Zagreb - The Bethlehem Light of Peace arrived in Croatia on Sunday for the 33rd consecutive time, and at the ceremonial handover in front of Zagreb Cathedral, Sabor Speaker Gordan Jandroković said that the Light symbolises faith, love, hope and peace, values that are especially needed in the world today.
"It is a great pleasure for me, for the ninth year in a row, to welcome the Bethlehem Light of Peace. It symbolises faith, love and hope, but especially peace and connectedness among nations and states. In a time when the world is threatened by various dangers, I hope that its message will strengthen the forces that advocate peace, tolerance and mutual respect," said the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament.
The Light was brought by scouts in a procession that set off from European Square to Zagreb Cathedral, after which a Mass was held.
The Bethlehem Light, a symbolic flame lit annually at the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem, is traditionally brought to Austria by Austrian scouts, and at the ecumenical ceremony in the Mariendom in Linz on 6 December it is received by representatives of scouting organisations from across Europe to be distributed before Christmas. For the 33rd year in a row, Croatian scouts are travelling to Austria to collect the Light and bring it to Zagreb, from where it spreads to parishes and institutions throughout Croatia.
This year as well, the Scout Association of Croatia has prepared a special mobile application through which one can follow where the Light has been brought and enter messages of peace, so that it can be seen how its light spreads across the country from hour to hour.