Our Lady of Czestochowa, the Black Madonna of Czestochowa: The Black Madonna (Latin: Imago thaumaturga Beatae Virginis Mariae Immaculatae Conceptae, in English: Claro Monte), also known as Our Lady of Czestochowa, is a venerated icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary located at the Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa. This image has been recognized by several popes, beginning with Pope Clement XI, who issued the canonical Coronation of the image through the Vatican Chapter on September 8, 1717.

Our Lady of Czestochowa - Icon

Obraz o wysokości czterech stóp przedstawia tradycyjną kompozycję znaną w ikonach wschodnich chrześcijan. Maryja Panna ukazana jest jako „Hodegetria” („Ten, który ukazuje drogę”). Dziewica kieruje w nim uwagę z dala od siebie, gestykulując prawą ręką w kierunku Jesus as the source of salvation. In turn, the Virgin extends her right hand to the viewer in blessing, holding in her left hand the book of the Gospels. The icon depicts the Madonna in fleur-de-lis robes.

Pochodzenie ikony i data jej powstania są wciąż przedmiotem sporów wśród uczonych. Trudność w datowaniu daty powstania ikony wynika po części z zamalowania jej oryginalnego obrazu po tym, jak w 1430 r. została poważnie uszkodzona przez husyckich rajdowców. Drewniane deski, na których oparto obraz, zostały złamane, a płótno pocięte. Średniowieczni restauratorzy, nieobeznani z metodą enkaustyczną, stwierdzili, że farby, które nakładali na uszkodzone miejsca, „po prostu zmywały obraz” według średniowiecznego kronikarza Risiniusa, a ich rozwiązaniem było wymazanie pierwotnego obrazu i przemalowanie go na oryginalnej płycie. Oryginalne cechy prawosławnej ikony zostały zmiękczone; nos stał się bardziej akwiliniczny.

Our Lady of Czestochowa - History of the Image

Tradition Lucana - The icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa has been closely associated with Poland for 600 years. Its history before coming to Poland is shrouded in numerous legends, which testify the origin of the icon from St. Luke, who painted it on a cedar top from the house of the Holy Family. The same legend says that the image was discovered in Jerusalem in 326 by St. Helena, who brought it back to Constantinople and gave it to her son Constantine the Great.

Arrival of the Icon of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Czestochowa

The oldest documents from Jasna Góra state that the painting travelled from Constantinople via Belz. Eventually, it came into the possession of Wladyslaw Opolczyk, the Prince of Opole, the advisor of Louis of Anjou, the King of Poland and Hungary.

Ukrainian sources say that earlier in its history it was brought to Belz with many ceremonies and honors by the Galician king Lev I, and then taken by Wladyslaw from Belz castle when the city was incorporated into the Polish kingdom. A popular story says that at the end of August 1384 Wladyslaw was passing Czestochowa with the painting when his horses refused to leave. In a dream he was advised to leave the icon at Jasna Góra.

Art historians say the original painting was a Byzantine icon created around the 6th or 9th century. They agree that Prince Vladislav brought it to the monastery in the 14th century.

The Picture of Our Lady of Czestochowa and the Popes

  • Pope Clement XI issued the canonical coronation of the image through the Vatican Chapter on September 8, 1717.
  • Pope Pius X, after the crowns were stolen on October 23, 1909, the Pope replaced them on May 22, 1910.
  • Pope John Paul II donated another set of crowns as a native of Poland on August 26, 2005.