Misyjny szlak Apostoła Pomorza

Abstract

On 24 September 1972 the Primate of Poland, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński issued a decree, in which he established Otto of Bamberg the second patron of the Szczecin-Kamień Diocese. 15 years later, on 11 June 1987, in Szczecin, Pope John Paul II asked for deep worship of the Bamberg Bishop Otto whose relics rest in the basilica in that city. Despite the stormy political and religious history of those lands on the Oder and the Baltic Sea the cult of St Otto still remains, and today it is even becoming more intensive. The figure of the bishop-missionary is still interesting for historians. The present article shows the mission trail of the Apostle of Pomerania. He made two evangelizing expeditions to West Pomerania: the first one from May 1124 to March 1125, and the second one from 19 April to 20 December 1128. To be sure, a bit of luck, and first of all the extraordinary qualities of his character, like mild temper and ability to win people’s favor along with the faith that the cause is a good one, ensured a happy end for the mission – Otto’s greatest achievement. Altogether he established 14 churches in 12 places. During the first mission he christened over 22 thousand Pomeranians. The result of his indefatigable missionary work was the Pomeranian Bishopric in Wolin; it was established by Pope Innocent II on 14 October 1140.