From virtual pilgrimages to walking the Hildegardweg in Germany — exploring the land and legacy of Saint Hildegard von Bingen.
Walking in the Footsteps of Saint Hildegard — September 2026
Our guided 10-day pilgrimage through the Rhineland returns in September 2026, centered on Hildegard’s Feast Day on September 17. Walk forest paths, visit medieval villages and monastery ruins, attend evening concerts and workshops, and gather at the Abbey in Eibingen for the capstone celebration. Led by filmmaker-pilgrim Michael M. Conti and Heather Boyle.
The Hildegard Way
The Hildegard Way was an inspiration from Dr. Annette Esser, founder of the Scivias Institute for Art and Spirituality in Germany. The official pilgrimage route — Hildegardweg — was established with EU support in 2013 and runs 140 km through the Nahe River region of the Rhineland, from Idar-Oberstein to the Abbey of Saint Hildegard in Eibingen.
Our Presenters and Collaborators
Over the years, our programs have brought together theologians, musicians, scholars, and spiritual leaders whose lives and work have been shaped by Hildegard’s legacy. The following individuals have contributed to our pilgrimages, films, and virtual programs.
Dr. Annette Esser — Scivias Institute for Art and Spirituality
Under the leadership of Dr. Annette Esser, the Scivias Institute is an ecumenical community of leaders and learners located in Bingen, Germany — a registered non-profit organization engaged in theological, artistic, and inter-religious dialogue. Dr. Esser is the theologian behind Hildegard Speaks and Hildegard spricht, the documentary films co-created with Michael M. Conti and filmed on the Hildegardweg in 2019.
There is a pilgrimage saying — the path itself is the goal. Some find that the goal of a pilgrimage is to touch a saint’s grave. Whatever works for you, just be in grace, and celebrate your journey.
Dr. Annette Esser
Dr. Beverly Mayne Kienzle — Retired Harvard Professor, Medievalist
Dr. Beverly Kienzle’s translation of Hildegard’s Homilies on the Gospels — the first English translation from Latin — represents a landmark contribution to Hildegard scholarship. Hildegard was the only medieval woman to systematically interpret the Gospels, achieving a rich and coherent presentation of Christian theology from creation to the afterlife.
Viriditas — greenness, a unifying capacity of nature — lies at the core of Hildegard’s natural science, medicine, cosmology, and theology. Her belief in the interconnectedness of all living beings influences the international movements for integrative medicine and environmental protection.
Dr. Beverly Mayne Kienzle
Rev. Dr. Shanon Sterringer — Hildegard Haus
Rev. Dr. Shanon Sterringer is a theologian and ordained priest (ARCWP) with over two decades of pastoral experience and a strong commitment to holistic health and spirituality. The Hildegard Haus in Fairport Harbor, Ohio is the home of The Community of St. Hildegard — an inclusive Christian community where all are welcome to fully participate in the sacramental celebrations.
Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox
Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox is a theologian, author, and recipient of the Abbey Courage of Conscience Peace Award — whose other recipients include the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Ernesto Cardenal, and Rosa Parks. His extensive body of work on Hildegard includes Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, Hildegard’s Book of Divine Works with Letters and Songs, and Hildegard of Bingen, a Saint for Our Times: Unleashing Her Power in the 21st Century. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, the BBC, and many other publications and broadcasts worldwide.
Michael M. Conti — Pilgrim-Filmmaker
Michael M. Conti is the filmmaker-pilgrim behind the Unruly Mystic documentary series and the annual Saint Hildegard Way pilgrimage. His film The Unruly Mystic: Saint Hildegard explores why Hildegard is considered the patron saint of creativity and documents her continuing impact on theology, medicine, art, and music. He is the founder of Crazy Wisdom Films and divides his time between Boulder, Colorado and Cologne, Germany.
Historical Context — Virtual Pilgrimage 2020
In September 2020, over one hundred virtual pilgrims joined us online for the first Saint Hildegard virtual pilgrimage — a 12-day program beginning on September 6 and concluding on Hildegard’s Feast Day, September 17. Each day featured contemplative spiritual direction, videos filmed along the Hildegardweg, and short academic and theological talks on themes in Hildegard’s life. The program concluded with a special presentation by Rev. Dr. Matthew Fox.
The Hildegard of Bingen Pilgrimage Book (2022), edited by Dr. Annette Esser, grew out of this program — offering short descriptions of each of the ten stages of the trail alongside Hildegard’s theological, musical, medical, and botanical works, with biblical texts and meditative poems for reflection.