The pilgrim trains started their way to Csíksomlyó

Budapest, May 13 (MTI) – On Friday early in the morning, from the Keleti railway station the Csíksomlyó Express and the Székely Express began their journey to the pilgrimage of Csíksomlyó.

This year for the 9^th time the Kárpáteurópa Utazási Iroda (Carpathean Europe Travel Agency) organized the 4-day (May 12-15) long programmes. The main events were the Mary Day in Csíksomlyó, the Pentecost pilgrimage and the pilgrimage to Gyimes, to the thousand years old border of the historical Hungary and the programmes ended with the outdoor concert of Csík zenekar in Madéfalva.

The Csíksomlyó Express started out at midnight in Szombathely then in Budapest it was joined by Székely Express. The two trains left Budapest to Transylvania as one united train consisting of 16 carriages. The train thus became almost 0.5 km long with about 1200 pilgrims on board.

The other, the Boldogasszony pilgrim train had already started its way to Transylvania on Thursday morning from the Nyugati railway station.

The patron and spiritual leader of the pilgrimage was Csaba Böjte, Franciscan monk who awaited the guests in Madéfalva.

According to legends, the very first pilgrimage to Csíksomlyó was held in 1567, when János Zsigmond, lord of Transylvania wanted to force – by weapons – the Catholic Székelys to convert to the Unitarian religion.

The people of Csík, Gyergyó and Kászon gathered together in Csíksomlyó on the day of Pentecost and asked for the help of the Virgin Mary, after which they defeated the lord’s army in the Tolvajos Pass of Hargita.

Then, after the victory in Csíksomlyó the people gave thanks and made a resolution to carry out the pilgrimage on the Saturday of Pentecost in every following year.

According to zarandokvonat.hu, on the first day after being blessed the pilgrims travelled to Gyergyószentmiklós where they were greeted and then occupied their accommodation.

The second day was spent by travelling to the Valley of Gyimesek and to the thousand years old border to visit the rail guard house #30 and the ruins of the Rákóczi castle.

On the third day is held the Pentecost pilgrimage of Csíksomlyó, when the people gather together at the ancient shrine of Mary to fulfil their ancestors’ resolution. Also, in Csíkszereda they visited the Pilgrimage church to see the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The fourth and last day of the event was spent in Gyergyószentmiklós where the Pentecost outdoor Holy Mass was given.

Photos: MTI