Marian devotion
Our Lady of Bălți
Bălți, Moldova
The Virgin Mary in Moldova's second largest city, where the Catholic faith has endured despite difficulties.
The parish of Bălți
The Catholic parish of Bălți is one of the most important faith communities in Moldova. Founded in the 19th century, the parish has served the Catholics of the region for generations.
The Virgin of the River
The image of Our Lady of the River is a wooden carving depicting the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus, surrounded by rivers and fields. Tradition says that the Virgin appeared to a farmer from Bălți during a terrible drought, asking him to pray the Rosary for rain.
"The Virgin of the River blesses the fields of Moldova with rain and abundant harvests."
Local anecdotes
The inhabitants of Bălți recount that during the Soviet occupation, parishioners secretly gathered to pray the Rosary before the image of Our Lady of the River. Despite the persecution, their faith never died, and the faithful attributed this to the protection of the Virgin Mary.
Prayer
O Virgin of the River, protector of farmers. You who bless the fields with rain and abundant harvests, intercede for us before your Son Jesus. Protect the people of Moldova and guide us toward peace. Amen.
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