Początki chrzescijaństwa w Polsce i Ziemi Wieluńskiej

Abstract

On April 21, 2016 in Wieluń, there were both church and state celebrations on occasion of 1050th anniversary of Poland’s baptism and the establishment of Polish state. From the beginning of Polish statehood and the Christianity in the area of Ruda (later Wieluń) castellan of Ruda and collegiate chapter were the evidences of great signifcation of this area. According to the tradition, the Christianity in Ruda was established by St. Adalbert of Prague, on his way to Gniezno from Kraków. In Ruda in 1106 there were some celebrations of consecration of temple in which Bolesław III Wrymouth took part. The castellan of Ruda was the bastion of Polishness in the fghting with attacks of dukes of Silesia. In the area of Ruda the Christianity was widened by the order of St. Benedict. Missionaries came from this collegiate church and established Christian units nearby. The parish in Ruda was one of the three the oldest parishes in Poland. In 14th and 15th century all church and state institutions were moved from Ruda to more populated and defensive Wieluń. In Polish area where there were pagan beliefs, Christian missionaries introduced the Christianity. Slavic heathendom did not have its temples and priests and they led to the cult of the only one God. Those missionaries introduced the Eastern culture to Polish lands. The baptism of Mieszko I on April 11, 966, included Polish state to the family of Eastern states and their culture. The missionaries from the East established and organized state and church institutions. Well-educated missionaries established in Poland cathedral, collegiate, conventual and parish schools. Thanks to the Christianity, the serfs of Mieszko I and Bolesław I the Brave created the integrated society ruled by Polish sovereigns, supported by the rule of Polish metropolis. In this society, the residents of Ruda area (later Wieluń) were the signifcant part of Polish State and Church, being a defensive bastion of the State and the Church against political and religious dangers.