Our Lady of Czestochowa

Legend says that St. Luke painted the portrait of Mary and Jesus known as Our Lady of Czestochowa. It was brought to Poland in 1382 and kept at the shrine of Jasna Gora. In 1430 an attack on the shrine left the image with several gashes to the Madonna's face. Despite repeated attempts to repair them, they have always reappeared. Since that time there have been many miracles attributed to the painting. In 1656 King Jan Kazimierz proclaimed the shrine to be a spiritual capital for Poland. Through Poland's often painful history, it has been a symbol of hope in times of hardship. Today the shrine of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa continues to attract millions of visitors annually who honor its miraculous image.