The 30th Anniversary of the restitution  of the Order of St.  Stanislaw  in Czestochowa and the First International Pilgrimage to the Monastery of Jasna Góra

May 8th to 10th, 2009

Polish version

The first weekend of May has been designed to highlight the 30^th anniversary of the restitution of the Order of St. Stanislas events which took place in Czestochowa and Kraków. Three splendour days began on Friday 8^th of May with the Ceremonial Holly Mass in honour to the bishop of St. Stanislas the Patron of the Order at the Church of St. Hedwig of Silesia. The mass was conducted by reverend gen. Stanisław Rospondek the Chaplain of the Order of St. Stanislas and co-celebrated by Fr. Czesław Wala from Kałków-Godów with assistance of 6 other priests. 

The Saturday´s investiture took place at the Shrine of Jasna Góra in Czestochowa's Rosary Chapel. The Investiture was led by Grand Master Count Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki G.C.C.St.S.  Other chevaliers and dames who attended the ceremony were Grand Prior of Poland dr. Marian Król , new Grand Master Lieutenant Jan Zbigniew count Potocki, former Grand Master Lieutenant Waldemar Wilk, Herald of the Order of St. S. Chev. Ryszard Komorowski and Prior of Malopolska Priory Prior Jacek Zyrkowski.

The investiture, according to the old tradition, began by introduction of new members and guests which is a part of the continuing efforts to maintain and enlarge our strong community. Gentlemen postulants were knighted by the Grand Master Count Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki with touching of the sword on each shoulder, while the Ladies were touched by his hand on their head.  The assistants pined on the insignia and draped the mantle over the newly installed knights and dames while the Grand Master said: "You receive the mantle of our beloved Order, the symbol of our brotherhood. Let us love one another, for love is God".

There were 60 postulants and promoted chevaliers and dames at this ceremony. Late afternoon, after the investiture, began the exciting meeting. Grand Prior of Poland was the first to speak. He reminded the history of the Order, history of Poland based on the history of Polish Martyr Bishop Saint. He underlined how important are the Order´s principles and the responsibility that require us to help the needed and unprivileged.

 Grand Master was next to speaking. His speech was focused on the Order?s achievements during last 30 years of its activity. He said: "Learn how to use our professional values, contributing and innovative ideas, and energy to help achieve our goals". He pointed out that with so many nationalities present at the investiture, it is truly showed that the strength of the Order of St. Stanislas as an organization lays in our ability to come together despite our differences, differences in language and culture. He said: "This difference is the true and only strength of our association. I suggest we accept, even celebrate our differences." And finally, he expresses a special thanks to the hosts of this investiture for their sponsorship and their active participation at the reception.

We all had a wonderful time this evening. More than one hundred chevaliers and dames of the St. Stanislas Order from Poland, Germany, England, Austria, USA, and Mexico attended the investiture and the banquet. The wine flowed, the food was varied and delicious and the atmosphere was festive. The informal nature of the banquet helped the guests to make friends and creatively open to the new ideas to keep the Order going for a long time.

Commander Thaddeus Freiherr von Lison a well-known author of the books dedicated to the Order of St. Stanislas published recently the latest album about October´s 2008 investiture in Wloclawek. Chevalier Thaddaus regularly shares with others the art of creative photography and writing through workshops that help people capture their memoirs or otherwise use words creatively as a means of self-expression.

On the third day of celebrations, Sunday 10^th of May members of the Order of St. Stanislas attended the Procession from Wawel Castle to Shrine of Skalka in Krakow, in honour of Bishop Stanislas, Martyr of Poland. The Procession itself is a huge ecclesiastical event within more than one hundred thousand clerical and lay people participate and among them - members of our Order of St. Stanislas. The procession is the one of the most impressive experience for all who attend and underline a totally different perspective of the Order of Saint Stanislas and our patron the saint, his conviction and sacrifice throughout his lifetime. St. Stanislas has been a force of strength for just short of a millennium. The attendance shows that Saint Stanislas' influence still touches people today. It made us all understand what a great power is behind our chivalric and charitable order. That is one of the distinctive characteristics that make it attractive and rewarding to belong to our Order of St. Stanislas.

For those who like to read about the Order of St. Stanislas we always welcome you to come back and find more interesting stories and photos which cover our work and events.

The Jasna Góra Monastery ( English: Bright Mount),  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. 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.