An ecumenical Holy Cross pilgrimage to Vastseliina will take place on Saturday, 13 September 2025. The pilgrimage route leads from Pärnu to Vastseliina to honour the memory of former relics of the Holy Cross—the Black Cross of Pärnu and the White Cross of Vastseliina.
Pilgrimage programme
8:00 Holy Mass in Pärnu and Tallinn
9:30 Pärnu: procession to the memorial stone of St Nicholas’ Church and prayer before departure
8:45 Departure from Tallinn / 10:00 departure from Pärnu
11:00 Prayer service at the Orthodox church in Suure-Jaani
12:00 Prayer service at the Holy Cross Chapel in Vanamõisa
13:30 Rosary at the ruins of Rõngu vassal castle
15:00 Lunch at the Temp ja Taar café in Kanepi
16:30 Stations of the Cross at the ruins of Vastseliina Episcopal Castle
17:30 Vespers at the Pilgrims’ Chapel in Vastseliina
Transport and registration
Participants travelling from Pärnu or Tallinn may join the pilgrimage either by parish bus or using their own transport. Those coming from elsewhere must use their own transport.
Registration is required both for those travelling by car and for those wishing to use the parish bus.
Participants from Pärnu: Father Wodek, xwodek@gmail.com, 5555 8249
Participants from Tallinn and elsewhere: Triin Lilleberg, triin.lilleberg@gmail.com, 551 7064
Registration deadline: 25 August 2025
Estimated participation fee
€30 for participants using the parish bus;
€10 for participants using their own car.
The pilgrimage is organised by Pärnu St Elizabeth’s Parish of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church and St John the Apostle Parish in Pärnu of the Roman Catholic Church.
For fifteen years, the Holy Cross pilgrimage has marked the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Cross of Christ, the sign of redemption, unites all Christians. Everyone is therefore invited to our ecumenical pilgrimage to pray together and get to know one another.
Read more
- Holy Cross pilgrimage to Vastseliina, 13 September 2025, on the website of the Roman Catholic parish in Pärnu
