The most religious are the peoples of the countries of the East, especially Muslims. The modern West has not become an atheist, but the strict observance of all church dogmas and requirements is characteristic of an ever smaller number of Europeans. Against this background, Poland stands out sharply. Religion in this country inseparably accompanies citizens from birth to death. The Poles are rightfully considered the most true believers among European peoples.
History of Christianity
Ancient Poles, like other Slavic tribes, worshiped pagan idols and natural phenomena. The conversion to Christianity was inevitable for many reasons. The location of Poland between countries that had already come to Christianity required well-established ties. As always, the religious situation in the country is affirmed for the sake of the political one. During the reign of Sack the First, in 966, the moment came when the introduction of Christianity became an urgent matter.
Mieszko becamethe baptist of Poland, which was facilitated by his marriage to a Catholic Czech Dubravka Przhemislovich. The ruler was not only guided by the requirements of foreign policy, he hoped that the Roman Catholic Church would help to rein in the local feudal lords and gain stronger power and authority within the state. Self-willed feudal lords and pagan priests, of course, resisted innovations, but not for long. Christianity won, the Poles had to convert to Catholicism.
How the Gentiles became Catholics
The Catholic Church in Poland was established by the methods of carrot and stick. Mieszko pacified especially violent protests with the help of the army, at the same time the missionaries conducted explanatory work and agitation. Priests gently transformed pagan deities into Christian saints, new Catholic holidays were established on special days for the people. The veneration of the dead, belief in the afterlife, in the existence of the soul, which is separated from the body, comes from paganism. Christianity also preaches this cult. Evil spirits turned into the devil, and witches and sorcerers into those who sold their souls to him.
So Poland was baptized. Religion was established gently, but persistently. The remnants of paganism, however, still appear today - this is a belief in mermaids, goblin, brownies.
Socialist Poland: Religion
After centuries, the Poles could no longer build their destinies without a church, service and a Catholic priest. During the Great Patriotic War in the occupied territory, the service was conductedhabitually and routinely. The first post-war elections brought victory to the Communist Party, whose main enemy was the church. The persecution and persecution of priests and believers ended with the arrest of Cardinal Vyshinsky. But Polish Catholics did not betray their faith - uprisings broke out periodically throughout the country, and dissatisfaction with the new government spread. These outbursts of indignation were so strong that the country's leadership had to improve relations with the church.
Religion and life
Today, the Roman Catholic Church in Poland supports all government initiatives. Many Polish politicians hold their posts thanks to the support of spiritual forces. This excessive politicization of the modern church is a little chilling in the faith of many young people. Nevertheless, the connection between religion and the state is fixed at the state level: marriage is considered valid only after the wedding ceremony, children at school are taught a subject called "Religion", a successfully passed exam in which gives the right to a wedding. Religious freedom is manifested in the fact that children from families of other faiths may not attend these classes. Sunday church attendance is as familiar to Poles as morning washing.
How the Gentiles live
The main religion in Poland is Catholicism, it is practiced by about 90% of the country's citizens. This does not mean fanatical worship. Poles quietly coexist with both atheists and adherents of other faiths. The Polish constitution guaranteesfreedom of religion and equality of all citizens. Marriages between Catholics and Orthodox have generally become the norm for a long time, the main thing is the wedding ceremony, regardless of which church. The number of representatives of other religious denominations is much smaller than that of Catholics. Of these, the largest group is the Orthodox. These are, as a rule, immigrants from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus who moved to Poland for residence.
Small groups of believers are Protestants. One of the branches of this religion, which rejects political participation, is banned in Poland. These are the so-called Jehovah's Witnesses, who too zealously began to put forward anti-government slogans. Jewish communities, admirers of Judaism on Polish soil number about 7 thousand people. A small group, about a thousand people, are Muslims.
Holy places
Poland, whose religion has withstood many persecutions and has remained an integral part of society, sacredly guards its shrines. Monasteries and churches are classified as monuments of culture and architecture. Somehow it so happened that the most revered of the saints for the Poles is the Virgin Mary. Most of the sanctuaries are dedicated to her, which are called sanctuaries here. There are about 200 of them in Poland, all of them have miraculous icons, many of them were built next to healing springs. The heart of the religious cult is the Jasnagura Monastery in the city of Częstochowa. It is also famous for its miraculous icon of the Black Madonna. Complexes of temples and chapels - calvary - places visited not only by Poles, but also by visiting tourists. most famousKalwaria Zebrzydowska is one of the monuments protected by UNESCO.
Poles are the most religious people in Europe, nevertheless, people perceive their faith as additional moral support and treat it soberly and pragmatically.
