Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007

I woke up at like 5 in the morning (CET / 8p PST). Every morning they do an unveiling of the Black Madonna (though I'm not sure why she gets covered), so I decided to roll out and see it. I wandered around for a while, in shock again at the sheer number of people (primarily teen aged) who were pouring into the chapel. I actually missed the beginning of the unveiling, but what I caught was incredible. The chapel was packed, for one, and there was a huge fanfare of horns and organ, and the Poles all sang their Black Madonna song. It was beautiful, and then they started Mass (which was about when I remembered that I could take video with my little My First Digital Camera).

I skipped out on their Mass because we were going later and wandered around taking pictures of the sunrise before breakfast. I didn't take any breakfast pictures here, but breakfast in Krakow was the same, so no worries. After breakfast, we had Mass at the foot of the icon, toured the Basilica & monastery, and went into Czestochowa for lunch and adventures.

From Jasna Gora, looking across the meadow down to Czestochowa

Our 4th floor room

I'm redoing this since I'm awesome & lost the first round, so let me re-warn you: I was loving the changing leaves, and I took a lot of nature pics. Just work with me.

Stations of the Cross along a path around/under(?) the monastery - I'm standing on a bridge over the path

I think they were trying to tell us something.

This gives you an idea of how the Black Madonna chapel was laid out. There was this ante-chapel, with art and gifts and some pews. Through the arch is the main chapel, and - at center - the golden blob is the icon behind a grille.

Mass

If you can see the shadow at her crown... The actual painting - said to've been painted by St. Luke on the table from the Holy Family's house - is very simple (I will put a picture below). People have given the Black Madonna fancy outfits to wear, which are usually precious stones/jewels, including dress & crown, with space for faces and hands. This outfit is her commitment outfit, which is made of wedding rings given to the Madonna by people who want her intercession in their marriages (or by people who've lost a spouse).

Daylight view from Jasna Gora into Czestochowa

Looking back to Jasna Gora from Czestochowa

It was better than it looks - really. These are "pancakes" wrapped around bolognese (ground beef, tomato, onion, mushroom) on the left and spinach & cheese on the right. Yummy.

Our scary alley-way dungeon internet cafe in Czestochowa

Jasna Gora from the foot of the meadow (bookin' back, late)

Pretty sunset from our window