Čenstohovas Dievmātes katedrāle

Melnā Madonna, Polijas karaliene un māte

Jasna Guras Melnās Madonnas ikona ir viena no pasaulē visvairāk godātajām un Polijas garīgā sirds. Viņas tumšā seja, ko iezīmē divas rētas uz vaiga, ir pavadījusi poļu tautu vissmagākajos brīžos.

Sena ikona

The image is a painting of the Hodegetria type («she who shows the way»), of Byzantine origin, documented in Częstochowa since the 14th century. According to tradition, it was brought to Poland by Duke Ladislaus of Opole and entrusted to the Pauline Fathers at Jasna Góra around 1382. During a Hussite raid in 1430 the image was damaged: the two scars on the Virgin’s right cheek remain visible to this day.

Nācijas sirds

Jasna Góra became the spiritual center of Poland, especially after the Swedish siege of 1655, whose victorious resistance was attributed to the protection of the Virgin. In gratitude, King John II Casimir consecrated Poland to Mary in 1656, proclaiming her «Queen of the Crown of Poland.» Saint John Paul II, a deeply devoted son of this Virgin, linked his motto Totus Tuus to her.