Thousands of believers, mostly from eastern Slovakia, took part in the traditional Roma pilgrimage in Gaboltov in the Bardejov district on Sunday.
Nearly 800 pilgrims from about 30 towns will arrive on Saturday to Mátraverebély-Szentkút, for the national Roma pilgrimage, headed by Bishop János Székely, chairman of the Pastoral Committee for the Roma.
Nice headline, but reality is somewhat different: there are more than 800 Roma in most villages around this part of Hungary. So frankly, this is not a Roma pilgrimage, but a showcase.
The pilgrimage of Saintes Marie de la Mer was in full swing the last few days. But with a bittersweet aftertaste, with several Roma accusing the municipality to want to replace them with actors …
Sad.
Roma have been participating in this pilgrimage in Brezje, Slovenia for a century. Usually set a week before Mary’s Assumption day, during the festivities, they help carry the image of Mary from the church to a nearby park and back to church, a trip symbolizing the search for an abode that Mary and Josef had to do.
After two years where the feast was cancelled because of Corona, it takes place again. But the local authorities do not want to provide a place where the Roma could stay during the pilgrimage, in fact, preventing them from attending. This is bad, but in view of the general view of Roma in Slovenia, not surprising.
The pilgrimage of Saintes Marie de la Mer has started.
The pilgrimage is in full swing right now.
During the Mariazell Rroma pilgrimage, the Bishop celebrating Mass took the opportunity to defend Rroma and speak about the problems the Rroma face in Europe.
Good, and not common in the Church.
Sunday August 14th is the day of the traditional Rroma pilgrimage to Mariazell. The tradition, which had been up kept for centuries was forbidden by the Nazis and was only restarted in 1996.
A bishop will be celebrating the mass.
Another series of pictures on the pilgrimage in Saintes Marie de la Mer in Souther France.
A series of pictures of the pilgrimage in Saintes Marie de la Mer in Souther France.
This week end saw the yearly pilgrimage of Rroma from Austria and neighbouring countries to Mariazell in Austria. This pilgrimage takes place since a very long time but is less known than the one in Sainte Marie de la Mer.
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