Every three years in mid-June, men from Val Badia (in 2000 there were around 1,070 pilgrims) make a pilgrimage to the Church of the Holy Cross in Säben, praying and singing. This cloister lasts three days and follows a traditional order: The men from the Obergadertal parishes meet in the hamlet of Pescol (west of Pedraces) and from there walk together via Joél to the Campiller Valley, where they are joined by the participants from Campill. The procession reaches St. Magdalena in Villnöß via the Kreuzjoch at an altitude of 2,294 metres, where it awaits the arrival of the rest of the Val Badia.
The people from the Lower Badia Valley meet in Antermoia and together they walk via Börz / Würzjoch (2005 m) and the Halsl to St. Magdalena. Following the banner of the Church of the Holy Cross in Abtei, the now complete procession moves to St. Peter in Villnöß, where it is solemnly welcomed by the clergy and the population with flags, music and the ringing of bells. After a short liturgical celebration in the festively decorated church, everyone goes to their own hostel, many of which have been there for generations.
The next day, the bell calls the crusaders from their sleep at 4am. An hour later, the men can already be heard praying on the country road. They reach Säben at around 9.00 am. After celebrating the Eucharist together in the Church of the Holy Cross in Säben and after a short prayer in the Klausner parish church, the pilgrims return to St. Peter’s, where they spend the night for the second time. On the third day, after Holy Mass, the individual groups set off on their way home, sometimes on a slightly different route, and each parish joyfully welcomes its pilgrims with the sound of bells and a band.
The procession probably dates back to the period between 1250 and 1400. The first document where the procession is mentioned for the first time is dated 1503 (exactly 500 years ago) and on this occasion the Museum Ladin Ćiastel de Tor has organised an exhibition on the history of the procession. The most important original documents are on display, as well as the banner of the Church of the Holy Cross in Abbey with the crucifixes that each parish carries to Säben. The exhibition is rounded off with extensive photographic documentation and a re-enactment of the route that the pilgrims travelled over the three days.
The opening will take place on 28.06.2003 at 16.00 in the Museum Ladin Ćiastel de Tor in St. Martin in Thurn and will be performed by Vicar General Dr Josef Matzneller. The exhibition is freely accessible during the opening hours of the museum from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm and on Sunday from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm.