THE GREAT PILGRIMAGE IN NIS ON 20th AND 21st OF SEPTEMBER
19.09.2013
Regional pilgrimage to commemorate 1700 years of the Edict of Milan will bring together faithful Catholics from the region in Nis on 20th and 21st of September. Arrival at the solemn Mass was confirmed by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. Nikolic, HRH Crown Prince Aleksandar and Crown Princess Katarina Karadjordjević, Archbishop Cardinal Vinko Puljic, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington diocese, Ivan Šaško, envoy Cardinal of Zagreb, the representatives of the Islamic community, church leaders and many others.The pilgrimage begins on Friday 20th September, when the papal envoy, Cardinal Angelo Scola, in the sports hall of Cair, brings out the particle cross of Christ and the relics of St. Helena, to greet the assembled pilgrims, and then from 19:00 pm he will serve the first evening prayer. After the evening prayer there will be a wake.

On the second day of pilgrimage, on 21st of September, from 8:00 pm, there will be  "Youth Way of the Cross" which will run from the Church of the Holy Chair of the Cross to the stadium, where they will be at 11:00 am, at formal summons. Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Angelo Scola will serve the Mass, along with cardinals, bishops and archbishops of the region.

Catholic believers, who are expected in large numbers, will then be able to visit the archaeological site of Mediana, whose reconstruction project started in the year of the anniversary of the Edict of Milan. Pilgrims will have an opportunity to visit the exhibition, "Constantine and the Edict of Milan in 313 - The birth of Christianity in the Roman provinces within Serbia", whose setting up of 180 exhibits of exceptional cultural value is now moved from Belgrade to Nis, in the site of" Philip Morris Operations LTD”.

Regional pilgrimage, organized in honor of the 17 centuries since the Edict of Milan, updates the issues related to freedom of religion, tolerance, reconciliation and cooperation between people. As the central regional celebration in the year marking the anniversary of the Edict of Milan, a collection of pilgrims from all over the world will be a bridge between all spiritual birth of Constantine the Great and of the act which provided "the right of everyone to believe according to their conscience."