On Saturday, October 7th evening, a beautiful patriotic gathering entitled “Black of the Republic” was held at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Kraków, where professors Andrzej Nowak, Wojciech Polak and Krzysztof Oźóg together with another participants wondered what lessons come to us present from the destiny of our ancestors from the times of the Republic of Both Nations. The meeting, organized by the White Kruk publishing house, was led by Anna Popek, and 2 fresh works of this well-known Krakow authoritative were premiered: “Kronics of Poles” and the album “Poland. 12 centuries.”
Referring to the first book, it is worth noting that Fr Michał Cichoń undertook the translation of “Kronics of Poles” from Latin to Polish after more than 500 years after Maciej from Miechów wrote the original. Thanks to his determination and gaining the Latin text, he managed to make a translation within 5 months. "It was meanders, but it was besides an highly beautiful, interesting and instructive adventure. The only day I did not translate a single conviction was the Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord. I worked on the text respective hours a day,” said the translator.
On Saturday, October 7th evening a beautiful patriotic gathering entitled “Black of the Republic” was held at the Kraków Shrine of Divine Mercy.Prof. Krzysztof Ożóg noted at the beginning of his speech: “Translation of Maciej Miechowita from Latin to Polish is simply a very crucial minute for Polish culture. Miechovita was not limited to the function of a lecturer and doctor, his accomplishments show that he frequently supported the poor, the orphans, the students for whom he was a guardian, a benefactor. Miechowita is regarded as a support of the University of Krakow, and is besides the most outstanding creator of the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, it deserves Polish culture in an highly durable way.”
Prof. Janusz Królikowski, in turn, discussed the importance of Maciej from Miechów in the context of the tradition of the Knight's Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, or alleged God-Greeders who are based in Miechów. After the fall of the crusade, the nuns expanded their activities to Europe, promoting the worship of the Sepulchre of Christ. "The meaning of these grave-diggers operating in the 19th century is that we owe them a rich tradition of the grave of Christ in Poland. Our experience of the Holy Week is rooted very powerfully in the liturgical tradition and in the spirituality of the order of the tombs. God's tombs have besides taught us to advance the image of Our woman of Jasna Góra. The paintings of Our woman of Czestochowa can be found in all church of the tombs to this day.”
Prof. Wojciech Polak focused on the importance of the concept of "Fatherland" in the past of Poland and stressed that despite hard times in our past Poles always maintained a spirit of patriotism and religiousism. “In the 19th century, during the period of partitions, Poland begins to have a circumstantial concept of the word ‘Homeland’, which inactive exists today. The American does not separate the state from the homeland, and we, Poles, do. In the 19th century, we had no state, but we had a homeland. religion and religion are a very crucial component in our history. The Church was a support and a rock, thanks to the Church we kept our national identity, besides in these darkest times we resorted to God and prayer. Being a Pole is an honor. Let us pass on this national pride to our children!”
Mec. Zbigniew Cichoń described the function of the legislature in Poland and recalled the words of Józef Piłsudski, who the Marshal said at the seat of the legislature in 1922: "Senat should be a chamber of reason, reason and moderation". Mec. Quiet besides encouraged listeners to exercise the right to petition the Senate, stressing that this could velocity up solving problems.
Prof. Andrzej Nowak pointed out the importance of memory in the life of the nation and recalled the function of Maurice Mochnacki in building national consciousness. He compared memory failure in people with Alzheimer's to failure of national memory, which could lead to a failure of control over their own fate. "Without memory, we become helpless and defenseless pushers," he stressed.
He besides recalled Napoleon's words concerning Poland and Russia: "I will not rebuild Poland, due to the fact that Poland will always be an obstacle to our good relations with Russia; for Russia, the regulation of Poland is the most crucial and all Russian ruler will sacrifice everything to reconstruct Poland's rule." "Memory is needed, memory of the large past of Poland. The dignity, the importance of being a Pole. It was wanted to be taken in the tsarical times and so we want to take it besides today," concluded Prof. Nowak.
The atmosphere at this event was filled with patriotism and national pride. The speakers emphasized the importance of Poland's history, culture and religion and called for the preservation of memory and the pursuit of independence. The gathering was celebrated by respective Polish conventional songs (including “Rota”) performed by Jan Kowalczyk, which further emphasized the atmosphere of patriotism and unity.
