Marian Mountain – Pilgrimage Site Since 1885
In northeast Bohemia, there is a charming hill called the Marian Mountain (Czech: Mariánská Hora; German: Kleckersberg). Because of its religious significance, a chapel, and later a church, were built on its peak.
Location
Marian Mountain is located on the subcontinental divide between the villages of Dolní Čermná (German: Nieder Böhmisch Rothwasser) to the north, Horní Třešňovec (German: Ober Johnsdorf) to the south, Horní Čermná (German: Ober Böhmisch Rothwasser) to the east and Jakubovice (German: Jokelsdorf) to the west. The church is sited precisely on the subcontinental divide so that any rain that falls on the north side of the roof flows ultimately into the North Sea and any water that falls on the south side of the roof flows into the Black Sea.
There are picturesque views from the summit which is around 500 meters (approximately 1600 feet) above sea level and about 100 meters (approximately 300 feet) above the neighboring villages. To the north, one sees the forested Eagle Mountains (Czech: Orlické hory; German: Adlergebirge) and to the southeast one sees Moravia.
Historic Pilgrimages to Mariazell in Present-day Austria
Marian Mountain became of importance as the starting point for pilgrimages to Mariazell, a small city in Styria in present-day Austria. There stands the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariazell which is the most-visited Marian shrine in Central Europe, receiving about a million pilgrims each year.
The first written mention of such a pilgrimage from the Marian Mountain dates from 1780. The journey began after Pentecost (Whit Sunday), so the Feast of Corpus Christi could be celebrated in Mariazell. The pilgrims walked, barefoot, carrying their boots on their shoulders and a small bundle with a loaf of bread and some food on their backs. Pilgrims cooked modest meals at well-known wells and stayed overnight in barns or taverns. The roundtrip journey of about 400 miles (650 km), took about three weeks. The pilgrims spent a day in the Imperial City of Vienna and two or three days in the town of Mariazell. Normally, around 200 to 300 pilgrims made the pilgrimage. (This description is taken from the 1878 book “Cellenské cesty” written by Leopold Fiala (see below)).
The Miracle of Marian Mountain
A miraculous event is attached to Marian Mountain (according to the brochure “Hora Mariánská v Čermné” by Cyril Pecháček):
Antonín Keprta of Kunvald (German: Kunwald) by Žamberk (German: Senftenberg) was a long-time devotee of the Virgin Mary. In 1814, he was transporting millstones from Prussia to Moravia in a wagon. As he reached the peak of Marian Mountain one night, the load shifted. He tried in vain to stop the wagon from tipping, but he was unable to do so and found himself trapped under the load. He prayed for assistance from the Virgin Mary. He promised that if his life was saved, he would make a yearly pilgrimage to Mariazell. Suddenly there was a glow beside him, and a virgin dressed in white appeared inside of it carrying a torch. Without saying a word, she lifted the wagon off him. Keprta stood up uninjured and drove on following the torch until he found a good road, whereupon the virgin and the light disappeared. The rescued man made his way to a tavern in Třešňovec (German: Johnsdorf). There, and then everywhere else throughout his life, he talked about this miraculous event. Thereafter, he made regular pilgrimages to Mariazell. He also hung a picture on a linden tree on Marian Mountain, which showed the miraculous event. This image still hangs in the church.
Leopold Fiala, First Sexton of Marian Mountain
Leopold Fiala is the person most responsible for the pilgrimage site of Marian Mountain. He was born on February 26, 1811 in Písečná (German: Schreibersdorf), a village about 17 kilometers (10 miles) from Marian Mountain. In 1825, when he was 14 years old, he made his first pilgrimage to Mariazell. From 1846 through 1880, he led the pilgrimage to Mariazell. In 1865, he moved to a small house on Marian Mountain. His trade was stonemasonry, but his passion was the Marian Mountain. Ultimately, he was the administrator of the religious complex that arose on Marian Mountain. He died in 1881 and is he is buried in the cemetery in Dolní Čermná (German: Nieder Böhmisch Rothwasser).
Erection of a Sandstone Pillar
In 1857, Leopold Fiala constructed a sandstone pillar with a picture of the Virgin Mary on Marian Mountain. The pillar now stands in front of the main altar in the church.
Construction of a Chapel in 1864
In order to begin and end their pilgrimage with a worship service, the Mariazell pilgrims built a small chapel on Marian Mountain in 1864.
Construction of a Church in 1875
Since the chapel was not large enough to serve the needs of the pilgrims, the decision was made to build a larger structure. However, not all of the chapel was torn down as part of the project; only the seating area of the chapel was torn down. The sanctuary of the chapel was retained, and the church was built around it. The church had two bells in the tower (Sts. Mary and Joseph and St. Anna) and a small bell in the turret. Donations by the pilgrims provided the money to build the church.
Church Furnishings
The interior of the church is simple, reminiscent of the Neo-Gothic style. On the main altar there is a relief of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. The two side altars are dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi and St. Pelegrin. The painting of the Holy Trinity was brought from Mariazell and the painting of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa is a gift from Polish pilgrims. There is a one-manual organ with six registers in a Neo-Gothic cabinet.
Consecration of the Church
The church was consecrated by the vicar of the bishop of Česká Třebová (German: Böhmisch Trübau) on September 8, 1875, the feast day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The name of the church is the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Marian Mountain as a Place of Pilgrimage
In 1885, the Bishop of Hradec Králové (German: Königgrätz) , Josef Jan Hais, organized a religious celebration on Marian Mountain to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of St. Methodius’ death. About 50,000 pilgrims and 42 priests gathered on the Marian Mountain for this celebration. As part of the celebration he declared the Marian Mountain as a place of pilgrimage, “so that anyone who cannot travel to Velehrad [another pilgrimage destination] can visit the place of pilgrimage here on Marian Mountain”. Every year, on the first Sunday after the 8th of September (the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary), religious pilgrims from a wide area meet here, on Marian Mountain.
The Stations of the Cross
In 1886, Stations of the Cross were built in a semicircle in front of the church and a double linden alley was planted. They were consecrated on September 26, 1886.
Construction of a Pilgrimage House
Leopold Fiala’s house was gradually modified after 1879 and expanded to a Pilgrimage House. In 1880, a restaurant concession was established.
Post-War Restoration of the Church and Its Contents
During World War II, the church bells were requisitioned and
therefore, a new bell (Our Lady of Peace) was cast by Mr. Manoušek in 1947. Also in that year, the interior paintings were restored by the painters Václav Kunert of Dolní Čermná (German: Nieder Böhmisch Rothwasser) and Mr. Koblížek of Bystřec (German: Waltersdorf). Other repairs included the following: repair of the sanctuary turret (1958); covering of the tower with metal sheets after the removal of the original slate (1961); a new exterior stucco for the church and the tower (1969); roof repairs including replacing the shingles (1970); replacement of tiles in the church and the chapel (1978); restoration of the Stations of the Cross including the paintings (1993) and overhaul of the organ (1994). Since 2001 the following repairs were undertaken: repair of the roof trusses; roofing and covering of the tower with new metal sheets; repair of the tower stucco and replacement of windows and doors. The church was connected to the electric power grid in 1998.
Arrangements for a Tour
Arrangements for a tour can be made by calling the Marian Mountain sexton at 0420 465 393 725. The sexton can also provide information about the current schedule for masses and other religious services.