Prešov
Timetable of the visitBasic information for participants
The Holy Father Francis will visit Prešov on 14 September 2021.
He will be celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and announce homily. The celebration will take place in front of the main City Sport Hall, on the John Paul II Street.
On this day, the Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the venerable and life-giving Cross.
The main program with the Holy Father will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30. a.m.
Two hours before the arrival of the Holy Father, that is at 8:00 am, the area in front of the Sport Hall will be closed. We encourage Greek Catholics, Roman Catholics, faithful of other Churches, Presov citizens and all the people of good will to participate joyfully in the meeting in Prešov.
Please visit this webpage regularly: information will be updated. On this page, you will find everything in time.
Basic information
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Conditions for participation
According to the regulations currently in force, those who are fully vaccinated will be able to participate in the meeting, that is, you need to meet one of the following conditions:
- a) vaccinated with multi-dose vaccines, at least 14 days after the second dose
- b) vaccinated with single-dose vaccine, at least 21 days after the first dose (vaccine Janssen from Johnson&Johnson)
- c) vaccinated with the first dose, after at least 14 days if you have had Covid-19 in the past 180 days
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Registration for the meeting with the Holy Father in Prešov
Only fully vaccinated and registered visitors are permitted to attend events associated with the Holy Father's Apostolic Journey. Visitors must bring a printed ticket with a unique QR-code. The ticket will be checked before access to the wider area surrounding the event and at the event itself, on entry to each sector.
Each visitor must register INDIVIDUALLY and in advance.
Registration can be found on this page.
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Transport
On the day of the meeting, there will be some traffic restrictions in Prešov: it will not be possible to get to the City Sport Hall by cars or buses. Those will be parked in the prepared parking lots.
Shuttle buses will be provided to transport visitors from the parking lots to the site. Please check this page on regular basis: we will publish updates on transport, parking and walkability.
At the same time, there will be FREE BUS SHUTTLE TRANSPORT from the parking lots.
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Spiritual preparation
We ask for your prayerful support for the visit of the Holy Father Francis to Slovakia.
A 40-day spiritual preparation for the Holy Father's visit has been underway in the Greek Catholic Church in Slovakia since 6 August and can be found on this page. From 15 August, there will also be a joint nationwide spiritual preparation through Catholic media and social networks.
Practical information on how to participate in the meeting with the Holy Father in Prešov
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Map of access to the event
Venue: GPS 48.985158, 21.236770
We will add a detailed map of the event and all important locations (car parks, medical services, layout of sectors, etc.): please check this page repeatedly and stay informed.
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Entrance to the event
On all Apostolic Journeys of the Pope, you must go through several security checks. The control gates in Prešov will open on 14 September 2021 at 02:00. Each participant must pass through these checkpoints individually. Please plan your arrival in advance so that you can pass through the security checkpoints on time and without stress. You will then be directed by volunteers to the sectors where you will remain for the entire event. Toilets will be available in lines of the sectors.
Please refer to the event map for directions to the check gates to enter the grounds and sectors. There is no need to be hesitant with your arrival time - so that you can get as close as possible. Sectors will be filled sequentially from the stage (once a sector is filled, it will be closed and next sector will be filled).
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Accompanying programme
The arrival of the Holy Father will be preceded by an accompanying programme - an immediate spiritual programme - with interesting guests. We will publish the programme and the guests soon.
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What should I prepare?
Documents you need to enter the event:
- - ID card (Passport)
- - QR code that you will receive after having registed for the event in the REGISTRATION system (it is necessary to have a printed paper copy with you)
First of all, there will be a QR code-check, together with your ID card-check (you need to print out the QR code, which will be emailed to you after your registration). This will be followed by a security check and then you will enter the sector.
Important: Do not leave or attempt to change the sector once you have entered. You may leave the sector to use the toilet, but then you need to return back. It will not be possible to move to another sector (e.g. closer to the stage).
Due to the current epidemic measures, you will be registered in your sector for possible epidemic contact tracing.
As you will be in the sector for several hours, please bring some liquids and refreshments with you.
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Closure of access routes and sectors
Closure of access roads to the site for private vehicles will be already in the evening of 13 September 2021. Therefore, you will need to walk or use shuttle buses.
All participants must then pass through the checkpoints and enter the sectors by 8.00 am on 14 September 2021, two hours before the Holy Father's scheduled arrival. After this time, the entrances to the sectors will be closed.
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Safety instructions
- 112 / INTEGRATED RESCUE SYSTEM
- 150 / FIREFIGHTERS
- 155 / AMBULANCE
- 158 / POLICE
- - Bring only essential personal belongings. Limit metal objects to minimum: (mobile phones, cameras, binoculars, key bundles, chains, watches, thermoses, pocket knives, foldable chairs, etc.) Do not leave personal belongings unattended.
- - It is forbidden to bring: firearms and their replicas, tear gas, tear gas canisters, electric stun guns, knives, metal rods, long sharp objects, etc.
- - A no-fly zone for air traffic will be declared for the spots of the visit for several days in advance and during the stay of the Holy Father. This restriction also applies to drones.
- - It is forbidden to bring animals, with exception of trained guide dogs assisting people with disabilities.
- - In case of any health or safety issue, please contact the nearest volunteer (reflective vest) or the nearest police officer, military officer or paramedic (uniform).
- - Consumption of alcoholic beverages is strictly forbidden! The same applies to smoking, advertisement of political parties (by word, clothing, flags, etc.) and promotion of all kinds of commercial entities.
- - The organizer has the right to withdraw the permission to participate to anyone who refuses to comply with the rules.
- - Drinking water will be available in tankers on the premises. Refreshments can only be purchased in the parking lots area, not in the event area itself.
- Entrances to the event area will close at 8:00am.
- For the necessary time before arrival of the Holy Father, movement in the corridors (even to toilets) will be restricted.
Assistance points
There will be medical service points for the physically handicapped.
Participation and registration of children
If children up to 12 years of age (accompanied by a parent) are attending, please indicate this when registering. These children will be listed on your ticket and they are not required to be fully vaccinated against Covid 19 or the Covid test.
Older children must be registered separately and meet the full vaccination requirement.
Participation and registration of physically disadvantaged persons
Please indicate information about your eventual handicaps at registration. Based on this, you will be included in the sector with enhanced assistance.
Volunteers
An event of this nature needs several volunteers. Please help us with recruiting them.
We are attaching an active link for volunteers to sign up. We are especially asking for mature adults to help with the organization, so that as many participants as possible will be able to attend the meeting with Pope Francis, who will celebrate the Byzantine Divine Liturgy in Prešov: it will be a historic and unrepeatable event.
Programme of the visit of the Holy Father Francis to Prešov on 14 September 2021
| 02:00 | Opening of the entrance control gates; several hours of immediate spiritual programme |
| 10:00 | Arrival of the Holy Father - passing through the sectors in the papamobile |
| 10:30 | Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom celebrated by Holy Father Francis, who will announce the homily |
| 12:30 p.m - 2 p.m. | Continuation of the accompanying programme |
Contacts
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Information Centre
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For volunteers
