Tens of thousands of believers made their way on Saturday to the shrine built in the pass between the Kis and Nagysomlyó mountains to participate in the Pentecost Pilgrimage of Csíksomlyó/Sumuleu Ciuc.
The centuries-old tradition, which has become a significant religious and national holiday for many Hungarians, usually brings more than half a million pilgrims each year from Transylvania and around the world. Last year, however, only a private mass was allowed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As the country has slowly eased the restrictions imposed to stop the deadly virus, believers were able to gather at the shrine for this year’s Pentecost Mass, which is a huge step toward normalcy. Many pilgrims arrived in traditional clothes, some on horseback, and some walked long distances to once again feel the sunshine and wind on their foreheads and listen to the open-air Mass celebrated this year by József Salamon, a Catholic priest from Gyimesbükk/Ghimeș-Făget. In 2019, Pope Francis celebrated the Pentecost Mass in front of hundred thousand people.
Hungarians gathering at the shrine for sacred recharge once again demonstrated that it is possible to respect the rules and stay safe even in the shadow of COVID-19. Check out our photo coverage of the biggest Catholic celebration in Central and Eastern Europe through the lens of our photographer Vajk István Szigeti.
Csángó people walking to the Virgin Mary (The Csíksomlyó/Șumuleu Ciuc pilgrimage, Hargita/Harghita County, Gyimesfelsőlok/Lunca de Sus 2021), TransylvaniaNOW, István Vajk SzigetiCsángó people cross the mountains by foot (The Csíksomlyó pilgrimage, Hargita/Harghita County, Gyimes Mountains 2021), TransylvaniaNOW, István Vajk SzigetiGyimesfelsőlok village and pilgrims (The Csíksomlyó pilgrimage, Hargita/Harghita County, Gyimesfelsőlok/Lunca de Sus 2021), TransylvaniaNOW, István Vajk SzigetiA group of Catholics starting the pilgrimage (The Csíksomlyó pilgrimage, Hargita/Harghita County, Csíkszentmiklós/Nicolești 2021), TransylvaniaNOW, István Vajk SzigetiA little break time en route to the Virgin Mary (The Csíksomlyó pilgrimage, Harghita County, Csíkborzsova/Bârzava 2021), TransylvaniaNOW, István Vajk SzigetiPilgrims walk toward the shrine (The Csíksomlyó pilgrimage, Hargita/Harghita County, Csíksomlyó/Șumuleu Ciuc 2021), TransylvaniaNOW, István Vajk SzigetiCatholic pilgrims populate the shrine in front of the Hármashalom altar. (The Csíksomlyó pilgrimage, Hargita/Harghita County, Csíksomlyó/Șumuleu Ciuc 2021), TransylvaniaNOW, István Vajk SzigetiPriest József Salamon celebrates the Pentecost Mass. (The Csíksomlyó pilgrimage, Hargita/Harghita County, Csíksomlyó/Șumuleu Ciuc 2021), TransylvaniaNOW, István Vajk SzigetiConfession (The Csíksomlyó pilgrimage, Hargita/Harghita County, Csíksomlyó/Șumuleu Ciuc 2021), TransylvaniaNOW, István Vajk SzigetiPeople leaving the shrine after the Pentecost Mass ends (The Csíksomlyó pilgrimage, Hargita/Harghita County, Csíksomlyó/Șumuleu Ciuc 2021), TransylvaniaNOW, István Vajk Szigeti
