16. Aug 2025

Moilno - Gniezo

Video / Photo 5: An organ recital in the Primatial Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Wojciech (Adalbert) in Gniezno...

The silver coffin at the front of the church contains the relics of St. Aldabert. He was stoned to death while preaching to the pagan Prussians in 997. Poland's first king Bolesław I the Brave paid the equivalent weight of Aldalbert's body in gold to the Prussians to secure his remains. Bolesław then moved quickly to have Albabert canonized as a Saint, which took place two years later. This helped establish the Gniezno Cathedral as a significant pilgrimage site in the heart of Poland's first capitol. However in 1038 the Czechs raided Gniezno, plaundered the cathedral and took the relics of St. Aldabert with them. Adalbert had also once been a bishop in Prague, so the Czechs claimed that the relics belonged to them. It was big business back then with such holy bones. There is probably not much of St. Aldabert left in the silver coffin in the Gniezno Cathedral. When I looked at it, I did not think of the bones, but of the faithfulness and passion of a man to proclaim the message of Jesus in spite of resistance. I prayed that God would raise up once again people like Adalbert from Poland with this fire of the Holy Spirit in their hearts to declare the truths of God's saving grace in Jesus even in the face of fierce opposition.

Photo1: The city of Gniezno is celebrating the 1000 year anniversary of the coronation of Bolesław I the Brave as King of Poland. This evening in the city square a dance group of young girls dipicted the 1000 year history of Poland. In this scene with the rope they are portraying the years of Soviet occupation.

Photo 2: I do not think I have ever seen so many images of Mary as I have in Poland. So I was actually happy to see this one of Jesus with the 9.00 AM sun giving it a natural halo.

Photo 3: I do not see as many storks now as I did in northern Poland and Lithuania. This one found an interesting place to build a nest. I am not sure what kind of a building this is. It kind of looks like an old sone church.

Photo 4: The Way of St. James symbol now used to show the direction...

Central Europe Time: I woke up this morning at 5:30. My biorhythm has now eased into the CET. It was good to get an early start today. The hike to Gniezno would be a long one with 37 kilometers.