HISTORY
Gniezno, as the first capital of Poland and the town of St. Adalbert, represents not only a symbol of European reconciliation and dialogue; it is also a place dear to every Pole. The Gniezno region is crossed by the Piast Route, belonging to the most popular tracks of excursions in the country. It links Poznań, Gniezno and Kruszwica, towns rich in historical relics and architectural monuments. Gniezno is eagerly visited by tourists who, first of all, want to get in touch with the heritage of our forefathers. Strolling along the picturesque streets of this secular town one can meet on the way numerous relics, originating either from the era of the first Piast kings or from subsequent centuries.
But Gniezno does not live only by recalling its past, it is a town open to the future. This is proven by the five universities located in the city, which provide the town with a rich cultural and scholarly life. Moreover, the first capital of Poland attracts tourists because of its beautiful surroundings of parks and lakes, providing its visitors a chance to rest in the open air. At the same time, numerous festivities and cultural events of various types, like the Gniezno Encounters with History Festival, provide visitors with unforgettable experiences.
chrobrym. A trip to the first capital of Poland involves an excursion into the historical and cultural past of the country, to the time when the state of Poland was born. According to the Piast legend, Gniezno was erected in the place signified to Lech, a brother of Czech and Rus, by a white eagle in the area where it formed its nest. To this day, echoes of the legend sound in the name and heraldic arms of the town, in which the bird of prey founded this honourable site. The convenient location of the Gniezno lake region determined that the Piast rulers selected this area as their central abode, erecting a stronghold in the year 940, setting the foundation for the future location of the medieval town
It was just in Gniezno that one of the most important events in our history took place, the baptism of the Piast prince, Mieszko the First, in the year 966. This historical moment made Gniezno a very important centre of Christianity, which was symbolized by the establishment of the first Bishopric. The arrival of the Prague bishop Adalbert, his Christianizing mission in Prussia and martyr’s death gave beginning to the cult of St.Adalbert, which up to now unites and attracts to Gniezno pilgrims from the entire Europe. His remnants, deposited in the Gniezno cathedral church in the year of 1000 was the reason for the pilgrimage wojciechm.JPGto Gniezno of the German emperor, Otto the Third. The meeting of the prince Boleslaus the Brave, a son of Mieszko the First with the unquestionable ruler of Christian Europe resulted in the crowning of the Piast, who became the first king of Poland. In this way Gniezno became the symbol of the new state’s début on the political map of the Old Continent. This historical meeting provide contemporary Gniezno with the guiding principle for the international meetings of leaders of European countries which take place in Gniezno, a symbol of a united and solidary Europe.
Till the end of the medieval age Gniezno formed one of the most important political centres in Poland while the first archbishopric located in the town secured the religious unity of the young state. The Gniezno cathedral was the scene of the coronation of several other rulers of the medieval Poland: Mieszko II, Boleslaus the Courageous, Przemysław II and Wacław II the Czech. The invasion of the Teutonic Order in 1331 interrupted the active growth of Poland’s first capital. At the time Gniezno lost its strategic importance but history has never permitted to forget the peak moments of the town’s splendour and its significant input into the formation of Polish statehood. And so it remains till today.
So, welcome to the historical heart of Poland and please feel right at home. Your stay in Gniezno will be both a useful historical lesson and a pleasant rest out in the open or in the town’s charming cafeterias and restaurants.
Dlaczego DDM Wiosło?
Why OAR?
The symbol of oar is connected with saint Adalbert as his attribute on iconography. Adalbert is holding an oar in his hand or he is standing on the lying oar. This tradition is referring to his martyrdom. Bishop was beaten with an oar by pagans at the beginning of his mission.
People of the OAR are those, who see Adalbert as their spiritual leader and want to follow his example. Referring to the Gospel, the oar is also a symbol of inward effort and improving yourself: ,, Put out into deep water!” (Luke 5: 4) – as Jesus said to Peter after unsuccessful fishing. John Paul II directed the same words at young people to encourage them to give up stagnation. The oar reminds that you have to set out from the shore, dare to live “in deep water” instead of paddling in the shallow water of your own ideas and habits. Thanks to the symbol of an oar, Saint Adalbert became a patron of obedient following Christ for young people. People of the OAR are those, who are demanding for themselves and don’t agree to mediocrity.
The symbol of an oar has double meaning. The oar was an instrument of torture for saint Adalbert, so firstly it is a cross, it is associated with death, which unites with life-giving death of Jesus Christ. People of the OAR are those, who are able to take cross and everything, which is linked with it. The oar in bishop Adalbert’s hand also became a crosier – a symbol of the church gathered around the bishop. It is worth to know that the archbishop of Gniezno has been being called ,,the archbishop of saint Adalbert” since times of Radzym Gaudenty.
The symbol of an oar means a common action of young people in the whole diocese. People of the OAR are those, who know that their place is in the church and want to pray and work in unity with their bishop. They remember that the church is there, where the bishop is.
Perche il REMO?
„Il simbolo del remo e` strettamente legato ala figura di san Adalberto cui atributo nell`iconografia era proprio il remo. San Adalberto tiene il remo nella mano oppure sta poggiando i piedi sopra di esso. Questa tradizione proviene da un episodio del supo martirio. All`inizio della spedizione missionaria il vescovo Abalberto fu picchiato dai Prussi proprio con il remo. La gente del REMO sono le persone che vedono in lui la loro guida, un padre spirituale, il maestro ed oggi vogliono fare della sua eredita` un tesoro.
Il remo nel Vangelo diventa un simbolo dello sforzo spirituale e del lavoro che dobbiamo compiere con noi stessi: „Prendi il largo” (Lc 5,4) – un invito di Gesu a Pietro dopo una notte della pesca non riuscita. Con queste parole Giovanni Paolo II incoraggiava i giovani di finire con la mediocrita, l`inerzia, l`apatia. Il remo ricorda che bisogna partire dalla riva, avere coraggio di prendere il largo, senza rimanere nelle acque basse, torbide, piene delle proprie idee ed abitudini. Per i giovani il segno del remo di san Adalberto e` un simbolo dello staccarsi dalla riva, di seguire Cristo laddove Lui chiama anche contro i ragionamenti umani
Il remo di san Adalberto ha un doppio senso – nella vita – nel martirio. Fu picchiato con il remo – e` uno strumento della tortura con cui gli fu inflitto il dolore. Primo collegamento che ci viene in mente allora, e` la morte, ma una morte vissuta come la testimonianza, un`offerta, un essere inclusi nella morte di Cristo. E` la morte che da` la vita. La gente del REMO sa prendere la croce e tutto quello che essa implica.
Il remo nella mano del vescovo Alalberto diventa infine il pastorale – il simbolo della Chiesa radunata attorno al vescovo. E` allora un simbolo dell`unita` col vescovo. Vale ricordare che gia` dai tempi di Radzym Gaudenty (o nim nic nie ma wcześniej w tym teście! Kto to?!Ludzie będą wiedzieli o co chodzi?), l`arcivescovo di Gniezno viene chiamato „arcivescovo di san Adalberto” – vediamo cosi che il remo-il la pastorale acquisisce un significato ancora piu profondo. Il remo diventa tutto quello che i giovani fanno insieme in tutta la diocesi, radunati attorno al vescovo. La gente del REMO sono quelli che sanno che hanno il loro posto nella Chiesa, quelli che vogliono pregare e lavorare in unita` con il loro vescovo, ricordando che dov`e` il vescovo ove c`e` la Chiesa.”
WIOSŁO, bo...
„Symbol wiosła wiąże się nierozerwalnie z postacią św. Wojciecha jako jego atrybut w ikonografii. Wojciech bądź trzyma wiosło w dłoni, bądź stoi na leżącym na ziemi wiośle. Tradycja ta nawiązuje do wydarzenia związanego z jego męczeństwem – na samym początku wyprawy misyjnej biskup został pobity wiosłem przez Prusów. Ludzie WIOSŁA to ci, którzy w Wojciechu widzą przewodnika, duchowego ojca i mistrza, i dzisiaj chcą żyć jego dziedzictwem.
W nawiązaniu do Ewangelii wiosło staje się symbolem duchowego wysiłku i pracy nad sobą: „Wypłyń na głębię!” (Łk 5,4) – zachęta skierowana do Piotra przez Chrystusa po nieudanym całonocnym połowie. Tymi słowami Jan Paweł II zwracał się do młodych wzywając do porzucenia bylejakości i marazmu. Wiosło przypomina, że trzeba odbić od brzegu, odważyć się żyć na głębi a nie taplać się w mętnej, płytkiej wodzie własnych pomysłów i przyzwyczajeń. Poprzez znak wiosła św. Wojciech staje się dla młodych patronem odbijania od brzegów i posłusznego podążania tam, gdzie każe iść Chrystus, nawet gdy wydaje się to wbrew ludzkim kalkulacjom. Ludzie WIOSŁA to ci, którzy umieją od siebie wymagać i nie godzą się na przeciętność.
W życiu – w męczeństwie – św. Wojciecha wiosło jest symbolem o podwójnym znaczeniu. Wiosłem został Wojciech pobity – wiosło to dla niego narzędzie męki, którym zadano mu cierpienie. Wiosło więc to w pierwszym rzędzie krzyż, przynosi skojarzenie ze śmiercią – ale to śmierć przeżywana jako świadectwo, jako ofiara, jako włączenie w śmierć Chrystusa. Jest to śmierć życiodajna. Ludzie WIOSŁA to ludzie, którzy potrafią wziąć krzyż i wszystko, co on oznacza.
Wiosło w ręku biskupa Wojciecha staje się wreszcie laską biskupią, pastorałem – symbolem Kościoła zgromadzonego wokół biskupa. Wiosło jest więc znakiem jedności z biskupem. Warto pamiętać, że arcybiskup Gniezna od czasów Radzyma Gaudentego nazywa „arcybiskupem św. Wojciecha” – w tym kontekście wojciechowe wiosło-pastorał jest jeszcze bardziej wymowne. Symbol wiosła oznacza więc wspólne działanie młodych całej diecezji, zgromadzonych wokół biskupa. Ludzie WIOSŁA to ci, którzy wiedzą, ze ich miejsce jest w Kościele; ci, którzy chcą modlić się i pracować w jedności ze swoim biskupem, pamiętając, że tam gdzie jest biskup tam jest Kościół.”