Pilgrims shelter in Aglona school basement during airspace alert

About 1,000 pilgrims sought shelter in the basement of Aglona Catholic Gymnasium after an airspace threat was declared in several Latvian municipalities early Friday, LSM reported.

The alert was issued at around 4 a.m. in Augšdaugava, Preiļi, Rēzekne, Balvi and Alūksne municipalities. Several groups of pilgrims had arrived in Aglona, where the culmination of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is expected on August 14 and 15.

Footage recorded by Latvian Television showed people staying at the gymnasium moving to the basement after receiving the warning. They remained there for about an hour, until allied fighter jets shot down a drone in Balvi Municipality and the threat ended.

The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Latvia’s largest religious event, drawing thousands of pilgrims and worshippers each year to Aglona Basilica and its sacred square.

The largest number of pilgrims is expected in Aglona on Friday. At 10 p.m., they are traditionally scheduled to take part in the People’s Way of the Cross with candles in their hands. The celebrations will culminate on Saturday, August 15, with a solemn Mass.

Additional bus services will run during the feast on the Riga–Preiļi and Preiļi–Aglona–Grāveri routes, while additional train services will operate on the Riga–Daugavpils line.