Pilgrimage to Peace

It is a small picturesque place which is known to be one the most famous sanctuaries in the world. It is visited by more the 1.5 million Christians from all over the world. The place became a sanctuary due to the appearance of the Mother of God, that began in the second half of the XX century. This phenomenon isn’t yet accepted by the Church, but millions of believers go on visiting this place in hope for help, support and healing of illnesses.

Recently the world’s interest in pilgrimage has recommenced – people aim to reach sacred places, which are filled with mystique energy, to have a chance to solve internal contradictions, get an answer to vitally important questions and cope with living difficulties. Pilgrimage is known to be one of the perspective trends in world tourism and is called – religious tourism. There are many sacred places in the world. Medjugorje is one of the most famous among them. This is a place filled with peace and quietness, where each person feels the impact of this peacefulness which accompanies them further on throughout their lives.

How it happened?

Medjugorje was firstly mentioned as a Catholic congregation in 1599. The present day congregation was founded in 1892 and was dedicated to the patron of all pilgrims Saint Apostle Jacob Senior, a church was built here in 1897. During the First World War its foundation was damaged and the church became unsuitable for divine services. A new church was built later on and was consecrated on the 19^th of January 1969. Nowadays it is the place where thousands of pilgrims gather for a prayer. The mass takes place indoors in the winter and outdoors in the summer – on a place behind the church. In front of the church there is a monument of the Mother of God – the Queen of Peace. There are 25 cabins for confession near the church.

The first mystical appearances of Mother of God occurred in 1981. 6 children saw a woman with a baby in her hands and she showed them to come closer to her. She announced that she is the Queen of peace and further on her messages were dedicated to World peace, faith, conversion, fast and prayer. Stunned by her messages thousands of people came to Medjugorje to pray but she remained invisible for all the other believers. The visionaries admit that the Mother of God appears to them until the present day (some once a month, some once a year) to leave them her messages. These messages are recorded and translated to the most popular Worlds languages. Lately the messages are video recorded and exposed to YOUTUBE. Reasonably all these happenings had a large public reaction and the visionaries were tested many times. These tests only proved that something extraordinary was happening to those people. Medjugorje became a place where miracles happened and illnesses were healed. The priests keep record of these healings in hope that some day they will be proved and accepted by science.

Where the Gospa appeared…

A must-see for the pilgrims is mountain Podbrdo and mountain Krizevac. The first appearance is believed to have occurred on mountain Podbrdo, that is why this is the main place for the prayer. A monument of the Queen of Peace was built here in 2001. On mountain Krizevac the pilgrims put a cross for the 1900 anniversary of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion.

A festival of Youth is held in Medjugorje every year and at that time the city is filled with bright colors. Near Medjugorje there is a waterfall Kravice which is without any doubt one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Hercegovina.

Medjugorje is a unique place filled with positive energy, thoughts and peace. Here there is no criminal, violence, rudeness or negativity. It is a place where each and every person can fulfill his living energy ad find motivation for a better life.