Medjugorje photos and the first days of the Apparitions

PANORAMIC VIEW ON MEDJUGORJE (from Krizevac)

On June 24th, 1981 in a parish of the Medjugorje village Bijakovici in the country that was at the time still under the communist regime Our Lady, Virgin Mary appeared to six children. To the Christian people of this southeast part of Europe, such an apparition was unknown. Croatians always had a great devotion towards Mother of God, "Queen of Croats" as they sing to Her in one of the songs.
On that afternoon of the feast day of St. John The Baptist at about six o'clock in the evening, on the hill known as Podbrdo six children saw a young woman with a little child in her arms. The children in question, the sole witnesses of this most divine sight were Ivanka Ivankovic, Mirjana Dragicevic, Vicka Ivankovic, Ivan Dragicevic, Ivan Ivankovic and Milka Pavlovic The young woman did not say anything to them but indicated with gestures that they should come closer. Surprised and frightened they were afraid to come near, even though they immediately thought her to be Our Lady.

The following day, on June 25th, the six children, hoping to see Our Lady again, met up at the same place where she had appeared to them the day before. Missing amongst the six from the previous day were Ivan Ivankovic and Milka Pavlovic who were replaced by Maria Pavlovic and Jakov Colo. With a flash of light, Our Lady appeared again and beckoned the children with her arms, to which they responded by falling to their knees and praying. After the prayers, Our Lady spoke to the children and finally withdrew with the words:

"God be with you my angels!"

OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE, MEDJUGORJE 1981

On June 26th, the children once again purposely walked towards the same place where Our Lady had appeared to them. On their way to the apparition site, a bright light flashed three times indicating, to them, the whereabouts of Our Lady. Vicka, who had taken holy water with her, splashed some in the direction of the vision and said "If you are Our Blessed Mother, please stay, and if you are not, go away from us". Our Lady stayed and upon Mirjana's inquiries said, with a smile, "I am the Blessed Virgin Mary." Later in the day, the Lady appeared to Maria and said "Peace, peace, peace and only peace” and then with tears in her eyes, "Peace must reign between man and God, and among all people!"

The following day the Lady appeared to the children three times. They asked her many questions to which she readily responded. Sending a message to the priests to care of the faith of the people, Our Lady left the children with the words "May God be with you my angels, go in peace”.
On June 29th, the children were taken to Mostar for a medical examination to determine their mental state. The head doctor, proclaiming them healthy, added "These children aren't crazy, the person who brought them here must be though..."

Taken back to the Apparition Hill, where the crowd was larger than ever, the children resumed their usual place and began to pray. The Lady appeared and honestly urged the children to have faith, voicing her appeal "The people should believe firmly and have no fear”.

The parish of Medjugorje, spread out at an altitude of 200 meters above sea level, was founded in 1892 and placed under the protection of St. James, the patron saint of pilgrims. Five years later, the old parish church of St. James was completed but, built on earthquake prone ground, began to sink and crack. After World War I it was decided that a new parish church should be built to replace the old one. Thereafter, the new church was completed and blessed on January 19th 1969.

PODBRDO - APPARITION HILL IN BIJAKOVICI

Approximately two kilometers from the church of St. James, Cross Mountain can be found. It is here that the pastor and people of Medjugorje constructed and erected the 8.56 meter high concrete cross to commemorate the 1900 th anniversary of the Passion of Jesus Christ. Completed on March 15th, 1934, the base of the cross became the site on which believers celebrated Holy Mass on the feast of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

CROSS ON THE TOP OF KRIZEVAC

Some useful phone numbers

Information Office:
+387-36-651-988

Parish Office:
Phone +387-36-650-206
650-310
651-333
Fax: +387-36-651-444

E-mail: medjugorje-mir@medjugorje.hr;
Web address: http://www.medjugorje.hr

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