In the small picturesque Herzegovinian village of Tihaljina is the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and what it is most famous for is one of the most beautiful statues of Mary in the world.
Many believers identify this statue with the one from Medjugorje and when they imagine the image of Our Lady, they actually think of the one in Tihaljina. Many workers in souvenir shops confirm to pilgrims that it is located in the Medjugorje church, which is not entirely true, because the well-known figure from the prayer photos is located almost 40 kilometers away, in Tihaljina.
However, although somewhat hidden from the hustle and bustle of Medjugorje, many pilgrims have learned about Mary from Tihaljina. In fact, a huge number of pilgrims, especially in the summer, visit the statue of Our Lady in this small village, which has no more than a thousand inhabitants.
