Our Lady of Žarošice

Marian advocation of Žarošice (Moravia)

La devoción a Our Lady of Žarošice is linked to the ancient Marian sanctuary of Žarošice, in South Moravia, where local piety retains the memory of the "Ancient Mother of God" (Old Mother of God). The tradition of the place refers to a very old center of worship; the parish of Žarošice indicates that, shortly after the foundation of the sanctuary in 1323, a new and valuable image of the Virgin appeared in the temple, which replaced an earlier representation.

Main data

Origin and history

La devoción a Our Lady of Žarošice is linked to the ancient Marian sanctuary of Žarošice, in South Moravia, where local piety retains the memory of the "Ancient Mother of God" (Old Mother of God). The tradition of the place refers to a very old center of worship; the parish of Žarošice indicates that, shortly after the foundation of the sanctuary in 1323, a new and valuable image of the Virgin appeared in the temple, which replaced an earlier representation.

Along with this historical memory, the local tradition also retains legendary stories about the protection of the image and the temple in times of calamity. The town of Žarošice mentions, as legend, the narrative of the "Turkish paša" and the survival of the temple of the Mother of God in the midst of fires and destruction in the region; that tradition belongs to the devotional sphere and not to strict historical documentation.

Historically, the sanctuary acquired relief as a place of Marian pilgrimage in the Modern Age and continued to develop as a regional centre of worship. The parish source highlights the presence of an ancient and artistic image of the Virgin in the pilgrimage complex, while the popular tradition has preserved the affectionate title of "Ancient Mother of God" for the advocation venerated there.

The image and the sanctuary

The invocation is venerated by a imagen mariana antigua locally known as "Old Mother of God" (Ancient Mother of God). The parish of Žarošice does not describe in the source consulted in detail the material or the artistic typology of the image, but it does describe it as “muy valiosa” y "of high artistic value", arrival at the sanctuary after its medieval foundation.

The main temple is the pilgrimage church or church of pilgrimage of Žarošice, within the local parish complex. In the sources consulted it appears linked to the iglesia de Santa Ana of Žarošice, which is the cultual core where the Marian devotion of the place develops. Not included in any revised sources minor basilicanor is there a universally cited designation as a national sanctuary, so the wise thing is to describe it as local and regional pilgrimage sanctuary / church.

Sponsorship and coronation

Devotion has a clear roots in Žarošice and in its regional ecclesial environment, with an influx of pilgrims from South Moravia and other areas of the Czech Republic. The revised sources do not contain a formal patronage of the city, diocese or nation for this advocation; it should therefore be indicated. no conspicu.

On the coronation, in the sources provided does not contain a documented canonical coronation for the image of Žarošice. This invocation should not be confused with other Czech or Central European Marian images which have been crowned and which belong to different sanctuaries.

Party and devotion

The main devotional expression is the night pilgrimage with candles each Septemberwith great participation of the faithful. The parish tradition and local communication present this meeting as the culminating moment of the pilgrim year in Žarošice.

The sources consulted do not set a universal liturgical date for the main feast of this advocation; therefore, it must be stated. is not with certainty a universally established holiday date of its own. What is clear is the strong popular character of pilgrimage, community prayer and the use of candles, typical elements of Central European Marian piety.

Devotion is characterized by its nocturnal, processional and penitential tone, with a strong dimension of local historical continuity. The parish of Žarošice also maintains activities of renewal of the pilgrim enclosure and periodic celebrations that support the contemporary devotional flow.

Link to the Rosary

In the sources consulted does not include a specific and exclusive association of Žarošice with a Rosary fellowship, a rosarian miracle of its own or a formally rosarian party. Even so, like any Marian advocation aimed at the contemplation of the Mother of God, this devotion naturally aligns itself to the prayer of the Rosary, which helps to meditate the mysteries of Christ with Mary in a framework of pilgrimage, silence and light of candles.

In this sanctuary, the Rosary can be understood as the most coherent prayer to accompany the pilgrimage: a biblical, repetitive and contemplative prayer that harmonizes with the Marian tradition of Žarošice and with its character as a place of supplication, memory and veneration of the Ancient Mother of God.