Velehrad: 1150 Years since Arrival of Ss Cyril & Methodius

This year, the Church in the Czech Republic celebrates the 1150th anniversary of the arrival of Ss. Cyril and Methodius to Great Moravia. This significant jubilee is being celebrated by many activities and events throughout the Czech Republic. It will culminate in a mass on 5th July 2013 as well as in an accompanying program – “Days of the People of Goodwill” and plenary meeting of the Czech Bishops’ Conference.

Days of the People of Goodwill 2013

Celebrations in Velehrad and in its surroundings start on Thursday 4th July with the fourteenth “Days of the People of Goodwill” (4–5 July). Program full of activities for everyone will reach its climax with an evening concert in front of the Velehrad basilica, starting at 7.30 p.m. It will offer musical performances by Jiří Pavlica and Hradišťan, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra from Zlín and many others; more information is available via www.velehrad.eu/dny-lidi-dobre-vule/days-of-the-people-of-goodwill. Archbishop Jan Graubner of Olomouc and Apostolic Nuncio to the Czech Republic, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, will also welcome Cardinal Josip Bozanić, archbishop of Zagreb, Croatia, who will serve as a legate of Pope Francis during the celebrations.

National Pilgrimage to Ss. Cyril and Methodius

The Ss. Cyril and Methodius celebration will culminate in a National Pilgrimage in Friday 5th July. Masses in the basilica start at 6 and 7 a.m., the mass at 8.00 a.m. will be celebrated by newly ordained priests of the Czech Republic. A program in front of the basilica, where the high mass will be celebrated later, begins at 8.15 a.m. and it will include prayer of the rosary, musical performance and sending forth of young missionaries.

At 10.30 a.m., the solemn mass begins. It will be presided by papal legate, Cardinal Josip Bozanić, and concelebrating will be bishops of the Czech Republic, Apostolic Nuncio Giuseppe Leanza, foreign guests – bishops from Poland, Slovakia, Germany, Ukraine, Russia and Slovenia – and many priests gathered at the place. Pilgrims from several Slavic nations will be present also among the faithful and the liturgy will be attended by representatives of the Ecumenical Council of Churches in the Czech Republic as well.

At 3.00 p.m., Bishop Ladislav Hučko, apostolic exarch of the Greek-Catholic Church in the Czech Republic, will celebrate a liturgy in the Byzantine rite in the basilica.

Plenary Meeting of the Czech Bishops’ Conference

On Saturday 6th July, bishops of the Czech Republic will gather at the 94th plenary meeting of the Czech Bishops’ Conference. Present at the meeting will be also Archbishop Leanza and Cardinal Bozanić, who will address the plenary members at the beginning. Cardinal Dominik Duka, archbishop of Prague, will speak about the situation of the Czech Church in today’s society and bishops will also discuss the State-Church property settlement as well as economic strategies of the Church for the future.

Among other issues to be discussed by the plenary, there are topics of the Church schools, pastoral plans for 2014, National Pilgrimage to the Holy Land to be organized in autumn, and pastoral care among prisoners. Bishops will also speak about the Czech publication of the first encyclical of Pope Francis Lumen Fidei to be released in the Vatican on 5th July.

Before the plenary itself, bishops will give a present to the Velehrad basilica to commemorate this year’s jubilee pilgrimage – a panel painting by Zdirad Čech, representing Ss. Cyril and Methodius and coat-of-arms of dioceses and bishops of the Czech Republic.

Preparations of the Ss. Cyril and Methodius jubilee began as early as May 2012 in Rome. In the Czech Republic, they were opened with the pilgrimage to Velehrad in July 2012 and continued with a “Meeting of Cultures”, organized by the Orthodox Church in Mikulčice on 24–26 May 2013. Many other events, including exhibitions, lectures and conferences, were also held so far.

(transl.: Jiří Gračka)