffa (Joppa), the site of the house of Simon the Tanner where St Peter has risen St Tabitha from the dead and also her eventual burial site.
  • The Jesus Trail.
  • Lod (Lydda) - the traditional birth and burial site of Saint George, one of the most venerated Christian martyrs.
  • Mount Carmel, site of Elijah's famous challenge to the prophets of Baal.
  • Mount Tabor, site of the Transfiguration
  • Nain, the site of the Raising of the son of the widow of Nain, one of Jesus' miracles.
  • Nazareth, hometown of Jesus.
  • Sea of Galilee, the sites of Jesus' ministry.
  • Sepphoris, the site of the home of Anne and Joachim, parents of Virgin Mary
The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
  • Beit Sahour the site of the Adoration of the shepherds ("Shepherds' Field").
  • Bethany, site of the resurrection of Lazarus.
  • Bethlehem - the birthplace of Jesus, marked in particular by the Church of the Nativity.
  • Burqin Church. According to Christian tradition, Jesus had passed through Burqin on his way to Jerusalem from Nazareth and as he was passing by the village he heard cries for help from ten lepers who were isolated in quarantine. He encountered them and passed his hand on their faces and then they were immediately cured. Since this miracle, the church became a station for many Christian pilgrims. This is also one of the world's oldest churches.
  • Deir Hijla, or Saint Gerasimos Monastery - located on the site where Mary, Joseph and Jesus used to rest during the Flight to Egypt. Also the place of the lavra of Saint Gerasimos. Near Jericho and Qasr al-Yahud.
  • Jacob's well in Nablus.
  • Jericho - the site of the Mount of Temptation and of the Sycomore Tree of Zacchaeus.
  • Mar Saba, the most important and largest monastery in the Holy Land and the resting place of Saint Sabas which was also the monk who built this monastery.
  • Qasr al-Yahud - part of the traditional site of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist (see Al-Maghtas and Bethany Beyond the Jordan). On the west bank of the Jordan River near Jericho. Has many abandoned Christian monasteries, only the Greek Orthodox monastery of St John has reopened.
  • Al-Qubeiba ("Franciscan Emmaus") - as the Franciscan tradition sees this as the biblical Emmaus, they built a large church at the site.

Eastern Christianity[]

Sites associated with Eastern Christianity in Eastern Europe and the Near East (excluding the Holy Land proper).

Armenia[]

Sanctuary of Our Lady of La Salette
Croagh Patrick chappel, Ireland
  • Etchmiadzin Cathedral
  • Khor Virap

Artsakh (de facto)[]

  • Ghazanchetsots Cathedral[2]

Bulgaria[]

  • Rila Monastery - largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria.

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
  • Monastery of Saint Anthony, a Coptic Orthodox monastery/cathedral located in the Eastern Desert. It is a very important model for many monastics.

Georgia[]

  • Mtskheta. Svetitskhoveli Cathedral 11th century, Jvari (monastery) 6th century (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
  • David Gareja monastery complex. A rock-hewn monastery complex founded in the 6th century
  • Vardzia. A cave monastery site in southern Georgia
  • Gelati Monastery. The monastery contains the Church of the Virgin founded in 1106, and the 13th-century churches of St George and St Nicholas (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Greece[]

  • Mount Athos. Orthodox monastic centre.
  • Tinos.
  • Patmos. Traditionally the island where John the Apostle received Revelation.
  • Saint Nicholas of Spata Road to Saint Nicholas.

India[]

Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health in India is a 16th-century Marian apparition shrine.

Iran[]

  • St. Thaddeus Monastery.

Jordan[]

Al-Maghtas ruins on the eastern side of the Jordan River are the location for the Baptism of Jesus and the ministry of John the Baptist.

Alphabetically by noun, ignoring the Arabic article (al-, el-)

  • Anjara, Church - built around a cave, where by tradition Jesus, the Virgin Mary and the disciples rested during a trip between Jerusalem and Galilee.
  • Machaerus - the Herodian fortress where John the Baptist was imprisoned and beheaded.
  • Bethabara (Al-Maghtas) - the site of the baptism of Jesus, recognised by all major Christian denominations. On the east bank of the Jordan River across from Jericho. See also Bethany beyond the Jordan.
  • Mount Nebo - traditional site of the death of Moses and where he looked over to the "promised land"
  • Tell Mar Elias outside Ajloun - ruins of a large Byzantine church dedicated to the Prophet Elijah the Tishbite and located in the area of biblical Tishbe in Gilead.[dubious ]
Our Lady of Lebanon

Lebanon[]

Romania[]

  • Iași, where over 1 million pilgrims from all over Romania and neighboring Orthodox countries supposedly queue to touch the relics of Saint Paraskevi

Russia[]

  • Diveyevo Monastery, the main shrine of St. Seraphim of Sarov
  • Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, the main shrine of St. Sergius of Radonezh
  • Pokrovsky Monastery, the main shrine of St. Matrona of Moscow
  • Valaam Monastery, the main pilgrimage centre in the North-West of Russia

Serbia[]

  • near Kruševac is the most visited shrine in Serbia, dedicated to the Theotokos

Syria[]

  • Saidnaya
  • Soufanieh Marian apparition in a suburb of Damascus
  • Maaloula, one of the last three places in the world along with Al-Sarkha (Bakhah) and Jubb'adin where Western Aramaic, the dialect of Jesus Christ, is still spoken. The Convent of Saint Thecla (Maaloula) and Monastery of Mar Sarkis are notable pilgrimage sites.
  • Damascus, where Paul the Apostle saw the light and was baptized by Ananias, in the House of Ananias on Street Called Straight. Home to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, Syriac Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch, and the Melkite Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch.
  • Monastery of Saint Moses the Abyssinian, hosts precious frescoes dating to the 11th and 12th century, and recent discoveries suggest that the ruins may date back 10 000 years.
  • Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt in Homs dates back to 59 AD and contains a venerated Holy Girdle that is supposed to be a section of the belt of Virgin Mary.
  • Umayyad Mosque, formerly a church, is said to contain to this day the head of John the Baptist. In 2001, Pope John Paul II visited the mosque and became the first pope ever to set foot in a mosque.
  • Saint George's Monastery, Homs in Al-Mishtaya was established in the 5th century and its icons depict scenes from the lives of Saint George and Jesus Christ. It also displays many other ancient items like crosses, writings, books, carvings, goblets, and other tools. Saint George is a popular saint among Middle Eastern Christians, and the monastery is busiest during pilgrimages at the feast of Saint George (May 6) and the feast of the elevation of the Holy Cross on September 14.

Turkey[]

  • House of the Virgin Mary located in Ephesus. The former home of the Virgin Mary until her Assumption/Dormition is a shrine blessed and declared a place of pilgrimage for Christians by Pope John Paul II.[3]
  • Constantinople, today known as Istanbul. Former capital of the Byzantine Empire and the see of one of the five ancient Patriarchates and first among equals among the patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Hagia Sophia, former cathedral and burial place of many Ecumenical Patriarchs. The worldwide capital of the Greek Orthodox Church and home to many of the oldest churches in the world. It is home to the Church of St. George seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople leader of the Greek Orthodox Church.
  • Antioch. Considered to be "the cradle of Christianity", Antioch is an early center of Christianity and formerly the seat of the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Home to many old Christian churches.
Pilgrims on their way to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket, Canterbury Cathedral.

Ukraine[]

  • Pochayiv Lavra
  • Holy Mountains Lavra
  • Kiev Monastery of the Caves

Western Christianity[]

Sites associated with Western Christianity (Roman Catholicism, including sites now in Protestant parts of Europe).

Austria[]

  • Mariazell. Marian shrine to Austria and Hungary

Belgium[]

  • Banneux - Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1933 [1]
  • Beauraing - Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1932 [2].

Bosnia and Herzegovina[]

  • Medjugorje - Apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1981

Czech Republic[]

Finland[]

  • Kirkkokari, the only Roman Catholic pilgrimage site in Finland.

France[]

  • 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 Normandy. The second pilgrimage site in France after Lourdes, with over 2 million visitors per year.

Germany[]

Hungary[]

Ireland[]

  • Croagh Patrick mountain in County Mayo, associated with Saint Patrick and Reek Sunday
  • Glendalough, County Wicklow, associated with Saint Kevin
  • Máméan, Maumturk Mountains, County Galway, associated with Saint Patrick
  • Knock Shrine, Knock, County Mayo, site of an 1879 apparition of the Virgin Mary
  • Skellig Michael, an ancient monastic island
  • St. Patrick's Purgatory, County Donegal, another site associated with Saint Patrick

Italy[]

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
  • Vatican City - location of Saint Peter's Basilica, relics of various saints (such as John Paul II), relics of the Passion of Christ, and headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church
  • Rome - the site of the deaths of early martyrs (Colosseum), the sanctuaries of many saints, such as Ignatius of Loyola, and papal basilicas with important relics
  • Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church - the shrine of Saint Padre Pio at San Giovanni Rotondo in Apulia; also Pietrelcina as the birthplace of Padre Pio
  • Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi; also the church of Saint Clare
  • Loreto in the Marche; home of the Basilica della Santa Casa
  • Lanciano in Abruzzo - the site of the famous Eucharistic miracle
  • Venice - the shrine of Saint Mark the evangelist and patron saint of Venice
  • Padua - the sanctuary of St Anthony of Padua
  • Monte Cassino - the shrine of Saint Benedict
  • Amalfi near Naples - the sanctuary of Saint Andrew
  • Salerno in Campania - the shrine of Saint Matthew
  • Pavia near Milan - the tomb of St. Augustine of Hippo at the church of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro

Latvia[]

Lithuania[]

Netherlands[]

  • (Heilige Stede)Holy Site, Amsterdam
  • , Roermond of Limburg
  • or Lourdes Grotto, a 1:13 scale replica of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes of Massabielle, France found in the , The Hague-Scheveningen, Netherlands

Norway[]

  • Nidaros, Trondheim. Shrine of St. Olav. 4th most visited pilgrimage site in Middle Ages.

Poland[]

Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Kraków-Łagiewniki, the global center of Divine Mercy
An ancient pilgrimage road to Santiago de Compostela.

Portugal[]

  • Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima – is one of the largest Marian shrines in the world. Our Lady of Fátima is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary according to her apparitions to three shepherd children at Cova da Iria, in Fátima, on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917. Fátima, Portugal, receives about 20 million pilgrims a year.
  • Sanctuary of Christ the King – is a famous Catholic monument and shrine dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, place of many pilgrimages.
  • Church-Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – situated in Ermesinde, is an important pilgrimage destination to visit the tomb with the incorrupt body of Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart Droste zu Vischering.
  • Sanctuary of Balazar – an important pilgrimage destination since the 20th century due to the Portuguese mystic Alexandrina Maria da Costa, died 1955, who gained fame as a Saint, beatified by Pope John Paul II.
  • Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro – is an important shrine located in Braga dedicated to the cult of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope John Paul II visited this sanctuary to promote the cult through Virgin Mary by all catholic people.

Spain[]

Romania[]

  • Miercurea Ciuc, Transylvania. Whit Sunday gathering of (mostly ethnic Hungarian) Catholics.

Slovakia[]

Greek Catholic[]
  • Shrine of Our Lady of Litmanová, a Marian apparition.
  • Basilica minor of the Dormition of the Mother of God of Ľutina, largest Greek Catholic pilgrimage in Slovakia, held every August 15
Roman Catholic[]

Switzerland[]

  • Einsiedeln

United Kingdom[]

  • Bardsey Island, Wales. Numerous relics of local saints, including Saint Cadfan
  • Church of St Peter's-on-the-Wall Bradwell-on-Sea, England. The oldest church in England (Saint Cedd)
  • Bromholm Priory, England. Claimed to possess a piece of the True Cross
  • Bury St Edmunds Abbey, England. Associated with Saint Edmund the Martyr
  • Canterbury Cathedral, England. Associated with Saint Thomas Becket
  • Glastonbury, England. Saint Joseph of Arimathea
  • Durham Cathedral, England. Contains the relics of Saint Cuthbert
  • Hailes Abbey, England. Claimed to possess a phial of the Blood of Christ
  • Iona, Scotland. Centre of Gaelic Monasticism. Associated with Saint Columba
  • Holywell, Wales. St Winefride's Well is claimed to be the oldest continuously operating pilgrimage site in Great Britain
  • Lindisfarne, England. Saint Cuthbert's remains were removed in 875, and were transferred to Durham Cathedral in 1104
  • , Peak District, England. From Ilam, Staffordshire (a place of pilgrimage since St Bertram, a Saxon saint and hermit) to St Lawrence's church in the Plague Village of Eyam, Peak District
  • St Albans Cathedral, England. Associated with the country's first martyr, Saint Alban
  • St Andrews Cathedral, Scotland. For the recently revived pilgrimage tradition here see The Way of St Andrews
  • St Andrews, Scotland. It is said that Saint Andrew was given, by God, directions to the location of St Andrews
  • St David's, Wales. Pilgrimage site since canonisation of Saint David in the 12th century
  • Struell Wells, Northern Ireland. Traditionally associated with Saint Patrick
  • Walsingham, England. Virgin Mary apparition site
  • Waltham Abbey, England. Medieval site of the Holy Cross of Waltham
  • Winchester Cathedral, England. Associated with Saint Swithun

New World[]

Pilgrimage sites in parts of the world reached by Christianity in the early modern or modern era, including the Americas Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast and East Asia.

Sub-Saharan Africa[]

Rwanda[]

Uganda[]

East and Southeast Asia[]

Japan[]

South Korea[]

  • official international pilgrimage, Seoul Martyrs Way

Indonesia[]

  • . Central Java; The first native java baptized by Rv. Van Lith, SJ

Malaysia[]

Philippines[]

  • National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help. One of the most venerated Marian images in Asia.
  • Our Lady of Manaoag is one of the Philippines' most widely visited Roman Catholic Pilgrimage sites and the patroness of the sick, the helpless and the needy.
  • Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City is the patroness of ailments, moreover, the whole Southern Luzon. It is considered to be the one of the largest Marian pilgrimages 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

Vietnam[]

Latin America[]

Brazil[]

  • Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida - one of the largest churches in the world and receives about 8 million visitors per year.

Costa Rica[]

  • Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels - the pilgrims walk from all around the country with the goal of arriving on 2 August to the Basilica in Cartago, that date is the feast day of the feast day of Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula (on which the Portiuncola Indulgence could be gained) and a national holiday due to the pilgrimage.

Mexico[]

  • Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe - one of the largest churches in the world and receives about 20 million pilgrims per year. It can accommodate 40,000 people for a mass.
  • Zapopan, Jalisco.
  • Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos, Jalisco.
  • Sanctuary of Chalma, Ocuilan, State of Mexico
  • Holy infant of Atocha, Fresnillo, Zacatecas.
  • Santa Catarina Juquila (St. Catherine), Oaxaca.
  • Cerro del cubilete, Silao, Guanajuato, Where every year receives 5 million people to see the Christ of mountain.
  • Hermosa Provincia Temple, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Main temple of the followers of religion the "La luz del mundo".

Guatemala[]

Nuestra Senora de la Merced, Antigua, Guatemala

North America[]

Canada[]

United States[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Hebron/Al-Khalil Old town (Palestine) No 1565". UNESCO.
  2. ^ "Shushi City of Artsakh attracts tourists from Armenia and Diaspora". news.am. 7 November 2014. The rebuilt Temple St. Kazanchetsots is a popular place of pilgrimage for tourists from Armenia and the Diaspora.
  3. ^ House of the Virgin Mary listing at www.Ephesus.US
  4. ^ "Notre-Dame du Sacré-Coeur". Archived from the original on 2009-02-05. Retrieved 2020-03-01.
  5. ^ "Mariapocsi-zarandokhaz.ur". Archived from the original on 2014-12-17. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  6. ^ The Aglona Catholic Basilica
  7. ^ "Kibeho". Visit Rwanda. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  8. ^ Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation official website
  9. ^ Diocese of Green Bay Archived 2012-12-13 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ "Catholic News Service". Archived from the original on 10 December 2010. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  11. ^ https://www.shrineofmariapoch.com/
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