Bergenkruis

Hundreds of believers participate in the annual pilgrimage to Bergenkruis on Ascension Day. The tradition dates back at least to 1871, when an official pilgrimage was organized for the first time. Since then, the tradition has been maintained by the Our Lady of the Snow parish in Destelbergen.

The tradition of veneration in Bergenkruis goes back to the early 11th century when a procession halted there in 1007 during the transfer of relics of the Saint Livinus to Ghent. An archaeological inventory of East Flanders (1911) mentions Bergenkruis as one of the oldest known pilgrimage sites in the diocese of Ghent. The planting of hydrangeas dates back to World War I. A family from Westveld planted hydrangeas out of gratitude because their son had returned alive from the front. Since then, the tradition has been honored annually.

The cross at the current location was first mentioned in writings in 1768. Around 1860, pilgrimages are said to have already taken place, but the first official pilgrimage dates back to 1871. The wooden Stations of the Cross were donated in November 1898 by Vital Moreels from Tiegem as a restoration of honor, after the statue of Christ was set on fire by vandals on the night of June 26 to 27, 1898. The Stations of the Cross were later replaced by a sandstone Stations of the Cross donated by benefactors. Today, there are Eucharistic celebrations at 8 and 9 a.m. and in the afternoon at 4 p.m.

Source: vzw Catholic Works

Dirk Vervaet