Great Žemaičių Kalvarija Festival

The Great Žemaičių Kalvarija Festival or The Great Samogitian Calvary Festival is a Roman Catholic festival dedicated to St. Mary. The festival is held annually and takes place every July in the small town of Žemaičių Kalvarija

Žemaiciu Kalvarija

Žemaičių Kalvarija is a small town in Plungė district municipality, Lithuania. It is known as a major site for Catholic pilgrimage....

in Samogitia

Samogitia

Samogitia is one of the five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. It is located in northwestern Lithuania. Its largest city is Šiauliai/Šiaulē. The region has a long and distinct cultural history, reflected in the existence of the Samogitian dialect...

, Lithuania

Lithuania

Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...

, attracting many pilgrims and tourists.

History

The Samogitian Calvary Way of the Cross was created by bishop Jurgis Tiškevičius in 1637. He replicated all Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...

precisely just as they appeared in Jerusalem. In 1937 record number of 100,000 pilgrims visited The Great Žemaičių Kalvarija Festival.

Festival

There are 21 Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross

Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...

in this town. Undertaking the stations of the cross is a very important procession for every Catholic, it should be done often or at least once in their lives. The Pope is the main guardian and supporter of this festival.

During the festival there are days dedicated to youth. Many events take place, which may serve spiritual needs of young people. There are special Masses held, dedicated to youth and children.

Pilgrims

The festival attracts many pilgrims from Samogitia

Samogitia

and Lithuania

Lithuania

, many Catholic Churches in Lithuania organize trips for people. Since 2004 there are more tourists and pilgrims coming from the EU States, especially from Poland

Poland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...

, Ireland

Ireland

Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

, Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

and Spain

Spain

Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...

Time of events

Usually festival is held on the first week of July and takes place for around 2 weeks.

In 2007 it was held from 1st to 12 July.
In 2008 it was held from 2 nd to 12 July.

2009

In 2009 Žemaičių Kalvarija Great Festival will be held from 1 st to 12 July.

Wednesdey, July 1, 2009, Wednesday. Placable Eve
- 16.00 St. Mass Panu hill. In the presence of members of the Legion of St. Mary. After St. Mass maldinga gait in Žemaičių Hill.
- 19 hrs. Vespers Basilica. Blessing will be given to children for them meldžiamasi. Eucharistinė procession.

Thursday, July 2, 2009, Thursday. Prayer for the Lithuanian countryside, farmers and temperance Day. Akmenė dean.

Friday, July 3, 2009. Prayer for the Police, the State leaders and politicians. Mažeikiai dean.

Saturday July 4, 2009. Prayers for the young families. Tauragė dean. Youth evenings. 19 hrs. St. Mass, followed by - Cross procession in the mountains.

Sunday, July 5, 2009. Greatest and most important day of Žemaičių Kalvarija Great Festival. The special prayer for the families and communities will be held. Plungė dean.

Monday, July 6, 2009. Prayer for Christian Lithuanian present and future of the day. Lithuania's millennium. Klaipėda district dean parish.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009. Prayer for people working, in Malta and other charitry orders, the medical staff and patients. Telšiai dean.

Wednesday July 8, 2009. Prayer for priests and ministrant day. Special prayers for the priests calling for the sanctity. Palangos dean.

Thursday July 9, 2009. Prayer for the Theological Seminary Day. Šilalės dean.

Friday July 10, 2009. Prayers for katechetus and educators. Šilutė dean.

Saturday July 11, 2009. Prayers for the monks. Special day to pray for people woking in agriculture. Klaipėda city deanery parishes.

Sunday July 12, 2009. Žemaičių Calvary Parish Day. Skuodas dean.

Great mellow worship each day:

- 7. 00 hours. J. E. Tent Bishop John Boruta SJ Kęstaičiuose discharge pilgrim to Žemaičių Hill
- 7. 30 hours. Liturgical hours of prime Basilica
- 8. 00 hours. St. Mass
- 10. 00 hours. St. Mass (Votyva).
- After Votyvas' will be held St. M. Litany of Mary, St. dangerous. Sacramento adoration.
- 11.30. Pink sacrament next to Holy. Sacrament
- 12. 00 hours. St. Mass (amount).
- After the figures - a solemn procession to the main road cross the mountains; at the same time - cross the path inside the Basilica.
- 19. 00 hours. St. Mass in the liturgical hours Evening
- On the final day, at 19 hours lenient. St. Mass will not be held in Basilica.

Broadcasting

12 hours. Holy masses were broadcast live:

Radio:
- On Maria's Radio:
  - 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5, 6 July and 9 July 2009.
Television:
- On Lithuanian national television - 5 July 2009.

External links

Website dedicated to the Great Žemaičių Kalvarija Festival

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.