The title of the exhibition "To Bring Memory Back. The 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha 1867-1951" refers to the words of the Holy John Paul II about the obligation to remember the Outstanding Prince of the Church and at the same time it challenges the Unbreakable Prince to be present in the hearts of all Poles," said the Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński during the opening of the ceremonies related to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Cardinal Sapieha.
And it is thanks to the nurturing of the memory of Sapieha, the extraordinary care and commitment of the aristocrats that it was possible to organize this exhibition. They offered the museum family memorabilia and works of art, i.e. portraits of the cardinal's ancestors, watercolours, prints, commemorative photographs and documents. For this community, Cardinal Sapieha was the most important figure in interwar and postwar Poland. Also during World War II he united them around him and saved many priceless works of art connected with Polish history in the Bishop's Palace in Krakow. The Marshal of the Sejm emphasized that Sapieha's attitude was an example of patriotic conduct. - In the 20th century there were few Poles who were 'steadfast' in difficult times and at the same time were the custodians of the tradition of the Greatest Republic of Poland," he said. - Among them we can count the members of the Sapieha house, one of the most eminent Polish families, linking the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Crown of the Polish Kingdom in its history.
The Marshal also spoke about the fact that the Cardinal led us through those difficult times. He also drew his steadfastness from the great tradition of the Polish state and his own family. Raised in the spirit of patriotism, he was able to combine romanticism with positivism. He was guided by the greatness of his goals, which had their justification in Polish culture, but also by the conviction that one should realistically look at one's own capabilities in order not to expose the nation to unnecessary suffering. He drew from this message the need to help the poorest and most disadvantaged.
Prince Cardinal is also the greatest hero of the Przemysl Land. Thanks to his work today, in the National Museum of the Przemysl Land, we experience our history - closed in the biography of a great Pole and in the history of the Sapieha family. Gathered exhibits create an image of a charismatic figure, an extraordinary character, having unquestionable authority in the society of that time.
The exhibition was inspired by Mrs. Danuta Łączyńska, a student of Prof. Adam Vetulani, a friend of Cardinal Sapieha. The objects also come from museums and institutions such as the Wawel Royal Castle, the Cracow Archives of the . Metropolitan Museum, the Archdiocesan and Cathedral Museum in Cracow, the National Museum in Cracow, the Historical Museum of the City of Cracow. Among the valuable objects are: antique furniture, portraits from the Kozienice and Krasiczyn collections, old prints, items from the priceless Sapieha library, documents, sashes, rich fabrics, carbuncles, clocks, photographs, items from the Sapieha collection accumulated over the generations, testifying to the fame of the Polish army and the patriotism of the family. It is worth noting the objects particularly associated with the person of Cardinal Sapieha. These include documents and correspondence, diplomas and awards he received as a token of appreciation and respect, his clothes, liturgical paraments and others, which are now preserved with great care by Krakow's ecclesiastical museums and research institutions.
Commissioner of the exhibition Marcin Marynowski and Jan Jarosz, Director of the National Museum of Przemysl
Seated from right are: Sister Bozena Leszczynska (private sister of Bishop Zamojsko-Lubaczowski), Mrs. Marynowska (mother of the exhibition curator)
Mrs. Łączyńska, personal secretary of Cardinal Sapieha, Mikołaj Radziwiłł, Maciej Radziwiłł with wife, Krystyna Shmeruk Heritage Foundation
Seated to the right: Marek Kuchciński, Speaker of the Sejm; Wladyslaw Ortyl, Marshal of the Podkarpacie Province; Grzegorz Hayder, Deputy Mayor of Przemyśl; Piotr Pininski, President of the Lanckoronski Foundation; Maria Czekaj, granddaughter of Paweł Sapieha; Lucjan Kuźniar, Deputy Marshal of the Podkarpacie Province; Jan Pączek, Starost of Przemyśl
From right: Michał Sobański, Jadwiga Czartoryska
An oak planted on the birthday of Cardinal Adam Sapieha grows in Krasiczyn
Photo by M. Olejnik
