A ceremonial summary of the "Kalwaria Pacławska Fortalicium Fredry" project took place at Kalwaria Pacławska near Przemyśl, under which conservation and construction works on historic monastery buildings and chapels were carried out. Renovation of the Pacławska Calvary is one of 152 projects completed in the last six years under the Infrastructure and Environment program for a total amount of 3 billion PLN.

Calvary, called the Jerusalem of the East and the Jasna Góra of the Podkarpacie region, is one of the most famous places of worship and pilgrimage in Poland, and the monastery books describe more than 50 miracles.

It was built in the 60s of the 17th century after the Lviv castellan and Podolski voivode Andriy Maximilian Fredro returned from the Holy Land. Also in the 17th century, a miraculous painting of the Mother of God was brought here from Kamieniec Podolski, before which kings John II Casimir and John III Sobieski prayed, as well as Polish hetmans Stanislaw Zolkiewski, Stefan Czarniecki, Prince Jarema Wisniowiecki and princes, and more than 50 years ago Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. Today thousands of pilgrims come there, educational and cultural activities are also conducted.

Kalwaria Pacławska is a pearl of Polish culture. A pearl which at the same time embodies the transformations of that culture, including the tragic changes we underwent. But first of all it embodies the basic features and foundations of that culture. Strong foundations connected - not accidentally - with Christianity. Thanks to them we are more open to other trends, which enrich us, and this is what makes Polish culture so unique', said the Minister of Culture Piotr Gliński.

 Photo: Danuta Matloch, MKiDN

Photo: Marek Kuchcinski