Mary Help of Christians at Brezje

In 1814, Leopold Layer painted an image of Mary Help of Christians at Brezje (known in Slovene as Marija Pomagaj) in thanksgiving for his deliverance from a Napoleonic jail. After the first miraculous healings at Brezje in 1863, followed by a continuous stream of pilgrims, the painting has become the nation's most venerated image of the Virgin Mary. Considered by many the most 'Slovenian' of all Marian representations, the venerable image of Our Lady of Brezje continues to draw Slovenes from home and abroad, reaffi rming Brezje as the main national shrine and spiritual center. This book, expertly written by several authors and published on the occasion of the bicentenary of the venerable image, presents splendid accounts on Brezje's role in the development of Marian veneration and national maturity among Slovenes, its miraculous events, large Christian gatherings, architectural and artistic treasures, and pilgrim culture. ese are accompanied by over 370 photographs, maps, documents and other supplements, as well as personal testimonies by Slovenian bishops and pilgrims who received special graces at Brezje. Povejmo, kaj Slovencem pomeni Marija Pomagaj Video predstavitve: