Articles & Stories
Pilgrimages, sacred places, Christian festivals, religious orders — written for the curious traveller and the committed pilgrim.
25 articles
Christian Pilgrimages
11 articlesSantiago de Compostela: The Way, the Cathedral, and the Journey
For over a thousand years, pilgrims have walked to the tomb of the Apostle James in northwestern Spain. A guide to the Camino and the Cathedral.
Bethlehem: The Birthplace of Jesus
To stand in the Church of the Nativity — the oldest continuously operating church in the world — is to touch the origin point of the Christian faith.
Our Lady of Fatima: The Apparitions and the Shrine in Portugal
In 1917, the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in central Portugal with messages that have resonated through a century of Church history.
The Holy Land: The Franciscan Way
For nearly eight centuries, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land has maintained a continuous Christian presence at the sacred sites of the Gospels.
The Last Supper and Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday marks the institution of the Eucharist, the washing of feet, and the beginning of the Passion. A guide to the feast and the Upper Room.
St Anthony of Padua: The Wonder Worker and His Basilica
St Anthony of Padua — Franciscan friar, brilliant preacher, patron of lost things — is among the most widely invoked saints. His basilica in Padua is one of the great pilgrimage destinations of Italy.
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome
One of the four great papal basilicas of Rome, standing over the tomb of the Apostle Paul — quieter than St Peter's, and in many ways more affecting.
Florence: The City of Art, Faith and the Renaissance
Florence's greatest art was made for churches, by believers, as acts of prayer — and to visit it as a pilgrim rather than a tourist transforms the experience entirely.
Christian Pilgrimage: Inside the Vatican with Ashley and John Noronha
Ashley and John Noronha are professors at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome and Vatican insiders. Pilgrim Stays sat down with them to explore Rome, the Vatican, faith, and sacred travel.
Italian Cuisine: A ringside view from Rome
Italian Cuisine: The 8th Pilgrim Stays Webinar You can view the video here: This is the slideshow presented at the event: Professors at the Santa Croce University in Rome and noted media...
Our Lady of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes, France Up until 1858, the French town of Lourdes situated at the foothill of the Pyrenees mountain range bordering Spain, was a quiet and modest place, home to some 4000 odd...
Christian Festivals
5 articlesPalm Sunday: The Entry into Jerusalem
Palm Sunday opens Holy Week with one of the most dramatic liturgical reversals in the Christian year — a triumphal entry that turns toward the Passion.
Easter Sunday: Beyond the Bunnies, Eggs and Lilies
Easter Sunday is the most important feast in the Christian calendar — the day on which Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Monthi Fest: The Feast of the Nativity of Mary in the Konkani Catholic Tradition
Monthi Fest — the Konkani name for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady — is the single most important celebration in the Goan and Mangalorean Catholic calendar.
Ash Wednesday: The Lenten Season begins
Ash Wednesday: All you need to know about the first day of Lent Originally observed for 36 days, the period of Lent was extended to 40 to be in imitation of the fast by Jesus in the desert. This was...
Why is it called Good Friday
Why is it called Good Friday when Jesus died on this day? The meaning of Good, though obsolete now, meant holy and pious. It was used in that sense to describe the passion of Jesus, as he underwent...
Religious Orders
2 articlesThe Vincentian Congregation: The Name Behind Potta Retreat
The Divine Retreat Centre at Potta is run by the Vincentians — followers of St Vincent de Paul. Understanding their charism unlocks why Potta draws hundreds of thousands each year.
The Jesuits: Society of Jesus
Early history of the Jesuits Many a time, a seemingly commonplace incident sets in motion a chain of events that lead to far reaching changes which impact the world. In this case, it was a cannonball...
Christianity
5 articlesChristianity: Facts, History and Essentials
Key facts about Christianity — the world's largest religion, its history, denominations, scriptures, sacred places, and global presence.
Christianity in Goa: Basilicas, Saints and the Portuguese Legacy
Goa's Christian heritage — Baroque basilicas, Jesuit missionaries, the cult of St Francis Xavier — is one of the most remarkable in Asia.
The Church in Mumbai: Catholic Life in India's Greatest City
Mumbai's Catholic community — East Indians, Goans, Mangaloreans, Keralites — represents one of the most diverse and historically deep Christian cultures in Asia.
Christian Art with Patrick van der Vorst
Christian Art: The 9th Pilgrim Stays Webinar You can view the video here: This is the slideshow presented at the event: The history of western art and Christianity have been intertwined almost since...
Church Music: Sacred Music for Christian Worship
Church Music: A talk on the history of Sacred Music by Michael Peria We are glad to announce the 7th Pilgrim Stays Facebook Live on Sacred Music in the Catholic Church was conducted on Saturday, 7th...
Company Updates
2 articlesIntroducing Pilgrim Stays
Hi everyone and welcome to Pilgrim Stays! Pilgrim Stays is a new initiative in Christian travel by Tripvillas and ATC Publishers. While both Tripvillas and ATC Publishers have distinguished...
Pilgrim Stays launched in Bangalore
Pilgrim Stays Launch: A new company with its website targeting Christian Travel was launched in Bangalore on the 16th of February 2020. The website was launched by His Eminence Oswald Cardinal...