Marian devotion
Our Lady of Ashgabat
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
The Virgin Mary in the capital of Turkmenistan, where the Catholic faith has endured despite being a minority.
The parish of Ashgabat
The Catholic parish of Ashgabat is one of the most important faith communities in Turkmenistan. Founded in the 19th century, the parish has served the Catholics of the region for generations.
The Virgin of the Desert
The image of Our Lady of the Desert is a wooden carving depicting the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus, surrounded by sand dunes and camels. Tradition says that the Virgin appeared to a nomad from Ashgabat during a terrible sandstorm in the Karakum Desert.
"The Virgin of the Desert protects the nomads of Turkmenistan on their journeys through the desert."
Local anecdotes
The inhabitants of Ashgabat recount that during the Soviet era, parishioners secretly gathered to pray the Rosary before an image of Our Lady of the Desert. Despite the persecution, their faith never died, and the faithful attributed this to the protection of the Virgin Mary.
Prayer
O Virgin of the Desert, protector of nomads. You who watch over those who travel through the desert, intercede for us before your Son Jesus. Protect the people of Turkmenistan and guide us toward peace. Amen.
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