On January 13, 1866, in the remote Bohemian village of Filipov, a bedridden servant woman named Magdalena Kade received an extraordinary visitation. She had suffered from a painful intestinal tumor for twelve years, unable to work, barely able to move. As she lay in her simple room, she saw a brilliant light, and from it emerged the figure of a woman in white and blue, holding a golden heart radiating flames. "My daughter," the apparition said, "from now on you shall cease to suffer. I have obtained this grace for you." When the light faded, Magdalena discovered that her tumor had vanished. She rose from her bed completely healed.
Within weeks, pilgrims began arriving in this obscure corner of northern Bohemia, drawn by reports of miraculous cures at the spring near Magdalena's house. The local bishop launched an investigation. By 1867, over 400 verified healings had been documented, and the Church authorized public veneration. Today, the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary rises above the village, its twin towers visible across the forested hills, marking the Czech Republic's most significant Marian apparition site—a place where faith persisted through Habsburg decline, Nazi occupation, and forty years of Communist suppression.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Magdalena Kade was born in 1835 in Jiříkov, a town near the Saxony border. At twenty-three, she entered domestic service in Filipov, working for a farming family. In 1854, she developed an intestinal tumor that progressively worsened until she could no longer work. By 1865, physicians had exhausted their treatments, and Magdalena resigned herself to a life of pain and dependency.
The apparition of January 13, 1866 changed everything. Magdalena described seeing a radiant woman who identified herself as the Mother of God. The Virgin held a golden heart with flames emanating from it, and she promised Magdalena complete healing. When the vision ended, the tumor that had tormented Magdalena for twelve years was gone. She lived another forty-seven years, dying in 1913 at the age of seventy-eight.
Word of the miracle spread rapidly through the German-speaking communities of northern Bohemia. Pilgrims arrived seeking their own healings, many reporting cures after drinking from or bathing in the spring near Magdalena's residence. The Bishop of Litoměřice ordered a canonical investigation in 1866. Over four hundred healings were examined and verified, leading to official Church recognition in 1867.
The faithful built a wooden chapel at the apparition site, but the growing number of pilgrims soon demanded something larger. Construction of the present church began in 1870 under the direction of architect Maximilian Felber. The neo-Romanesque basilica, with its distinctive twin towers and spacious interior, was consecrated in 1885. Pope Leo XIII granted special indulgences to pilgrims, and Filipov joined the network of Marian shrines that stretched across Central Europe.
The twentieth century tested the shrine severely. The Sudetenland, where Filipov is located, was incorporated into Nazi Germany in 1938. After World War II, the German-speaking population was expelled, and the Czechoslovak Communist government assumed control. From 1948 to 1989, the authorities actively discouraged pilgrimage, closing the shrine for extended periods and restricting religious gatherings.
Despite official suppression, the faithful continued to visit. Priests celebrated Mass quietly when they could. Pilgrims arrived individually or in small groups to pray at the spring and venerate the Virgin. When Communism collapsed in 1989, Filipov experienced immediate revival. Pope John Paul II elevated the church to minor basilica status in 1996, recognizing both its historical significance and its role in preserving Czech Catholic identity through decades of persecution.
Today, approximately 50,000 pilgrims visit Filipov annually. The site attracts both Czech and German visitors—the latter often descendants of the expelled Sudetenland population returning to the villages of their ancestors. The Redemptorist Fathers administer the shrine, continuing a tradition of pastoral care that has served pilgrims for over a century.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Filipov
Bazilika Nanebevzetí Panny Marie
Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary
The neo-Romanesque basilica dominates the village, its twin towers rising above the surrounding forests and fields. The interior maintains the serene atmosphere appropriate to a Marian shrine, with the main altar featuring an image of the Virgin Mary as she appeared to Magdalena Kade—clothed in white and blue, holding the golden flaming heart.
The basilica preserves numerous ex-votos left by pilgrims in thanksgiving for healings received. These tangible testimonies of faith span over 150 years, from the earliest pilgrimages to the present day. Side chapels provide spaces for private prayer, and confessionals are staffed during pilgrimage seasons.
Kaple Zjevení
Chapel of the Apparition
This small chapel marks the exact location where the Virgin Mary appeared to Magdalena Kade in 1866. The original wooden structure has been replaced by a more permanent building, but the site retains its intimate, devotional character. Many pilgrims begin their visit here before proceeding to the basilica.
Svatá Studánka
Holy Spring
The miraculous spring flows near the apparition site, enclosed in a small shelter where pilgrims may drink the water or fill containers to take home. Many of the early healings at Filipov were associated with this spring, and the faithful continue to attribute healing properties to its waters.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of the Assumption — August 15
The principal pilgrimage draws thousands to Filipov for the Solemnity of the Assumption. The Bishop of Litoměřice typically presides over the main Mass, celebrated outdoors when attendance exceeds the basilica's capacity. The celebration includes processions, Eucharistic adoration, and opportunity for confession throughout the day.
Anniversary of the Apparition — January 13
The anniversary of Magdalena Kade's healing is commemorated with special liturgies honoring the Virgin Mary's appearance. Winter conditions limit attendance, but devoted pilgrims brave the cold to mark this foundational event.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Penzion Filipov (pilgrim accommodation) — Simple accommodation near the basilica, operated in connection with the shrine. Contact the parish office for availability. Tel: +420 412 355 039.
Hotel Nový Dům ⭐⭐⭐ — Three-star hotel in Rumburk (8 km), with restaurant and wellness facilities. Reserve this hotel
Penzion U Kocoura (guesthouse) — Family-run guesthouse in Jiříkov (3 km), offering traditional Bohemian hospitality. Reserve this property
🚗 Getting There
By Air: The nearest international airports are Prague Václav Havel Airport (PRG), approximately 130 km south, and Dresden Airport (DRS) in Germany, approximately 60 km northwest.
By Train: The nearest station is Jiříkov (3 km), served by regional trains from Děčín and Rumburk. From Prague, take the train to Děčín (approximately 2 hours), then change for the regional line to Jiříkov.
By Bus: Regional bus services connect Filipov to Rumburk and other towns in the Šluknov Hook region.
By Car: From Prague, take the D8 motorway north toward Dresden, exit at Ústí nad Labem, then follow Route 13 through Děčín to Rumburk and Filipov (approximately 130 km, 2 hours).
🔗 Useful Links
Filipov Pilgrimage Site — Official website with history and Mass schedules.
Czech Tourism — General visitor information.
Czech Railways — Train schedules and booking.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Hejnice (80 km) — The Basilica of the Visitation houses a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary venerated since the fourteenth century.
Prague (130 km) — The Infant Jesus of Prague at the Church of Our Lady Victorious draws pilgrims from around the world.
Dresden (70 km, Germany) — The Hofkirche (Cathedral of the Holy Trinity) served as the Catholic cathedral of the Saxon court.
📚 Further Reading
Jonathan Luxmoore and Jolanta Babiuch. The Vatican and the Red Flag: The Struggle for the Soul of Eastern Europe — History of Catholic resistance under Communism, including Czech devotional life.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"From now on you shall cease to suffer. I have obtained this grace for you." — The Blessed Virgin Mary to Magdalena Kade, January 13, 1866
