Religious dimension of the Spisz region

The Spiš region, famous for its beautiful nature and rich history, also offers places that, in addition to cultural life, will delight tourists with meditation and spiritual activities. A festival with many attractions for all ages takes place in the vicinity of Spišská Kapituła and Spišské Podhradie. Tourists visiting the region can recharge their batteries thanks to a religious program full of ecumenical themes. Tourists will get strong impressions from theater exhibitions, singers' performances, singing songs, exhibitions, film screenings, concerts and lectures. In recent years, we could also watch the shows of a group of falconers at the festival, watch the sunset and Spiše Jerusalem from a horse-drawn carriage. Even the youngest, who enjoyed the field game "Passport of a Children's Pilgrim" in Spiš Jerusalem, were not forgotten. The program is also enlivened by the sightseeing of Spiš Jerusalem.

A few years ago (2011), doc. Ing. Peter Jančura, PhD., Rediscovered this place, which is located in the area of Pažica, near the Spiš Castle, and more specifically near the Spiš Chapter. Thanks to his research, perhaps the oldest in Slovakia, Calvary from 1666, was found here.

It is Spis Jerusalem, which was a not so long forgotten cluster of important historical buildings. Apart from the history, this place has another idea, much deeper. It's not just random and senselessly scattered chapels, their location carries the story behind it ...

The chapels are situated and distant from each other like important places of Christ's life on earth during the last two days. In this way, they create points corresponding to the important places and routes of old Jerusalem that connected them. The distance, the resemblance to Jerusalem was probably brought by the monks from Kalwaria Zebrzydowska in Poland, and it is known that they were also in Spišské Podhradí, because it once belonged to Poland. When pilgrimages to the Holy Land were a problem because of the war with the Turks, these symbols were to enable the faithful to experience the Way of the Cross as faithfully as possible.

The Jerusalem of Spis is divided into three main parts:

• Pažica with chapels, Krížová hora, St. Martin and the Cathedral of St. Martin in the area of the Spiš Chapter
• Sivá Brada with Golgotha
• The former ponds with a park near the village of Jablonov with a Jewish cemetery - no longer exists today

Pilgrims or tourists can admire: The bishop's residence in the Spiš Chapter is the house of Archpriest Kajfáš, the place of the Great Council meetings, the Chapel of St. Rosalia is represented by Herod's Palace, the Chapel of St. Francis Xavier shows the Antonia Fortress, the seat of Pilate in Jerusalem, the Chapel of St. Cross is once again Golgotha - the place of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. There is no shortage of the Passion, small chapels located on the northern and southern tip of Pažica. Today there are seven of them. They are arranged on rocky elevations, with their backs to Calvary and niches facing the road. They contained pictures from the life of Jesus Christ. They indicate the direction of the imaginary walls of Jerusalem. The so-called Gethsemane Garden was located southeast of the village of Jablonov, beyond the Vavrinca stream, where there were ponds and a park. However, this part is gone. However, the current of the Vavrinec stream has not changed and represents the stream of Kidron that flows along the walls of old Jerusalem.

Central Spiš near Poprad is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, especially the Spiš Castle, Žehra, Spišské Podhradie, Spišská Kapituła, Sivá brada, Pažica and Levoča.