Jasna Góra Monastery

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Jasna Góra Monastery is a historic Catholic shrine in Czestochowa, Poland. It is famous for housing the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, a revered icon that draws millions of pilgrims from around the world.

History in brief
- Founded in 1382 by Pauline monks from Hungary, invited by Vladislaus II of Opole. The monastery was entrusted with the Black Madonna icon.
- The church started as a single-nave building and, around 1463, was enlarged into a Gothic three-nave basilica.
- Between 1690 and 1693, Baroque remodeling began, and by 1696 the nave and chancel were raised, changing the church’s layout to the basilica form.
- The site endured sieges and troubles: sacked by Hussites in 1430; attacked again during the Deluge (the Swedish invasion) in 1655; in 1657 King John II Casimir vowed to protect Poland and to crown the Virgin Mary as Queen of Poland, a vow he fulfilled in 1657; he visited Jasna Góra in 1657.
- It faced further sieges in the Great Northern War (1702, 1705, 1709). In the late 18th century, Jacob Frank was imprisoned there, and the Bar Confederation raided the monastery in 1770–1772.
- In 1909, thieves stole jewels from the complex, but the icon remained unharmed. Pope Pius X funded a crown replacement, and its coronation occurred in 1910.
- Among its treasures is a Nobel Prize medal awarded to Lech Wałęsa in 1983. In 1994, Jasna Góra was designated a Historic Monument of Poland.

Pilgrimages and visiting
- Since the Middle Ages, thousands of Poles—and visitors from abroad—make pilgrimages to Jasna Góra. In 2011, about 3.2 million pilgrims from 80 countries visited the shrine.
- Many pilgrims arrive on foot; hundreds of pilgrimages take place across Poland, with groups covering roughly 350 kilometers over about 11 days.

Monastic etiquette
- Visitors are expected to be quiet and respectful inside the monastery. When passing before the Black Madonna shrine, it is common to kneel as a sign of reverence.

Additional notes
- Jasna Góra is a major religious site in Poland and a respected historic monument, reflecting centuries of devotion and national history.