The Latvian Roman Catholic Church information centre reports that believers from Liepaja and Ventspils will set off on a pilgrimage for Aglona on Friday, July 27. This pilgrimage is organized so that they can participate in the celebration of the Assumption in Aglona on August 14 – 15.

This year will be the first time when believers from Klaipeda (Lithuania) will set off on a pilgrimage, which is set to start on July 29. Nearly 40 Lithuanian Catholics are expected to reach Aglona.

«Pilgrimage is the time that is devoted to God. By leaving his daily routines and worries, a pilgrim’s attention is consumed by what is going on within his soul. It is very important to cleanse, strengthen and develop one’s faith,» – says priest Mariušs Kempa, who leads a group of Liepaja residents counting over thirty people. The leading priest of the Ventspils group – Marcins Virkovskis – says that around 20 people will set off on the road from Ventspils, which will then be joined by believers from Kuldīga.

The first group of pilgrims from Riga will set off for Aglona on August 1.

The pilgrimage becomes more and more diverse every year – pilgrims travel on foot, by bicycles; they also clean the environment on their way to Aglona.

By now, the Aglona basilica church renovation has been finished, after it was started in autumn last year, and the church is once again ready to welcome the celebration of this holy event.

Ref: 104.109.109.2598