Jasna Góra Monastery · The Painting That Was Slashed

The Jasna Góra monastery in Częstochowa holds the “Black Madonna”, a painting of the Virgin darkened by smoke. It is said to be the work of St Luke, and on its travels robbers struck it twice with a sword; the marks are still on the image.

In the seventeenth century the Swedes besieged the monastery for forty days without taking it, and the siege later became a dividing line in Polish memory. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims walk here every year.

The walls are covered with votive objects: crutches, artificial limbs, medals and watches. The monastery’s own words are: these are not exhibits, they are things people have come to give back.

Folklore / Częstochowa · Poland / 1382