The rich history and beautiful nature of the Spiš Jerusalem site offers space for meditation and cultural-spiritual activities, which visitors can get to know intensively during 7th year of the festival Spišský Jeruzalem.
Spišská Kapitula, Spišské Podhradie and their surroundings during three days 24 - 26 May 2019 The ecumenical dimension of the festival will bring a variety of interesting activities aimed at all ages. Pilgrims visiting Spiš Jerusalem will enrich their spirit through participation in religious program.
A theatrical rendition of the living Stations of the Cross will be a powerful experience. There are also prepared meditation programmes led by the Catholic Community of the Two-Thirds in Christ. The cultural programme is annually varied in genre and this time also offers theatrical performances, music and word bands, singing performances, exhibitions, film presentations, concerts and lectures.
In addition to the spiritual and cultural programme, visitors to the festival have the opportunity to take part in tours of Spiš Jerusalem with expert commentary on its history and attractions, as well as to get to know the historical gems of the city Spišské Podhradie. For children there are various games, creative workshops and a novelty is a field game around Spiš Jerusalem "Children's pilgrim passport", under the baton of the Scouts. Interesting will be falconry group, watching the sun and Spiš Jerusalem from a horse-drawn carriage. A tradition of the festival is the minting of the pilgrim's medallion.
Calvary Spišský Jeruzalem with its layout and unique use of the landscape resembles a real Jerusalem in the time of Jesus Christ. The layout of each chapel is a map of the landscape, with the places of the Passion of Jesus Christ marked.
Programme:
Did you know?
Calvary of Spiš Jerusalem is reminiscent of the real Jerusalem in the time of Jesus Christ. It is situated on a travertine mound, which is itself a very precious natural monument with a unique biotope. The shape of the mound and the layout of the different parts of the Calvary in 1:1 scale replicate the Calvario Jerusalem. It consists of the Chapel of St. Rosalia, which represents Herod's palace, the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier, which symbolizes the Roman fortress of Anthony - the seat of Pontius Pilate - and the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which represents Golgotha - the place of the Passion of Jesus Christ. The whole area is surrounded by seven small roadside chapels, which symbolise the walls of the real Jerusalem. The Calvary at Pažić, near the Spišská Kapitula the oldest calvary in Slovakia, the origins date back to around 1666.
Spišská Kapitula, also referred to as Slovak Vatican, is a European rarity, as it was exclusively a priest's settlement. Since 1776 it has been the seat of the Bishopric of Spiš.
The dominant feature is the Romanesque St. Martin's Cathedral with two towers. The famous Spiš Castle it's just a hop, skip and a jump. Levoča, Spiš Castle and the sights of the surrounding area (including the Spiš Chapter) are listed in the UNESCO.
Additional information:
The partners of the Spišský Jeruzalem festival are the Košice Self-Governing Region, the Prešov Self-Governing Region, the Bishopric of Spiš, the town of Spišské Podhradie, and the Podbranisko Association. The main coordinator is the Spišské osvetové středisko in Spišská Nová Ves, a cultural institution of the Košice Self-Governing Region. The marketing partners are the Regional Tourism Organisation Košice Region Tourism and the Regional Tourism Organisation Northeast of Slovakia.
The event is held under the auspices of the President of the Košice Self-Governing Region Rastislav Trnka and the President of the Prešov Self-Governing Region Milan Majerský.
Source. Mgr. Vladimíra Barbuščáková, Spišské osvetové středisko v Spišská Nová Ves
