Jasna Góra in Częstochowa - Station 03 – Entrance Gate

Description

The main entrance to the monastery consists of four gates, built in different periods of the monastery.

You are now in front of the Lubomirski gate (photo 01.03.001), which was built in 1723 with the benevolence of the Crown Chamberlain Jerzy Dominik Lubomirski. To this day, it is the first to welcome the pilgrims. The gate is topped with a statue of St. Michael the Archangel (photo 01.03.002). On the sides there are two figures. The left figure is St. Paul the First Hermit (fot.01.03.003), the saint patron of the Pauline Order. On the right there is the statue of St. Anthony the Great (photo 01.03.004), the Egyptian hermit, a Desert Father. In the middle of the niche there is the icon of Our Lady of Jasna Góra, surrounded by decorations representing elements of armament (photo 01.03.005). Just above the entrance arch, you can note the coat of arms of the patron of the gate, the Lubomirski family (photo 01.03.006). On the sides of the coat of arms there is the inscription "Sub tuum Praesidium" recalling the first verse of the prayer "Beneath Thy Protection".

Please, pass through the gate and stop in front of the next one.

On the inner side of Lubomirski gate there is the emblem of the inscription of Mary with a towering crown on a red background, surrounded by a bas-relief with elements of armament (photo 01.03.007).

Between the gates there is a high fence with a decorated metal balustrade (photo 01.03.008)

The second gate is called Our Lady Queen of Poland, or Victorious (photo 01.03.009). It was built in 1767 in honour of King Stanislaw August Poniatowski, who is said to come to Jasna Gora. In 1955 it was decided to change the name of the gate from that of the king to Our Lady Queen of Poland. At the top of the gate the image of the king was replaced by a statue of the Black Madonna (photo 01.03.010). This bas-relief portrays Mary as Our Lady Victorious, and hence, the name of the second gate. The icon of Our Lady with the Child, floating in a cloud over elements of armaments, was designed by Zofia Trzcińska-Kaminska.

Please, pass through the gate and stop in front of the next one.

From the inside, the door of Our Lady Queen of Poland is topped with a cartouche with the monogram IHS, meaning Jesus Christ (photo 01.03.011).

The third gate is called Our Lady of Sorrows (photo 01.03.012). The first wooden gate was built in 1641 and it was the beginning of the so-called revelin: building, which, like a Barbican, protects the gate against the attack of an enemy. In 1891, the gate was rebuilt using dressed stones. This date appears on the inner side of the door (photo 01.03.013). In the niche there is a sculpture depicting a figure of Our Lady of Sorrows with a symbolic sword piercing her heart (photo 01.03.014). This image is a reference to the prophecy of Simeon revealed at the time of Jesus' presentation in the temple: “a Twoją duszę miecz przeniknie, aby na jaw wyszły zamysły serc wielu“ (a sword will pierce your own soul to unfold the thoughts of many hearts).

Please, pass through the gate and stop in front of the next one.

In the place where you are now there was once a drawbridge that in case of emergency was lifted, making the entrance to the monastery unreachable. From this point it is worth looking through the side fence to see the mighty walls of Jasna Góra. The fourth and last gate, in front of which you are standing now, is called Wałowa (bulwark), or Jagiellonian (photo 01.03.015). Its construction was part of the expansion of the monastery fortifications and was completed in 1631. It is the oldest and largest gate leading to the monastery. In 1670 a floor was added, in order to store weapons and ammunition and to keep the mechanism for the drawbridge lifting. Above the entrance there is the name and logo of the Jubilee of the year 2000, the celebration of the entry of the Catholic Church in the Third Millennium (photo 01.03.016). On the top of the door there is the mosaic of Władysław of Opole, patron of the Pauline Order of Jasna Gora (01.03.017). Interestingly, this is the only gate that can be closed. Walking through the gate, you shall pay attention to the decorative grating (photo 01.03.018), on which are the symbols from the coat of arms of the Pauline Order (photo 01.03.019).

Upon crossing the gate, please, stop at the side and play the forth record.