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Monday, October 7, 2013

The Black Madonna Painting of Czestochowa Story, Polish Legend

Czestochowa is a city in south Poland known for Pauline monastery of Jasna Gora. Every year many pilgrims from around the world travel to the monastery to see the famous painting of Black Madonna. The history of the painting is not clear. There are many legends surrounding it how it arrived there.

There are sources tracing the painting origin to St. Luke, one of the Four Evangelists. With his talented hand, he painted the image of Virgin Mary (Black Madonna) with a child on a cedar table top at which the Holy Family sat.

After the crucifixion of Jesus in Jerusalem, Christians were mistreated. They were questioned, imprisoned, or chased out of towns. It was a painful experience for Christians, who just lost their Savior and now were condemned for believing in him. Among the chaos that was surrounding the city; the house of St. Luke’s mother was spared a knock on the door, where the painting was hidden under the wooden floor.   

How the painting got uncovered from under the floor? It is not known. However, what is known is that two hundred years later, it was gifted to Empress Helena, who ruled over a huge kingdom called Byzantium. A devoted Christian, she was known for her dedication to the poor, wounded and ordinary worshippers. While making pilgrimage to Jerusalem, she received many gifts and among them was the painting of Black Madonna.
 
Through the following centuries the painting was passed on from one ruler to another. Constantine the Great received it from his mother, Empress Helena. Many centuries later, the icon was in the hands of another devoted Christian, Prince Lev. He brought it from Byzantium to Rus. (Today’s Belarus and Ukraine.) At his Belz Castle, the painting was decorated with a crown and presented to the people for worshipping. This way giving a start of adoring the Black Madonna.

After the death of Prince Lev, Polish King wanting to combine both lands, Rus and Polish, invaded the Belz Castle with the help of Duke Opolski. They succeeded after many days of ferocious fight, taking over the castle and the land.

Once inside the walls, the Duke rushed inside the castle to look for goods and chattels. Among many treasures, he saw something amazing.  His eyes rested on a painting. A serene peace surrounded him. He was staring at the face of Black Madonna. Deep in his thoughts, keeping his eyes on her face he whispered to the servants, “Take the painting to a bright room.”

With a special care, the servants carried the painting slowly to the next room. It was situated on a massive chair facing the window. Duke Opolski gazing at the image, which was brightened by the day light coming through the window, was astonished even more. It seemed as the time had stopped for him. He forgot about the troops awaiting him outside.

Not noticing a knight covered with heavy armor. He stood patiently in the door frame, until the squeak of the shield roused the Duke from his reflection. “Duke, we need your help with managing the troops.”

Without a word, Duke Opolski lifted his body from kneeling down in front of the icon. Passing by the knight, with his gaze gave him a sign to follow him. They trailed the narrow corridor up the stairs and upon reaching the walls surrounding the castle, he gave orders.

After the agreement of joining the lands together, it was time for the Polish army to go back home. Upon arrival in Poland, it seemed as the Duke couldn’t find the right room for the painting. The stone walls of the castle were not grand enough for the striking image. The red, plush covers were not majestic enough for the prominent icon.

He envisioned the painting being displayed at a place, where many people would come to worship it. After a longer thought, he invited Pauline monks to Poland promising to build a monastery for them. Why Pauline monks? They were a new Catholic religious order gaining popularity during that period.

The monastery was built in 1382 and enjoyed a peaceful time until 1430, when it was invaded by Hussites. They were Protestants having a different religious view than Catholics. They plundered through the monastery, taking many goods with them including the icon.

To their surprise, the heavy wagon with stolen possessions wouldn’t move. One of the Hussites trying to move the cart saw the icon at the very top not being concealed completely. “Throw it out of the cart,” he yelled to another Hussite standing by the wagon. He yanked it with a groan and threw it on the ground by the wheel. The angry Hussite on the cart drew his sword and with irritation stroke the icon three times, leaving two long scars and one short going across two scars on Black Madonna’s right cheek. Centuries later, there were many attempts to cover the scars without success. The scars remain and are clearly visible.

The holy painting remained at Jasna Gora. It seems as with its miraculous powers it chose its place. It was also credited with saving the monastery during a fire and during a Swedish invasion in the winter of 1655.

The church was spared during the fire like it was protected by an invisible wall. The raging flames took everything that stood in its way, but died down before reaching the church. Somehow the painting was left with darkened tone skin, giving her the name of Black Madonna.

Through the following centuries the popularity of the icon grew. More and more of the faithful people made the pilgrimage to Jasna Gora. Many of them were cured from its illnesses leaving tokens of gratefulness. Those tokens were in the forms of thank you plates or jewelry including pearls, precious stones, rosaries and others. They are still displayed in the church.

People touched by the Black Madonna’s miracles announced about the phenomena through the words. Their healed bodies were the visible and most tangible prove of miracles.

Many petitions were signed and sent to Vatican City for the coronation of Black Madonna. With the approval of Pope Clemens XI, the coronation took place on September 8, 1717. Both heads of the Black Madonna and the child were decorated with golden crowns.

The icon, marked with three scars, saved from the fire and invasions, is the symbol of remarkable powers, giving the name of ‘luminous’ to the mount on which the monastery stands. Jasna Gora meaning Luminous Mount.   

 
 

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