Holy Week on the Holy Mountain: moments of silence, tradition and hope

Easter is the greatest Christian feast of the year, culminating in Holy Week, when believers commemorate the last days of Jesus Christ's life - his passion, death and resurrection. On the Holy Mountain above Příbram these days are celebrated each year with special solemnity and the public is cordially invited to join in - whether as believers or as visitors seeking a moment of peace and reflection on the serious themes of life and death.

The programme of services begins on the Sunday a week before Easter. On Palm Sunday, March 29, the morning services at 9 and 11 a.m. begin with the blessing of the brought branches in the square in front of the Holy Mountain, followed by a procession to the Basilica.

The culmination of Holy Week begins with Maundy Thursday, April 2, when Christians commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. A solemn Mass will be celebrated on the Holy Mountain on this day from 5pm. The parish priest will wash the feet of twelve men, young and old, baptized and unbaptized.

Good Friday, April 3, is a day of silence and contemplation of Christ's Passion. Therefore, Christians fast not only from meat on this day, but also from all food in general. The Stations of the Cross take place at 3 pm in Toufar Meadow, followed by the Good Friday rites at 5 pm. Every visitor to the Basilica, whether baptized or not, can come closer to the cross on this day and bow down to Jesus, who was once crucified in Jerusalem.

White Saturday, April 4, is traditionally a day of expectation. At 9am in the morning, the faithful gather for communal prayer around a young man named Christopher, who will be baptized that evening after dark on the Holy Mountain. By then, at 8pm, the Easter Vigil will begin, a solemn night service in which darkness and light, silence and song, pain and hope play an important role.

On Easter Sunday, 5 April, three Masses will be celebrated at the Holy Mountain: at 9, 11 and 17:00, and at each of them it is possible to have your food blessed. You can bring bread, breadcrumbs, eggs, cold cuts, vegetables or fruit in a basket, as well as cider or wine to be blessed by a priest.

Easter is not just a tradition, but above all a message of hope - it reminds us that even after difficult times, a new beginning can come. In these times of turmoil and war, we all need this hope.

All who, for whatever reason, are unable to be present in their parish communities during these most holy days are therefore cordially invited to visit the Holy Mountain during Holy Week - whether for a service, for silent prayer, or just for a short walk in this special place.

P. Miloš Szabo