The Minister of Sports, Eduard Novak, a announceFriday night, that he arrived at the pilgrimage from Şumuleu Ciuc after pedaling for almost 10 hours, writes News.ro.
Novak left Bucharest at noon on Friday and arrived in Şumuleu Ciuc after 9 hours and 37 minutes. “Bucharest – the pilgrimage from Şumuleu Ciuc by bicycle I succeeded, I reached Şumuleu Ciuc! I pedaled for 9 hours and 37 minutes, I covered 265.5 km for the future of sport and for Paralympic athletes. This goal motivated me and was worth it all the effort,” he wrote on Facebook.
The gesture of the UDMR minister was meant to support the institution he leads and which, according to the plan discussed in the ruling coalition, could be merged with the Ministry of the Family in the coming days.
The Catholic Pentecost pilgrimage from Şumuleu Ciuc is considered the largest in Central and Eastern Europe and has its origin almost four and a half centuries ago.
In the center of the pilgrimage is the Virgin Mary, whose statue was carved in linden wood between 1510 and 1515, being the largest miracle-working statue in the world.
In 1567, after they emerged victorious in the battle with the armies of the Transylvanian prince, Ioan Sigismund, who tried to impose the Unitarian religion on them, the Catholic faithful made a covenant that on the Saturday before Pentecost they would return to express their gratitude. And, year after year, more and more people came, the Harghites were joined by other believers (Reformed, Unitarian, even Orthodox) from everywhere, until the church became too large, so the liturgy was moved to Mount Şumuleul Mic.
On June 1, 2019, Pope Francis was in Şumuleu Ciuc, where he conveyed to the faithful that the annual pilgrimage belongs to the heritage of Transylvania, but also honors Romanian and Hungarian traditions and that the sad events of the past cannot be an obstacle for fraternal coexistence.
Also then, the Sovereign Pontiff gave the golden Tradafir to the Marian Sanctuary in Şumuleu Ciuc, which he placed at the feet of the miracle-working statue of the Virgin Mary.
Read also: Approximately 300,000 people are expected at the pilgrimage from Şumuleu Ciuc. The President of Hungary participates in the procession
Editor : M.D.B.