(Minghui.org) July 5th marked an important day in the ecclesiastical tradition—the feast day of Saints Cyril and Methodius, two Byzantine brothers who brought Christianity to the Slavic regions. They were credited with creating the Old Slavonic writing system and were believed to have been active in the regions of modern-day Nitra in Slovakia and Velehad in the Czech Republic. In 1980, Pope John Paul II declared the two saints co-patron saints of Europe alongside Saint Benedict.
A large fair was held in Nitra on July 4 and 5, 2026, to celebrate this feast day, entitled Nitra, Beloved Nitra—Pribina and Saints Cyril and Methodius celebrations. The celebrations attracted thousands of visitors from across Slovakia and abroad.
Falun Dafa practitioners set up an information booth on Štefánik Street, where the festival was being held. Over the course of both days, they demonstrated the five Falun Dafa exercises, spoke with visitors about the physical and mental benefits of the practice, and explained the persecution that practitioners in China have faced since 1999.
Many passersby stopped at the booth, read the information, asked questions, and signed the petition calling for an end to the persecution. Some visitors even tried out the exercises.
Practitioners demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises in Nitra on July 4. (Minghui.org)
People in Nitra signed a petition to stop the persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China. (Minghui.org)
It is Important to Let More People Know About the Persecution
Many festival attendees expressed support for Falun Dafa practitioners, saying that the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) aggression toward religious minorities like Falun Dafa was unacceptable and should stop immediately.
Erika, a nurse, and Simona, a student, signed the practitioners’ petition. “It is inhumane to forbid people from holding their beliefs and to harm them because of them,” Erika said.
Simona said that long-term human rights abuses can have broader consequences, “When things like this [persecution] continue for a long time, they can gradually start to seem normal. That’s why it’s important to talk about them. I feel that far too few people still know about this, and much of the information remains hidden,” she said.
Massage therapist Zuzana signed the petition and said that people around the world should unite and help one another. “It’s important to stop something like this [persecution]. It’s inhumane, and it is important that people around the world unite, help each other, and that everyone has the freedom to believe in what they choose,” she said.
Former Social Worker Condemns the Persecution
Another supporter of the petition was Gabi, a former child welfare and social protection worker. In her view, every person has the right to live according to their beliefs without fear of persecution.
“Everyone has the right to life. What these people are doing is not illegal, so I see no reason why they should be persecuted,” she said.
She also said that the principles of Falun Dafa—Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—represent values that could positively influence society as a whole. “I think that if people lived by these principles, the world would look completely different from the way it does today,” she said.
She offered words of encouragement to Falun Gong practitioners in China who continue to face persecution. “Keep standing up for your rights and don’t give up,” she said.
Receptionist Monika Tanková also added her signature to the petition. “I wanted to help them, at least with my signature. I hope it will help them in some way,” she said.
Sabinov on June 13
Practitioners had held similar activities throughout June prior to attending the festival in Nitra.
Information day event in Sabinov on June 13 (Minghui.org)
During Sabinov City Day on June 13, practitioners introduced visitors to the Falun Dafa meditation exercises and informed them about the ongoing persecution in China.
Many attendees learned about Falun Dafa for the first time, signed the petition, and left with an origami lotus flower—a symbol of hope and purity. Some attendees were particularly interested in the exercises and expressed a desire to learn more about the practice.
Štrbské Pleso on June 27
Two weeks later, on Saturday, June 27, a similar event took place at Štrbské Pleso, where practitioners spoke with both Slovak and international tourists who were visiting the High Tatras mountain range.
People signed the petition at an event in Štrbské Pleso. (Minghui.org)
Many people expressed sympathy for practitioners in China and signed the petition. One older visitor remarked as she signed, “Anyone who does not value the lives of others does not value their own.”
Copyright © 1999-2026 Minghui.org. All rights reserved.
