“A sanctuary born from a vow,” whispered the wind as it rustled through the trees around pri Materi božji. Here, on the slopes of Monte Grisa, high above the city of Trieste, stands the imposing National Shrine of Mary Mother and Queen, or as it’s known locally, pri Materi božji. It’s hard to miss this concrete giant, a triangular structure meant to evoke the letter “M” for Mary. Pri Materi božji wasn’t simply designed; it was willed into existence. In 1945, as Trieste teetered on the brink of destruction during World War II, Bishop Antonio Santin made a desperate plea. He vowed to the Virgin Mary that if Trieste was spared, he would build a sanctuary in her honor. Trieste survived, and Santin’s vow became a mission. It took years, but in 1959, with the blessing of Pope John XXIII, the first stone was laid for pri Materi božji. The Pope dedicated the shrine to Mary Mother and Queen, a symbol of peace and unity, especially poignant given Trieste’s location near the border. That same year, a “Pilgrimage of Wonders” saw the statue of Our Lady of Fatima travel through Italy, eventually reaching Trieste. The connection to Fatima runs deep within pri Materi božji. A replica of the Fatima statue, commissioned by the Bishop of Leiria, resides within the shrine. The construction of pri Materi božji, this beacon of hope and faith, was completed in 1965. The shrine was officially inaugurated in 1966. Even Pope John Paul II graced pri Materi božji with his presence in 1992, solidifying its place as a significant religious site. Pri Materi božji stands as a testament to a vow fulfilled, a symbol of peace overlooking a city that was once threatened by war.
Центральный дом работников искусств
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