Why visit
Why visit Marija Bistrica Shrine
Croatia's national Marian shrine — a basilica famous for a small black Madonna statue that survived a 1880 fire completely unscathed. Pope John Paul II beatified Cardinal Stepinac here in 1998 in front of over half a million pilgrims..
At a glance
Estimated visit
1 hour
Best season
August 15 for major pilgrimage
Where
Marija Bistrica, Croatia
Category
Church
History
Croatia's national Marian shrine — a basilica famous for a small black Madonna statue that survived a 1880 fire completely unscathed. Pope John Paul II beatified Cardinal Stepinac here in 1998 in front of over half a million pilgrims.
“The Black Madonna of Bistrica was rediscovered in 1684 hidden behind a wall — she had been sealed in over a century earlier to protect her from Ottoman raids.”
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