The small village of Ľutina in northeastern Slovakia doesn’t stand out for anything in particular, except for having the oldest Greek Catholic minor basilica in Slovakia. And it is precisely this basilica that makes Ľutina a significant Greek Catholic pilgrimage site in the country.
The origin of the pilgrimage site in Ľutina, located near Sabinov in northeastern Slovakia, is linked to an event from 1851. According to legend, on the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord that year, Saint Nicholas appeared to a local woman, Zuzana Feketeová, while she was picking mushrooms. He reprimanded her for “working” on a holy day and asked her to erect a holy cross at the place where they met. Later, he appeared to her again and gifted her a Marian icon. Thanks to the dedication of the local priest and the faithful, a cross was erected first, followed by a chapel. This event turned Ľutina into one of the most important Greek Catholic pilgrimage sites in Slovakia. In 1855, Pope Pius IX granted indulgences in Ľutina, and in 1988, Pope John Paul II elevated the local church to the status of a minor basilica.
The oldest Greek Catholic basilica in Slovakia
There are three Greek Catholic basilicas in Slovakia, with the Basilica of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in Ľutina considered the oldest. It stands out for its neo-baroque architecture and richly decorated interior. The interior features beautiful frescoes depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary and various saints. Inside, visitors can admire a rare iconostasis crafted by local artisans, and outside, they can pray at the Calvary with 14 wooden crosses located within the basilica grounds.
Visit the miniature open-air museum within the basilica complex
One of the local attractions is a miniature open-air museum of wooden churches. In one place, it showcases dozens of scaled-down models of wooden churches found throughout eastern Slovakia, as well as in neighboring Poland and Ukraine. The models are meticulously crafted, faithfully capturing the architecture, including details like windows, doors, towers, and decorations. It’s a unique opportunity to see these gems of folk architecture all in one place.
Within a 15 km radius of Ľutina, it’s worth visiting the ruins of Kamenica Castle, the historical center of Sabinov, the Drienica ski resort, Hanigovce Castle, and the lookout tower at Balážka.