Archive for 'Religion'
What is your favorite Polish Christmas tradition? Posted by Kasia on Dec 24, 2014
Polish customs (polskie obyczaje), especially at Christmas time, are both beautiful and meaningful. The preparations for Christmas begin many days before the actual celebration. Nearly everywhere women are cleaning windows in apartments and houses just before Christmas. The insides of the houses are also cleaned thoroughly. It is believed that if a house is dirty on Christmas…
Churches in Poland Posted by Kasia on Nov 7, 2014
There are about one hundred and thirty-eight registered churches (kościoły) and religious associations in Poland. The biggest numbers belong to the Catholic Church (Kościół Katolicki), approximately 95% of the religious segment of Polish society. Ther are four branches of Catholicism in Poland (viz. all four in communion with Rome): the Byzantine-Ukrainian (Bizantyjsko-ukraiński), Neo-Uniate (Neo-unicki), Armenian…
Visiting Częstochowa Posted by Kasia on Aug 8, 2014
Częstochowa is a city in south Poland on the Warta River. Częstochowa lies among the picturesque Jurassic rocks of Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, topped with the ruins of Medieval castles. The town is known for the famous Pauline monastery of Jasna Góra that is the home of the Black Madonna painting, a shrine to the Virgin Mary. Every year…
All eyes on John Paul II Posted by Kasia on Apr 27, 2014
Today was a very important day for all Poles! Important, touching and emotional:) Pope Francis canonized into sainthood two 20th Century popes at a Mass on Sunday celebrated before hundreds of thousands of people at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square, lauding his predecessors as “men of courage” (ludzie z odwagą). The crowd roared when Pope Francis…
Remembering Polish Pope John Paul:) Posted by Kasia on Nov 8, 2013
Recently I was going through some pictures and talking to my daughter about Polish Pope John Paul II (Jan Paweł II). He was a wonderful person and I think all Poles are so proud of him! Our Polish pope changed the papacy in many ways – he was charismatic and spiritual leader, but also a very…
Religion in Poland Posted by Kasia on Mar 9, 2013
Throughout the history of the Polish State, the Roman Catholic Church has played a very important role. Because of the Roman Catholic Church, Poland was able to continue its existence in history. The decision of choosing Roman Catholicism as Poland’s first and only religion under the auspices of the Church in the Czech Republic, as…
Who is going to be the next Pope? Posted by Kasia on Mar 1, 2013
Pope Benedict XVI thanked Poles on Wednesday for the “warm reception” he received when he visited Poland in 2006 and asked for their prayers on his retirement. “I thank you for your presence here in Rome over all these years, for your prayers and tokens of sympathy,” Pope Benedict XVI said during his last General…