Farewell to Csíksomlyo: pilgrims come to Csíksomlyo on foot, by train, on horseback or by bicycle
Pilgrims arrive at Csíksomlyo on Friday afternoon by foot, train, horse or bicycle. Romanian Sports Minister Eduard Novak, Paralympic and European world champion, set off from Bucharest on a bike, announced at MTI.
In recent days, pilgrims have started on foot from many corners of Sekelivode, but also from Hungary and Transylvania in the past few weeks, to Csíksomlyo, where the traditional Pentecostal mass is held on Saturday.
Farewell to Csíksomlyó, 2022 – Photo: Balázs Mohai, MTI / MTVA
The President of the Republic, Katalin Novak, will also take part in the largest religious and pilgrimage event in the Carpathian Basin.
Three pilgrim trains from Hungary transport the faithful to Csíksomlyo, the Blessed Virgin Mary’s pilgrim train arrived on Friday morning with 900 passengers on board. The combined train of the Csíksomlyó Express and Székely fast passed through Nagyvárad at noon with 2,500 passengers on board, where former Reformed bishop László Tőkés welcomed them and said blessing, accompanied by local Hungarians.
The train, which arrived half an hour late, was also waiting for a large crowd in Cluj-Napoca in the afternoon, and was greeted with a folk dance and musical show at the railway station, which was packed due to traffic on Friday, organized by the Hungarian Democratic Federation of Romania (RMDSZ).
Parish priest of Cluj-Napoca, Denis Sekeli, blessed the pilgrims. Those present said the Lord’s Prayer and peace be upon Mary together.
The passers-by were greeted by Chaba Marusan, the representative of the Hungarian theater in Cluj-Napoca state, then Vig Ibolya, the singer of the Hungarian Opera Cluj-Napoca, sang for them. Those who arrived by train and the locals who were waiting for them joined in singing, then Kamila Nagy Devay and her musicians who were traveling on the train also sang two songs. The pilgrims waving Hungarian flags and Székely returned to the train, which set off from Cluj-Napoca station to cheers, to a performance by the Rezeda Ensemble and the Vajdaszentivány dancers.
Romanian Sports Minister Karoly Eduard Novak also left for Sucsumlu by bike in the early afternoon Friday from his office in Bucharest.
The Paralympic gold medalist wrote on his social media page that he is making a cycling journey for the future of Romanian sport and Paralympic athletes. Also checking in from Ploiesti, Minister RMDSZ said that although the weather is not the best, he would like to do the 260 kilometers on Friday.
According to the plans, the pilgrims on horseback arriving on the Twelve Routes of Székelyföld will also arrive at the Csíksomlyó mountain pass on Friday afternoon, where they will be greeted in a ceremonial setting.
In Csíksomlyó Church, the opening Mass will be held from 6pm local time, followed by a ceremonial rosary and a night vigil.
