Marian devotion
Our Lady of Aktau
Aktau, Kazakhstan
The Virgin Mary in the port city of Aktau, where Caspian sailors venerate her as their protector.
The parish of Aktau
The Catholic parish of Aktau is one of the most important faith communities in Kazakhstan. Founded in the 20th century, the parish has served the Catholics of the region for generations.
The Virgin of the Port
The image of Our Lady of the Port is a wooden carving depicting the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus, surrounded by ships and anchors. Tradition says that the Virgin appeared to a sailor from Aktau during a terrible storm in the Caspian Sea.
"The Virgin of the Port protects the sailors who sail the waters of the Caspian."
Anecdotes of the sailors
The sailors of Aktau recount that before each voyage, they would go to the parish church to pray the Rosary before the image of Our Lady of the Port. Tradition says that sailors who prayed the Rosary never suffered shipwrecks.
Sailors' Prayer
O Mother of God, who protects sailors on their voyages. You who appeared to the fishermen of the Caspian, intercede for us before your Son Jesus. May your mantle cover us as sails cover ships. Amen.
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