Celebration of Maria ascension in Jasna Góra

Jasna Góra (Luminous Mountain) is the most important national sanctuary of Poland. The fortress complex with monastery, chapels and basilica is located in the town of Częstochowa. In one of the chapels, the chapel of the miraculous statue of the Black Madonna - mother of Częstochowa, hangs the famous icon of the Black Madonna. This is the most important relic of the Roman Catholic Church in Poland and serves as the goal of pilgrimages.

Thousands of pilgrims walk in groups every year in August from their home in Poland to Częstochowa to celebrate the Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary (August 15). The pilgrims cover distances of several hundred kilometers in order to reach their goal. Their trips often last several weeks. During that time they usually spend the night in tents and are welcome in many places to set up their tent camp. The pilgrims make music and sing while walking.

Arriving at Jasna Góra, every pilgrim group is approached and welcomed by a priest standing on a balcony of the Maria Fortress. The pilgrims then enter the fortress to pay tribute to the icon of the Black Madonna.

Many pilgrims organize bus companies to take them home again. It also happens that after their journey pilgrims are received by family and/or friends and are taken home by car.

A priest walks along a fortress wall on which banners have been hung. Image: Michel Meijer

Groups of pilgrims approach the Jasna Góra monastery. Image: Michel Meijer

Nuns watch the pilgrims' arrival. Image: Michel Meijer

Nuns put Polish flags in bouquets with flowers. Image: Michel Meijer

couple walks hand in hand in front of a group of pilgrims. Image: Michel Meijer

A nun puts a little Polish flag in a bouquet of flowers. Image: Michel Meijer

Een groep pelgrims staat voor het klooster Jasna Góra. Image: Michel Meijer

A group of pilgrims approaches the Jasna Góra monastery. Image: Michel Meijer

On the square in front of the Jasna Góra monastery, several pilgrims pray and arrive.

A group of pilgrims walks towards the Jasna Góra monastery. Image: Michel Meijer

A group of pilgrims stands in front of the Jasna Góra monastery and waves to the priest on the balcony. Image: Michel Meijer

Pilgrims honour God and the priests by kneeling in front of the monastery or lying on their stomachs on the ground. Image: Michel Meijer

Pilgrims wait and pray in the chapel where the painting of the Black Madonna hangs. Image: Michel Meijer

Pelgrims knielen en bidden voor het schilderij Onze Dame van Czestochowa. Image: Michel Meijer

Pelgrims knielen en bidden voor het schilderij Onze Dame van Czestochowa.

People pray in the basilica of the sanctuary of Jasna Góra. Image: Michel Meijer

A young woman writes her intention on a piece of paper for confirmation. Image: Michel Meijer

Three nuns are sitting on the meadow in front of the pilgrimage site Jasna Góra. Image: Michel Meijer

People attend the religious service held on the field in front of the Jasna Góra pilgrimage site. Image: Michel Meijer

The square with visitors and pilgrims in front of the Jasna Góra sanctuary. Image: Michel Meijer

Priests are handing out hosts during a church service on the field in front of the Jasna Góra pilgrimage site. Image: Michel Meijer

A pilgrim crawls the last few metres to the pilgrimage site of Jasna Góra on his knees. Image: Michel Meijer

A woman kneels and prays in front of the sanctuary of Jasna Góra. Image: Michel Meijer

A woman lays flowers on a monument in front of the Jasna Góra pilgrimage site. Image: Michel Meijer

A group of pilgrims arrives at the pilgrimage site of Jasna Góra. Image: Michel Meijer

A group of pilgrims lies on the ground in front of the Jasna Góra pilgrimage site. Image: Michel Meijer

A group of pilgrims kneels and prays in front of the Jasna Góra pilgrimage site.

A group of pilgrims kneels and prays in front of the Jasna Góra pilgrimage site. Image: Michel Meijer

A pilgrim lies on the ground and prays in front of the Jasna Góra pilgrimage site. Image: Michel Meijer

A group of pilgrims waits in front of the pilgrimage site Jasna Góra. Image: Michel Meijer

A group of pilgrims greet the priest on the balcony of the Jasna Góra pilgrimage site. Image: Michel Meijer

A group of pilgrims stands before the pilgrimage site of Jasna Góra. Image: Michel Meijer

A group of pilgrims lie on the ground and pray in front of the Jasna Góra pilgrimage site. Image: Michel Meijer

A church service on the field in front of the pilgrimage site Jasna Góra. Image: Michel Meijer

The pilgrimage site Jasna Góra in the evening. Image: Michel Meijer

A priest passes a banner, showing a picture of the Black Madonna, during the celebration of the assumption of Mary in August, Poland in 2018.

Arrival of the pilgrims at Jasna Góra sanctuary during the celebration of the assumption of Mary in August, Czestochowa, Poland 2018.

Arrival of the Pilgrims inside the chapel where the icon of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa is shown, Poland 2018.

Pilgrims inside the chapel where the icon of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa is shown, Poland 2018.

The interior of the basilica in the Sanctuary of Jasna Góra, Poland 2018.

Inside the chapel where the icon of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa is shown, people ignite a candle to symbolize their prayer and write their intention on a piece of paper as confirmation, Poland 2018.

Three nuns observe the arrival of pilgrims at Jasna Góra sanctuary during the celebration of the assumption of Mary in August, Czestochowa, Poland 2018.

Church service on the field in front of Jasna Góra sanctuary in Czestochowa, Poland 2018.

Arrival of the pilgrims at Jasna Góra sanctuary during the celebration of the assumption of Mary in August, Czestochowa, Poland 2018.

Church service on the field in front of Jasna Góra sanctuary in Czestochowa, Poland 2018.

Arrival of the pilgrims at Jasna Góra sanctuary during the celebration of the assumption of Mary in August, Czestochowa, Poland 2018.

Church service on the field in front of Jasna Góra sanctuary in Czestochowa, Poland 2018.

The monastery of Jasna Góra during the celebration of the assumption of Mary in August, Poland in 2018.

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