We have written about this several times, how, nestled in the Carpathian Mountains, of northeastern Slovakia, lies the quiet village of Litmanová, once an obscure hamlet but now a place of deep spiritual resonance due to a series of alleged Marian apparitions that occurred between 1990 and 1995.
These apparitions—claimed by two young girls, Ivetka Korčáková and Katka Češelková—have not only captivated the faithful of Slovakia but have drawn quiet yet growing international attention. We are considering a pilgrimage there.
Emerging in the waning days of Communist rule, Litmanová offered a piercing contrast to the materialism and atheism of the age: a return to purity, simplicity, and devotion to God.
The apparitions began on August 5, 1990, when 11-year-old Ivetka and 12-year-old Katka claimed to have encountered the Blessed Virgin Mary while praying in a wooden shack on Zvir Mountain, just outside the village.
They described her as a radiant figure dressed in white, exuding a maternal gentleness and divine authority.
Over the next five years, the Virgin—referred to by the girls as “The Immaculate Purity”—would allegedly appear to them monthly, primarily to Ivetka, delivering messages of spiritual urgency and motherly concern.
These visions occurred during a transitional moment in history. The Iron Curtain had recently fallen, and Slovakia—newly free from Communist dominance—was rediscovering its religious roots. In that sense, Litmanová’s message arrived as a spiritual balm and a challenge for a people long deprived of open worship. The local bishop offered approval.
The messages emphasized purity, simplicity, and trust in the Lord.
But in those messages were also some tantalizing hints about the future—what could occur—as well as the way Heaven viewed things like war in the Middle East.
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The Virgin Mary expressed her gratitude to the girls (as she had previously), but this time she appeared particularly sorrowful. She said, “I am deeply saddened that my children are killing each other shedding blood, even though I am your loving Mother. The war in the Persian Gulf is not the Will of God.
“For several years now, the world has been under the influence of the devil. Slovakia stands on the brink of a great disaster, but as your loving Mother, I am ready to help you. It is entirely up to you whether you will turn to me and pray. If you, my children, believe that the disaster is inevitable, then it will come.
“But if you resist and place yourself fully in God’s Hands, praying: ‘Let God’s will be done,’ the catastrophe will be averted, for ‘I will come at the right time.’
“I am your beloved Mother, and I invite all my dear children at this time to carry a blessed object with you. By doing so, the devil will have less power over you.”
These messages remain pertinent (and urgent) in our time.
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But again: unlike some other Marian apparitions that emphasize apocalyptic warnings, the core of the Litmanová messages was deeply personal and spiritual. The Blessed Virgin consistently called for purity of heart and life not merely in sexual terms but as a broader call to spiritual cleanliness and sincerity. She urged believers to purify their thoughts, desires, and intentions.
A “return to simplicity” was an invitation for us to detach from worldly distractions, consumerism, and material excess. This was a countercultural cry in a world quickly diving into Western materialism after Communism’s fall.
Prayer, especially the Rosary, was mentioned at Litmanová as a means of entering into deeper relationship with God and warding off spiritual attacks. And the sacraments, particularly frequent Confession and Holy Communion, were emphasized as a source of strength and Grace.
At Litmanová, Mary often repeated the phrase: “Be willing to do what God wants of you.”
After the apparitions ceased in 1995, both visionaries quietly stepped away from public view. Katka entered married life, while Ivetka underwent a deeper spiritual journey. Years later, Ivetka would write a memoir in which she described how the apparitions led her to a profound transformation—not just through seeing Mary, but through learning to fully trust God in daily life. She emphasized that the greatest miracle of Litmanová was not the visions themselves, but the inward conversion and relationship with God that they inspired.
Unlike some apparition sites that became the center of controversy or spectacle, Litmanová has remained modest and contemplative. Pilgrims walk to the mountain chapel in prayer, often barefoot, seeking quiet rather than sensation.
The Diocese of Prešov has handled the events with pastoral care and cautious openness. In 2008, the site was officially designated a place of pilgrimage. Although the apparitions have not received full formal approval, the Church permits devotion there, and Masses and retreats are regularly held at the site. A wooden chapel or “Domček” built at the apparition site now houses the icon of the Theotokos and serves as a space for silent Adoration and Confession.
At its core, Litmanová does not seek to shock or terrify. It does not dazzle with predictions or dramatic phenomena. Instead, it whispers the Gospel message anew: Return to God, embrace purity, live simply, pray deeply, and trust in Divine Providence. In an age of digital noise, moral confusion, and spiritual fatigue, this quiet mountain calls believers to climb—not just physically, but spiritually—toward the heart of God.
For many, it is not merely a site of past visions, but a living echo of Mary’s perennial plea to humanity: “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5). And so the apparitions remind us that the most powerful revolutions are not political or cultural—but interior.
“Prayer is a powerful weapon through which anything can be achieved.”