Jasna Góra Monastery
The Jasna Góra Monastery (Polish: Jasna Góra, Luminous Mount, Hungarian: Fényes Hegy, Latin: Clarus Mons) in Częstochowa, Poland is the most famous shrine to the Virgin Mary in Poland and the country's greatest place of pilgrimage – for many its spiritual capital. The image of Black Madonna of Częstochowa, to which miraculous powers are attributed, is Jasna Góra's most precious treasure.[1]
Contents |
History
Founded in 1382 by Pauline monks who came from Hungary at the invitation of Władysław, Duke of Opole. The monastery has been a pilgrimage destination for hundreds of years, and it contains the most important icon of the Virgin Mary in this part of Europe. The icon, depicting the Mother of God with the Christ Child, is known as the Black Madonna of Częstochowa or Our Lady of Częstochowa, which is widely venerated and credited with many miracles.[2] Among these, it is credited with miraculously saving the Jasna Góra monastery during a siege that took place at the time of The Deluge, a 17th-century Swedish invasion. Although this event was of little military importance, the event stimulated the Polish resistance. The Poles could not immediately change the course of the war but after an alliance with the Crimean Khanate they repulsed the Swedes. Shortly thereafter, in the cathedral of Lviv, on April 1, 1656, Jan Kazimierz, the King of Poland, solemnly pronounced his vow to consecrate the country to the protection of the Mother of God and proclaimed Her the Patron and Queen of the lands in his kingdom.
Walking pilgrimages
Since the medieval ages, every year thousands of Poles go in pilgrim groups to visit Jasna Góra. It is estimated that in 2012 103,000 pilgrims went to the shrine. There are a few hundred groups. The average distance to travel is about 350 km, made in 11 days.[3]
One of the pilgrimages is Wrocław Walking Pilgrimage.
-
ground plan
-
Jasna Góra Monastery
-
The main nave of the basilica
-
Pilgrims arriving for the Feast of the Assumption
-
Benedict XVI on Jasna Góra in 2006
See also
References
- Notes
- ^ "Częstochowa official website". [[copyright|]] Urząd Miasta Częstochowy, Śląska 11/13, 42–217 Częstochowa. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
- ^ "Jasna Góra". [[copyright|]] 1998–2008 Copyright by Klasztor OO. Paulinów Jasna Góra – Częstochowa. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
- ^ "Telewizja Dami - Grupa Medialna". Telewizja.radom.pl. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
External links
- http://www.jasnagora.pl/ (English) (Polish) (Spanish) (German) (Italian)
- Jasna Góra and the Shrine of Our Lady of Częstochowa