On 12 January this year in Krakow, the celebration of the Millennium of the Kingdom of Poland began on the anniversary of the 1000th anniversary of the coronation of the first Polish king Bolesław Chrobry. Subsequent ceremonies will take place in March in Gnieżno, in May in Warsaw, in July in Vilnius, in September in the Vatican and in November in Wroclaw.
After 8 years of preparation came this moment, the community of Polish monarchs represented by the Polish Crown Foundation 1st Confederation of the Spiš inaugurated the celebration of the Millennium of the Polish Kingdom. This took place on January 12, 2025 in Krakow. W The Wawel Cathedral was celebrated Mass for the sacred memory of King Bolesław Chrobry and all the rulers of Poland. The solemn liturgy was presided over by His Excellency Bishop Prof. Jan Kopiec. In his speech, the Excellency referred to the old past of Poland, the past of the beginnings of the Polish statehood, as well as the royal idea, reaching far back to the Biblical times of the Old Testament.
"Chrobry's royal corronation deserves attention, and for us, who proceed on the roads designated by Chrobry, after a 1000 years of history, not always full of glory and victory, this is an chance to look at the past centuries in which we changed the face of our homeland. Ideo this conuntion is besides linked with the thought of a wider, reaching out to the Old Covenant, which reads: the king is the legal, direct successor of the kings of the erstwhile chosen people, as the monarch now ruling the state of the fresh Israel, the state of the Christian people, and that he is the politician of God in the state, connected mystically with God-Man, King of kings.”
In the homily of the Bishop, we besides had a mention to the present:
‘May the ritual of the coronation of the royal patos strengthen us present to rise deep respect for erstwhile generations who have taken the monarch's commitment very seriously. And while human forces are weak, and not all of the erstwhile kings have managed to bear their obligations upon him, the social arrangement, however, continued and continually mobilized that all sincerely, the monarch and his subjects, should approach with the hope that life in independency from others, in peace and in constant improvement is possible. Let us pray for this in memory of these lofty events besides among today's nation on Polish soil.”
The tight inauguration program did not let for a longer stay in Wawel among so many memorabilia of the erstwhile glory of the Kingdom of Poland and its rulers. From the Cathedral participants of this momentous event went to no little wonderful historical object as it is Aula Collegium Maius of the Jagiellonian University. This part of the ceremony was welcomed by guests representing the Polish and European Parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps, residing in Krakow, guests from abroad (Czech Republic, England, Germany, Romania), representatives of local authorities, social organizations and participants of events arriving from all over the country. In the Hall, Polish coronation insignia, alleged Chrobry Crown, were exhibited for this occasion, which were set against the background of large sizes of oil painting made specifically for millennium celebrations. Chrobry Crown It served to coronate most Polish monarchs, starting with Władysław Łokietka. The coronation of Władysław Elbow was the 5th in Kingdom history, but unfortunately all erstwhile crowns were lost, so a fresh 1 had to be made for this occasion. The last ruler to be crowned was King Stanislaw August Poniatowski. After the collapse of the Kościuszkowski Uprising and it divided the destiny of its predecessors, it was stolen from the vault on Wawel by the Prussians and exported. The insignia has been reconstructed and is now guarded and stored by the Knight's Order of the Polish Crown.
Occasional guest appearances and 2 leading papers, JE Bishop Jan Kopc and president of the Polish Crown Foundation have completed the programme of the ceremony in the Hall of Collegium Maius. To commemorate the participation in these ceremonies, participants had the chance to post their entries in the Book of Millennium of the Kingdom of Poland.
Dinner at Hawełka restaurant ended the inauguration of the Millennium Celebration. Another crucial events organized by the Polish Crown Foundation will take place all 2 months. In addition to these major national events, many another more regional events will take place in different parts of the country.
Jan Skowera
MILLENIUM OF THE KINGDOM OF POLAND [PDF]
photo. Castle in winter / Wojtek Kaczówka [FB]
