Velehrad to host Cyril & Methodius celebrations next week

This year, the Church in the Czech Republic commemorates 1150th anniversary of the arrival of Ss. Cyril and Methodius to Great Moravia. While celebrated with many events throughout the year, this jubilee will culminate in a pilgrimage to Velehrad on 5th July 2013 as well as with related events – “Days of the People of Goodwill” and plenary meeting of the Czech Bishops’ Conference. Coming next week!

Velehrad: On Friday 5^th July, the Ss. Cyril and Methodius jubilee year will reach its climax with a national pilgrimage to Velehrad. Masses in basilica will start at 6.00 and 7.00 a.m., a liturgy at 8.00 a.m. will be celebrated by newly ordained priests from the entire 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 of Zagreb; he will also deliver a homily. Concelebrating with him will be bishops of the Czech Republic as well as foreign guests and many priests gathered at the place. The liturgy will be transmitted by the Czech TV and Radio Prague. Before the mass, people can receive the sacrament of reconciliation in many places in the basilica as well as around it.

Besides the pilgrimage, the jubilee will be also celebrated by the fourteenth “Days of the People of Goodwill” to be held in Velehrad and surrounding places on 4^th–5^th July. Vital part of the program is a concert that will start on Thursday 4^th July at 7.30 p.m. in front of the basilica. It will offer musical performances by Jiří Pavlica and Hradišťan, Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic Orchestra from Zlín and many others as well as presentations of three charity projects; people will be able to contribute to them via SMS.

On Saturday 6^th July, bishops of the Czech Republic will gather at the 94^th plenary meeting of the Czech Bishops’ Conference.

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^th–26^th May 2013. Many other events, including exhibitions, lectures and conferences, were also held so far.

Information about the jubilee year of Ss. Cyril and Methodius and its celebrations is available via www.velehrad.eu/en.