Assumption celebrated at churches dedicated to Virgin Mary

Ljubljana – Christians are celebrating the Feast of the Assumption on Monday, the most important and one of the oldest Church holidays dedicated to Mary, and a national holiday in Slovenia. Bishops will say Mass at the country’s main pilgrimage sites, as well as at the many churches dedicated to Virgin Mary around the country.

Catholic bishops symbolically entrusted the Slovenian nation into Mary’s hands in Brezje, the main pilgrimage site, in 1992, and the same year, 15 August became a bank holiday.

This year, the bishops will renew this bond, with Archbishop of Ljubljana Stanislav Zore saying Mass in front of the Mary Help of Christians Basilica in Brezje, north-west.

Archbishop of Maribor Alojzij Cvikl will celebrate Mass at the basilica dedicated to the Virgin Protectress on Ptujska Gora hill, another major pilgrimage site.

The Slovenian Bishops’ Conference says that the Slovenian religious tradition is deeply pervaded by the Assumption.

There are many churches dedicated to Virgin Mary, the oldest being in towns Christianity initially reached from Aquileia, present-day Italy, while the basilica in Brezje is the country’s national shrine dedicated to her.

Those not going to church but interested in literature will meanwhile have the opportunity to listen to the adaptation of French author Paul Claudel’s 1912 play The Annunciation of Mary on ARS, public broadcaster’s Radio Slovenija channel three.

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