{"id":1670,"date":"2026-11-02T17:15:23","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T16:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peregrinus.hu\/bucsuk-es-unnepek-szekelyfoldon-egyhazi-ev-naptara\/"},"modified":"2026-11-02T17:15:23","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T16:15:23","slug":"bucsuk-es-unnepek-szekelyfoldon-egyhazi-ev-naptara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peregrinus.hu\/en\/bucsuk-es-unnepek-szekelyfoldon-egyhazi-ev-naptara\/","title":{"rendered":"Pilgrimages and feasts in Szeklerland \u2013 A church year calendar"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In Sz\u00e9kely Land the church year does not take place only within church walls: pilgrimage feasts, processions and pilgrimages link the villages, shrines and mountain chapels. We have gathered the region's most important religious feasts \u2013 from Catholic pilgrimage feasts to Protestant days of remembrance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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January 13 \u2013 Day of Religious Freedom<\/p>

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The 1568 Tordai National Assembly declared the freedom of preaching, which is considered one of the first religious freedom laws in Europe. In memory of this event, the Hungarian National Assembly declared January 13, 2018, as the Day of Religious Freedom in 2018. The Unitarian Church, whose foundation is tied to this year, especially celebrates this day.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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April 24 \u2013 Saint George, Esztelnek<\/p>

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The pilgrimage feast of the Franciscan church of Esztelnek is held on St George's Day \u2013 the church was built on the site of the old St George Chapel, using its elements.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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The Saturday before Pentecost \u2013 the Cs\u00edksomly\u00f3 pilgrimage<\/p>

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The most populous pilgrimage of the Hungarians takes place on Pentecost Saturday, with the festive mass held at the Small and Nagysomly\u00f3 Middle Narthex, at the altar designed by Makovecz Imre in H\u00e1rmashalom. The blessing of the shrine was granted by Pope John IV in 1444, and the first authentic record of the blessing of Pentecost dates from 1722. The origin story associated with the 1567 battle of To\u013evasov-Tet\u0151rt is from the 18th century, and therefore is considered a legend by researchers. The blessing was declared a hungarikum in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Lord's Day \u2013 processions in the villages<\/p>

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The Lord's Day (the Feast of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ) is celebrated on Thursday after the Sunday of the Holy Trinity; the feast was ordered by Pope IV Urban in 1264 for the entire Church. In Szeklerudvarhely, the consecration is held on Thursday in the main square, with the crosses of the four cardinal directions and the churches of the surrounding villages. Lord's Day is also celebrated in Gyimesb\u00fckk, L\u00e1z\u00e1rfalva, at the chapel in Csicszentm\u00e1rton and in Nagyk\u00e1szon-Impe.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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June 27 \u2013 St. Ladislaus Day<\/p>

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On the feast of the knight-king, a pilgrimage feast is held in Cs\u00edkszentsimon every year, and an annual pilgrimage is also led to the St Ladislaus Chapel on Pog\u00e1nyhavas, on the ridge separating Cs\u00edk and Gyimes. More on the cult of St Ladislaus Faith Set in Stone<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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July 2 \u2013 Holy Mary of Sorrows<\/p>

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This is the titular feast of the Cs\u00edksomly\u00f3 pilgrimage church and also the shrine's original pilgrimage day. On the same day, pilgrimage feasts are also held in Cs\u00edkszentgy\u00f6rgy (Kotorm\u00e1ny), at the B\u00e1ndpatak Chapel in Gyimesk\u00f6z\u00e9plok, in Marosf\u0151 and at the Felszeg Chapel in Ditr\u00f3.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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26 July \u2013 St Anne's pilgrimage at Lake St Anne<\/p>

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The pilgrimage feast of the St Anne Chapel on the shore of the lake in the crater of the Csom\u00e1d Mountains is held on 26 July or the nearest weekend; the chapel is cared for by the parish of L\u00e1z\u00e1rfalva, and the ceremony includes a procession around the lake. The pilgrimage has a turbulent history: Bishop Ign\u00e1c Batthy\u00e1ny banned it in 1786, it was permitted again in 1830 and banned once more in 1844 \u2013 but since 1990 it has been held regularly again.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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August 15 \u2013 Our Lady of Gyimesb\u00fckk<\/p>

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The Great Lady Church in Kontumac, near the thousand-year-old border, is the first Catholic church in the valley, founded by the Franciscans from Cs\u00edksomly\u00f3 in 1782. In recent years it has become a popular pilgrimage site. The celebration is accompanied by a three-day preparation (triduum) and pilgrimage.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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October 31st \u2013 Reformation Day<\/p>

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The Reformed and Evangelical congregations commemorate the event of Luther\u2019s 1517 speech with a festive service on Reformation Remembrance Day. In Szeklerland \u2013 in H\u00e1romsz\u00e9k, Marossz\u00e9k and Udvarhelysz\u00e9k \u2013 this is one of the most important celebrations of the Protestant communities.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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Good to know<\/p>

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