Event: Bosnia

Medjugorje

When:	Daily
Where:	Apparition Hill
Opening Hours:	Daily evening programme in the church 6pm-9pm

Follow the steps of millions to Bosnia and Herzegovina's holiest shrine. Medjugorje (meaning between the hills) is well known throughout the Christian world. The story goes that on 24 June 1981 a vision of Our Lady appeared and later spoke to six visionaries, explaining that God had sent her to help us convert our hearts and lives back to Him. Apparently, she still appears and speaks to them regularly.

Since word of the apparitions spread, the remote village has attracted about 20 million pilgrims. The site of the apparitions is a large bare space on high rocky ground. Halfway up the path that leads there, a large plain wooden cross has been erected, planted into a pile of rocks. It goes to show that something truly extraordinary must have happened in order to attract so many devotees.

At any time of day or night, on any day of the year, individuals and groups can be found in prayer, in song, in deep meditation and silence. Many arrive barefoot or ill-equipped for the rocky climb and long journey. The place of Our Lady's first apparitions is usually called Apparition Hill - several hundred metres above the Bijakovo hamlet of Podbrdo. The pilgrimage area extends beyond this though, while the church is clearly integral to the worship programme.

Any visit needs careful planning - a great starting point is the brilliant Medjugorje website. There are special days of celebration with which you may or may not want to join in. These include 24 June, the day of the Peace March, 25 June, the Anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions and July, for the International Music Festival.