Horváth M. Ferenc (szerk.): Vác The heart of the Danube Bend. A historical guide for residents and globetrotters (Vác, 2009)
Tartalom
256 CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS, PROGRAMMES as Saturday afternoon. They attend the evening mass, a devotion of the Way of the Cross, or prayers accompanied by guitar music for the youth. At night a group of pilgrims keep vigil in the church waiting for Sunday while praying and singing. The Stations of the Cross leading up to the church is the scene of private devotion; special rites are per-On a particular weekend of September there is an opportunity to visit places and buildings - for instance the bishop's palace - that are otherwise closed to the public. The Winter Festive Days is the name of the events related to the programmes in connection with Christmas and New Year's Eve. * The official place of pilgrimage of the Diocese of Vác is Seven Chapels Church. The main feast is its patron's, Mary’s Day. Its exact date, i.e. the Sunday closest to 12 September, is determined by the diocese at the beginning of each year. Its scene is the shrine in the southern part of the town near the Grove. Some of the worshippers arrive as early formed at the springs, the statues, and the wonderworking image of the Virgin Mary. There are some villages and families that are particularly attached to Mary. On the day of the feast the spring water is regarded as sacred by the pilgrims and the ancient tradition of symbolic eye-washing is still performed. The pontifical mass on Sunday is attended by thousands of people; those living in the neighbouring settlements often arrive on foot, in procession under a cross and a banner. The groups belonging to the local parishes gather outside the cathedral and walk together to Seven Chapels Church accompanied by their priests, singing church hymns all along.The mass is celebrated outdoors. On these two days nothing but religious objects are allowed to be sold at Seven Chapels Church. A bit further Feast day of the Virgin Mary
