It is hard to believe but almost six years have passed since we have visited Częstochowa with my friends from Postcrossing.com. When we were there, we did not visit the shrine of Jasna Góra, the most important place for all Catholics in Poland. We will visit it today.
The road to the shrine is bordered by national flags of all the pilgrims. Every year, three million pilgrims visit Częstochowa.
The main entrance is decorated with the coat of arms of the Polish Pope John Paul II. Totus tuus means "All yours".
The shrine of Jasna Góra is surrounded by tall walls. They used to protect the monks and the treasures of the shrine from military attacks. In 1655 Jasna Góra was under siege, when Swedish army has invaded Poland. The fact that the shrine did not surrender was the pivotal point of the war. Today, the moat outside the wall includes the stations of the Road of Cross. As you walk around, you can withes Jesus Christ falling ...
... and dying.
The beating heart of the shrine is the basilica. Here is the main entrance. On top you can see two sundials. Unfortunately, they do not work on a rainy day.
The first basilica was built in the sixteenth century. It was rebuilt a number of times, last time in baroque style.
But the most important place in the basilica is the side chapel. It is always full of people.
They all came with one thought in their minds - to place all their hope in the queen of Jasna Góra.
The miraculous painting of Our Lady of Jasna Góra is a national treasure. One of the Polish Kings has officially declared her the Queen of Poland. Her dark face gave her the nickname "the Black Madonna".
And if you do not believe in miracles, just look on the walls. All those crutches were left here by people who do not need them anymore.
The walls of Jasna Góra are filled with items that the pilgrims leave to Our Lady so that she gives them what they need the most. You can find there gold, silver and jewellery.
But also modest wooden rosaries. Because Virgin Mary cherishes rosary beyond all human treasures.
The road to the shrine is bordered by national flags of all the pilgrims. Every year, three million pilgrims visit Częstochowa.
The main entrance is decorated with the coat of arms of the Polish Pope John Paul II. Totus tuus means "All yours".
The shrine of Jasna Góra is surrounded by tall walls. They used to protect the monks and the treasures of the shrine from military attacks. In 1655 Jasna Góra was under siege, when Swedish army has invaded Poland. The fact that the shrine did not surrender was the pivotal point of the war. Today, the moat outside the wall includes the stations of the Road of Cross. As you walk around, you can withes Jesus Christ falling ...
... and dying.
The beating heart of the shrine is the basilica. Here is the main entrance. On top you can see two sundials. Unfortunately, they do not work on a rainy day.
The first basilica was built in the sixteenth century. It was rebuilt a number of times, last time in baroque style.
But the most important place in the basilica is the side chapel. It is always full of people.
They all came with one thought in their minds - to place all their hope in the queen of Jasna Góra.
The miraculous painting of Our Lady of Jasna Góra is a national treasure. One of the Polish Kings has officially declared her the Queen of Poland. Her dark face gave her the nickname "the Black Madonna".
And if you do not believe in miracles, just look on the walls. All those crutches were left here by people who do not need them anymore.
The walls of Jasna Góra are filled with items that the pilgrims leave to Our Lady so that she gives them what they need the most. You can find there gold, silver and jewellery.
But also modest wooden rosaries. Because Virgin Mary cherishes rosary beyond all human treasures.
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