Jasna Gra Monastery and Lubomirski Gate. On the Jasna Gra 1 1/2 M. to the W. of the railway station, stand the famous Pauline Monastery, surrounded by a pentagonal wall with 1914. DSC_0292p1
Częstochowa (pronounced is the location of the Jasna Gra monastery that houses the Black Madonna icon. The image of the Black Madonna (Czarna Madonna) or Our Lady of Częstochowa is an icon of Mary. Our Lady of Częstochowa is the Patron Saint of Poland and the monastery is a major pilgrimage site.
Our motorcoach arrive at Częstochowa at Noon after a drive from Warsaw. There is a large parking lot here, attesting to the fact that visitors arrive predominantly by car and bus. Our coach parked in the spacious coach lot. One had to remember the zone number. After walking to the monastery, we entered by the John Paul II Gate. There were a lot of visitors and Jasna Gra has arranged it so that traffic moves relatively smoothly. Being a tour group, we had to keep moving along together. There are many parts to the Jasna Gra campus. One first goes through the household area. This was the traditional working and farming area of the monastery, but now has offices and exhibits. The service in progress in the main basilica is broadcast over the grounds. The tour led to the main
courtyard and past the Royal Apartments. The apartments were used by visiting dignitaries as the Pauline brothers would not permit secular individuals from entering the monastery. The courtyard led to the bastions, a gathering place for pilgrimage groups. Today, there was a large pilgrimage group representing Solidarność, the famous Polish union founded in 1980. The members had flags and wore red and white sashes. A service was being conducted for them on the ramparts.
As a tour group, we had a timed entry for the chapel to see the icon. We wended our way i a queue through the sacristy, admiring the religious objects, paintings and inlay furnishings. Upon entering the chapel, you are reminded to keep moving. But there was time to see the icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa. After the chapel, we had a bit of time to see the main basilica, richly decorated in the Baroque style.
A museum about Jasna Gra and Our Lady of Częstochowa is in the former arsenal building. (The monastery was once fortified and was attacked several times in the 15th to 18th centuries.) The origins of the icon are unknown, though it is thought to to
Poland from Constantinople It has been at Jasna Gra since 1382. I learned that the icon is dressed in new robes every Easter. Earlier dressings are on display.
We needed to make haste for Krakow, so lunch following Jasna Gra had to be quick. As it was, we stopped at the Częstochowa McDonalds. I mentioned before that American hamburgers are very popular in Poland. Here was more evidence: a long line of cars at the take out window and now a Bus on the Lot! This one with a McCafe and McWraps. I had a or rather I should say, a McZestawy.
