Abstract
Marian pilgrimage sites in Slovakia that are unofficially maintained traditionally rely on the devotion and voluntary activities of the local faithful and pilgrims rather than formal Church administration. These unofficial sites often develop around reported apparitions or miracles and are sustained by prayer gatherings, maintenance of chapels or small shrines, and communal organization of liturgical and devotional events. Thus, unofficial Marian pilgrimage sites are traditionally maintained by a blend of grassroots volunteerism, communal religious practice, informal spiritual leadership, and the enduring faith of believers who keep these places alive as centers of popular Marian devotion in Slovakia. This continues to be a dynamic feature of Marian cult sites even outside formal church structures. Among certain groups, Marian devotion involves intimate, improvised communication with Mary, emphasizing emotional and heartfelt connection rather than formalized ritual. Devotional stories and experiences often emphasize immediate, emotional, and miraculous interactions with Mary, including the attribution of healing powers to shrines or objects associated with Mary (springs, trees, statues, icons, etc.). Thus, local customs at Marian shrines in Slovakia function as cultural palimpsests where Christian Marian veneration is layered over and intertwined with enduring folk motifs, local rituals, and spiritual sensibilities, forming a distinctive hybrid tradition. The contribution captures the unofficial and grassroots nature of faith development around these Marian apparition sites, highlighting the importance of local customs, the role of community, and spiritual leadership outside formal ecclesiastical frameworks.
Presenters
Tatiana Zachar PodolinskáDirector, PI of Religious Studies, Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Slovakia, Bratislavský kraj, Slovakia
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Religious Community and Socialization
KEYWORDS
FOLK RELIGION, MARIAN DEVOTION, INFORMAL SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP, COMMUNAL RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
