Detailed review by Praskipark
Praskipark(57)
Warsaw, Poland98%
Czestochowa is in the Silesia region of Poland, approximately 126 kilometres from Cracow and has a population of around 250, 000 people. Poland's intense Catholicism can be experienced here in Czestochowa; one of the world's most important shrines of the cult of the Virgin Mary for Roman Catholic pilgrims. Every year Roman Catholic pilgrims from all over Poland make the journey to the baroque Monastery of Jasna Gora. The object of veneration is the miraculous Black Madonna (Czarna Madonna), a Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, which dates back from the Middle Ages. Like the Black Madonna of Montserrat and Guadalupe, the Czestochowa Madonna is steeped in legend. The face bears two cuts inflicted by a Pagan warlord, which apparently began to bleed.
The picture is a prime example of a particular style of Byzantine icon painting where very dark colours were used. In no other country in the world has a single work of art had such religious significance. During the Swedish invasion in 1655, the Swedes mounted a heavy siege on the monastery, set on a hill, which by this time had evolved into a fortified monastic complex. A sudden withdrawal by the Swedes was attributed to the intervention of the Black Madonna. This had a monumental impact, and as a result the Poles were able to drive the Swedes out of the country. King Kazimierz ceremoniously laid down his crown before the icon of the Madonna and in 1717 She was officially declared 'Queen of Poland'
The icon, donated in 1384 by Duke Wladyslaw of Opole, is regarded as being Poland's greatest religious relic. The monastery itself was founded by the Pauline order, to the west of the original town centre, in 1382. The complex is dominated by the Gothic monastery church, dating from 1463, surrounded by bastions and monastic buildings.
The icon of the Black Madonna is located over a priceless early baroque altar made of ebony and silver. Normally the picture is covered by a cloth, but it is unveiled with great ceremony and can be seen daily - 6 am - 1pm and from 2pm until 9.30 pm.
Pilgrims and tourists queue to see the holy picture, which it is claimed has miraculously cured numerous people. The Armoury Museum which is open daily from 9am until 5pm houses valuable relics, and an impressive Knights' Hall of the baroque monastery should not be missed.
Jasna Góra9
