The
Black Madonna of Czestochowa is world famous. Each year more than 3
million pilgrims flock to the city of 250,000 in southern Poland where
the 1991 World Youth Days took place. It is believed that the famous
icon of the Madonna was painted by the Apostle Luke himself. The icon is
located in the convent of the Pauline Fathers, on the hill of Jasna
Góra (“the illuminated mountain”).
Tradition
tells us that through Our Lady’s intercession an invading Swedish army
was defeated in 1655 near the city. In recognition, King Jan Kazimierz
proclaimed the Virgin Mary "Queen of Poland."
Today,
the Black Madonna of Czestochowa and the Jasna Góra monastery are still
symbols of freedom and independence to the Polish people. Pilgrimages to
Czestochowa had a special meaning at the time of the partition of
Poland between Russia and Prussia, but also under the Nazi occupation
and the communist regime.
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