In 1382, a group of Pauline monks came to Czestochowa and took over the small wooden church on Jasna Gora. The monks of the Pauline order were invited to build a monastery with new funding from Wladyslaw Jagiello, where the restored image of Our Lady of Jasna Gora, already renowned for its grace, was to be placed. This increased the volume of pilgrims to the shrine.

In the 17th century King Wladyslaw IV turned Jasna Gora into a fortress. The most dramatic period of the monastery’s history occured in Autumn and Winter of 1655 when, during the Swedish invasion, it was besieged by several armies.

The basilica of the monastery complex, in its present form, was completed in 17th century. Inside is an altar of ebony and silver with the famous Jasna Gora icon depicting the Mother of God, known as the „Black Madonna”, credited for many miracles, and according to legend, painted by St. Luke. The current image is a restoration of the original which was almost completely destroyed in the 15th century. Apart from short periods, the icon has been in the Jasna Gora monastery for over 600 years, being the focus of worship to millions of pilgrims from all over the world. Their numerous and historically valuable votive offerings are kept in the vault.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Jasna Gora – Czestochowa (woj. Slaskie)

www.jasnagora.pl