SLOVAKIA Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Rajecká Lesná (former Frivald)

In earlier times Rajecká Lesná - Frivald (Žilina Region of northern Slovakia) attracted pilgrims from near and far who came to make prayers and requests to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose statue stands above the main altar of the Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the request of His Eminence Ján Chryzostom Cardinal Korec, the bishop of Nitra, of 01 May 1994 expressing the prayers and wishes of his clergy and laity, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, based on a special decision of His Holiness Pope John Paul II, granted the pilgrimage church and parish church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary the title and rank of “basilica minor” with all rights and in accordance with the applicable liturgical regulations laid down in the Decree on the title of basilica minor of 09 November 1989.