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The Calvary of Banská Å tiavnica is…

• the most imposing baroque Calvary in Central Europe
• one of the oldest Calvaries in Slovakia; the foundation stone was laid in 1744 with the cooperation of Protestants and Catholics.
• artistically the most exclusive Baroque building of its kind
• since 1993 included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage together with the historical town of Banská Å tiavnica
• since June 2007, on the list of 100 most endangered monuments in the world, as recognized by the World Monument Fund in New York www.worldmonumentswatch.org

The tradition of pilgrimages…

In the past the pilgrimages were extremely popular; thanks to the grandeur of places of pilgrimage like the Calvary the faithful could more deeply experience their Christianity.

The pilgrimage was a manifestation of inner repentance and conversion, and for its fullest experience there were a variety of recommendations, several of which are:

„It is not lawful for pilgrims on the road to smoke. Who does not leave the pipe on day two, how could he leave sin forever? „

     „It is not lawful for the musicians to play secular songs during pilgrimages“

     „It is not lawful on the road, in the city, when meeting with other processions, for crosses to attach to each other,

“ to be kissed „. Jesus cannot kiss himself, nor do we worship him that way.“

     „It is not lawful to gather around the confessional, to stand near the confessional priest. For then you take to your soul the sins of sinner who conceals confession, because he is afraid to speak, and then goes home worse than he came“

     „It is not lawful to arise immediately after communion, you could knock the host from the priest’s hands. Wait until he is at least two steps away from you. Do not push, do not wriggle, after all a real, true Jesus goes before you and comes to you. „

„Those who do not want to pay their debts at home and who are making their pilgrimage with borrowed money are not allowed to do so.“

     „Nothing is permitted for such a man who leaves the house wandering with sinful strife and anger. Without the permission of a parent or spouse you cannot leave. „

     „In vain is a pilgrimage when you have argued with somebody and you don´t want to reconcile.“

     „In vain you also make pilgrimage if you leave lot of work at home, and there by you create confusion and disorder for those who stayed at home.“

     „When you return home be careful, not to lose the treasure which you had with many stresses and much wandering acquired.“

The above lessons are drawnfrom the book by A.Hidvéghy, a priest from Banská Bela, „The Calvary of Štiavnica. How it arose, how it looks today and how divine service is celebrated there“(1901).