Religious tourism: 3rd Congress "Days of Spiritual Heritage of Marian Shrines" in Sinj

The Blessed Virgin Mary has always been a strong support and heavenly advocate for the Croatian people. Croats have always revered her and prayed for help in difficult times and troubles, and with great confidence honored her out of gratitude as their queen and most faithful advocate.

In Sinj, one of the largest Croatian Marian shrines, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 15th, is celebrated with special solemnity every year.

"A vast multitude of pilgrims, of all generations and from all over our beautiful country and beyond, come to Sinj with only one goal - to kneel and fold their hands before the Miraculous Lady of Sinj, bow in silent prayer, offer supplications and thanks to the heavenly Mother, light a candle before the image of Our Lady and open their hearts to Her grace. The Miraculous Lady of Sinj is the heavenly protector of the city of Sinj, which is why City Day is celebrated on August 15th." emphasize in Sinj Tourist Board adding that Sinj is therefore an ideal place to hold a congress called the Days of Spiritual Heritage of Marian Shrines.

3rd Congress Days of Spiritual Heritage of Marian Shrines

The congress will be held from June 21 to 23, 2024, organized by The Tourist Board of the City of Sinj and the Shrine of Our Lady of Sinj, with the support of the Split-Dalmatia County, the Tourist Board of the Split-Dalmatia County, the Croatian Tourist Board, the City of Sinj and the Alkar Knights' Society.

The goal of such a meeting is to further popularize, and thus preserve the existing sacral heritage of Croatian Marian sanctuaries in the long term. Marian shrines are beacons of hope for all believers, so we want to contribute to their preservation by developing sacred tourism, as well as the local community, while giving importance to spirituality and religion in order to preserve the primary function of the shrines themselves.

The Congress of the Spiritual Heritage of Marian Shrines has so far included our shrines of Marija Bistrica, Trsat, Nin, Voćin, Solin, Aljmaš, Vrpolje, Baška - Krk, Remeta- Zagreb, Šumanovci-Gunja, Molve and Sinj (and/or others) from the territory of the Republic of Croatia, as well as the Marian shrines of the Croatian people in Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"This year, we are proud and joyful that the directors of the shrines of numerous of our Marian shrines, as well as from the Shrines from Bosnia and Herzegovina, will be guests at the Congress. We are particularly pleased to host Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki from Lviv - Ukraine, then the deputy prior of the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa from Jasna Gora in Poland, a shrine that is a symbol of religious freedom, and thus the heart of Poland and its national shrine, and representatives of the shrine from Lichen (Poland)" the congress organizers point out.

All interested participants in the third congress, Days of Spiritual Heritage of Marian Shrines, can register their participation via the link at https://stazagospisinjskoj.hr/kongres

In addition to lectures by eminent lecturers, the Congress will include tours of our museums with expert guidance and a cultural and entertainment program that is free for all visitors.

Photo: Sinj Tourist Board