November 9, 2025
Holy Land

Virtual Pilgrimage of lent 2025: Paul, Apostle of Hope

by Kathleen Nichols

Earlier this year, I had the immense grace of leading my seventh virtual pilgrimage with Magdala Media. I have been living in the Holy Land for almost six years and, since the pandemic of 2020, we began to produce virtual pilgrimages to bring the holy places of Salvation History to the homes of “pilgrims of heart” around the world.

This last Lenten pilgrimage, “Paul: Apostle of Hope”, was especially significant, focused on the missionary journeys of St. Paul. I consecrated my life to God on the feast of St. Paul’s Conversion 32 years ago, which made this trip have deep personal meaning.

Our small Regnum Christi team started in Magdala, opposite Duc in Altum, where Jesus invites us to “put out into the deep.” From there, we follow Paul’s paths through Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, and Malta, concluding at the place of his martyrdom and burial in Rome. Accompanied by cameraman Felipe Arcila and chaplain Fr. Rodrigo Serrano LC, we all experienced, first-hand, the vast distances that Paul traveled after being sent to preach to the Gentiles by the Christian community of Antioch in Syria. We explored their motivations, beginning at the site of St. Stephen’s martyrdom in Jerusalem, and we were at the sites where Paul suffered and was imprisoned: Paphos, Antioch, Lystra, Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, Ephesus, Caesarea Maritima, and Rome.

We filmed where Paul preached and met friends who supported his mission. We visited the hometown of St. Barnabas in Salamis, Cyprus, and the baptism site of St. Lydia near Philippi. We walked through the streets of Tarsus and looked out over the waters of ancient Troas toward Europe, almost hearing the voice of the Macedonian calling Paul, “Come and help us.” We toured Greek cities, walked along stretches of the ancient Via Egnatia , and visited the port of Crete, where Paul’s ship made its last stop before its shipwreck, the site of which we later explored in Malta.

We also spoke with archaeologists who gave us access to sites not yet seen by pilgrims, including early Christian churches in Antioch, excavations in ancient Lystra, and new excavations at the Three Taverns along the Appian Way.

Our five-week filming trip resulted in a series of 39 videos for Lent, bringing the Holy Land and St. Paul’s journeys into the homes of virtual pilgrims. The Jubilee Year 2025, entitled “Pilgrims of Hope”, provided the perfect theme, especially as we are in the Holy Land immersed in the current conflict, making this virtual pilgrimage especially motivating. In this context, St. Paul stands as a profound example and inspiration of hope for all Christians despite difficult circumstances.

We follow the Acts of the Apostles from chapter 7 to the end and explore key passages in the letters of St. Paul. We also filmed at the sites of the seven churches of Revelation, places shaped by Paul’s teachings that likely circulated through the region. Despite a snowstorm in Turkey and Greece, and stormy days in Malta (fitting for the episode of Paul’s shipwreck!!), I remain deeply grateful for the privilege of filming Paul’s pilgrimage : Apostle of Hope. A priest and teacher friend who joined us in Pozzuoli, where Paul arrived in Italy, was amazed that our route followed one that most Scripture scholars only dream of experiencing.

Personally, I have come to appreciate Paul more deeply: he is, in many ways, like each of us, who are called to share the Good News of Christ. Like us, he followed the doors God opened along the way, was accompanied by faithful friends, met others called to walk alongside him, and received support, both spiritual and financial, from generous souls moved by his witness. As I return to the Acts of the Apostles, I am comforted to see how Paul grew in grace and friendship with the Lord. Beyond his tenacity, I am inspired by the hope that impelled him: the truth of the Resurrection of Jesus. Christ lives and wants to transform us with his grace! This pilgrimage also helped me to better understand Paul’s letters and to live the Scriptures more deeply.

If you want to discover the places Paul traveled during his missionary journeys, you can watch the pilgrimage series on social media. I pray that our work will offer you and many others not only a journey through biblical and historical landscapes, but a true spiritual map of hope.

You can follow the pilgrimage at:

https://www.magdala.org/pilgrimage/pilgrimage-of-paul-apostle-of-hope

If you want to have access to other virtual pilgrimages in the Holy Land, follow the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@magdalaenglish/playlists