[REVISION HISTORY]

Religious and community celebrations in the Balkans and EU

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2026-08-22 00:23 UTC → 2026-09-10 00:19 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Religious and community festivities have been observed across Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Slovenia, Montenegro, and other parts of Europe. In late July, the Croatian locality of Velika Mlaka held its annual Village Day and the feast of Saint Anne. Leading up to the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Velika Gospa), various Marian shrines in Croatia, including Krasno, Oštarija, Vukovina, Aljmaš, and Šumanovac, prepared programs featuring triduum prayers and processions. In ~~Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Crkvica parish in Zenica celebrated its 150th anniversary with a mass led by Archbishop Tomo Vukšić. In Serbia, Orthodox traditions~~ mid-August, preparations for the ~~August 28th feast~~ Assumption included ~~specific fasting rules involving fish and oil-based dishes.~~ large-scale pilgrimages. In Sinj, Croatia, officials managed over 100,000 expected pilgrims, while authorities issued heatstroke warnings due to high summer temperatures. In Slovenia, festivities centered in Brezje. On August 15, 2026, the Solemnity of the Assumption was observed globally. In Croatia, major gatherings occurred at the Trsat sanctuary in Rijeka, attended by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, and in Marija Bistrica, where Archbishop Dražen Kutleša addressed pilgrims. In Dubrovnik, Bishop Roko Glasnović presided over a pontifical Eucharist. In Montenegro, Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Davor Božinović attended Mass in Tivat, discussing bilateral relations and EU membership. ~~Other significant gatherings took place in Široki Brijeg, Aljmaš,~~ In Bosnia and Herzegovina, thousands gathered in Docu near Travnik for a mass led by Fra Zdenko Frljić. In Italy, religious events were held in Bussana Mare to reconnect the ~~island of Iž,~~ Ferragosto holiday with ~~leaders emphasizing~~ spiritual ~~responsibility~~ roots. Due to the public holiday in Croatia, most retail stores and ~~community care.~~ supermarkets, including Lidl and Kaufland, closed on August 15. On August 22, the Catholic Church observed the memorial of Mary ~~Queen,~~ Queen. On September 8, celebrations marked the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, including a ~~feast instituted by Pope Pius XII and later moved from May to August~~ visit by ~~Saint Paul VI to highlight the connection~~ Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas to the ~~Assumption. Devotional prayers during this period also called for Mary’s intercession regarding perceived divisions~~ Malečnik sanctuary in Slovenia and ~~corruption within~~ a 300th-anniversary commemoration of the ~~ecclesiastical hierarchy.~~ Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Saborsko, Croatia.

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