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The Christianization of Poland^[1] (Polish: chrystianizacja Polski [xrɘs.tja.ɲiˈza.t͡sja ˈpɔl.ski])^[2] refers to the introduction and subsequent spread of Christianity in Poland.^[3] The impetus to the process was the Baptism of Poland (Polish: chrzest Polski [ˈxʂɛst ˈpɔl.ski]), the personal baptism of Mieszko I, the first ruler of the future Polish state, and much of his court. The ceremony took place on Holy Saturday, 14 April 966 (under the Julian pre-Gregorian calendar, equivalent to 19 April 966 Gregorian), although the exact location is disputed by historians, with the cities of Poznań and Gniezno being the most likely sites. Mieszko's wife, Dobrawa of Bohemia, is often seen as a major influence on Mieszko's decision to accept Christianity.

While the spread of Christianity in Poland took centuries to finish, the process was ultimately successful, as within several decades Poland joined the rank of established European states recognised by the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire. According to historians, the baptism of Poland marks the beginning of Polish statehood.^[4] Nevertheless, the Christianization was a long and arduous process, as most of the Polish population remained pagan until the pagan reaction during the 1030s.

Background

Before the adoption of Christianity in modern-day Poland, there were a number of different pagan tribes. Svetovid was among the most widespread pagan gods worshiped in Poland. Christianity arrived around the late 9th century, most likely around the time when the Vistulan tribe encountered the Christian rite in dealings with their neighbors, the Great Moravia (Bohemian) state.

The Moravian cultural influence played a significant role in the spread of Christianity onto the Polish lands and the subsequent adoption of that religion.^[1]^[5] In the opinion of Davies, the Christianization of Poland through the Czech–Polish alliance represented a conscious choice on the part of Polish rulers to ally themselves with the Czech state rather than the German one.^[1]^[6] In a similar fashion, some of the later political struggles involved the Polish Church refusing to subordinate itself to the German hierarchy and instead being directly subordinate to the Vatican.^[7]^[8]^[9]

Baptism

"The Baptism of Poland" refers to the ceremony when the first ruler of the Polish state, Mieszko I, and much of his court converted to the Christian religion.^[5]^[8] Mieszko's wife Dobrawa of Bohemia, a zealous Christian, played a significant role in promoting Christianity in Poland, and might have had a significant influence on converting Mieszko himself.^[1]^[7]

The exact place of Mieszko's baptism is disputed; Most historians argue that Gniezno or Poznań are the most likely sites.^[7]^[10] However, other historians have suggested alternative locations, such as Ostrów Lednicki, or even in German Regensburg.^[10] The date of Mieszko's baptism was 14 April 966, Holy Saturday.^[7]

The ceremony was preceded by a week of oral catechism and several days of fasting. The actual ceremony involved pouring water over the segregated groups of men and women, although it is possible that their heads were immersed instead, and anointed with the chrism.^[7]

Christianization of Poland

The baptismal mission which began in the two major cities of Gniezno and Poznań with the baptism of Mieszko and his court spread throughout the country.^[7] During the 10th and 11th centuries various ecclesiastical organs were established in Poland.^[3]^[5] This included the building of churches and the appointment of clergy.^[3]^[7] The first Bishop of Poland, Jordan, was appointed by Pope John XIII in 968.^[7] Mieszko's son Bolesław I the Brave supported Christianization missions to neighboring lands, notably the mission of future Saint Adalbert of Prague to Old Prussians, and established the Archbishopric of Gniezno in the year 1000.^[8]

Although at first the Christian religion was "unpopular and alien", Mieszko's baptism was highly influential^[3] but needed to be enforced by the state, and ran into some popular opposition, including an uprising in the 1030s (particularly intense in the years of 1035–1037).^[5]^[9] Nonetheless, by that time Poland had won recognition as a proper European state, from both the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire.^[11]

Out of various provinces of today's Poland, Christianity's spread was slowest in Pomerania, where it gained a significant following only around the 12th century.^[5] Initially, the clergy came from the Western Christian European countries; native Polish clergy took three or four generations to emerge, and were supported by the monasteries and friars that grew increasingly common in the 12th century.^[3] By the 13th century Roman Catholicism had become the dominant religion throughout Poland.^[3]

In adopting Christianity as the state religion, Mieszko sought to achieve several personal goals.^[5] He saw Poland's baptism as a way of strengthening his hold on power, as well as using it as a unifying force for the Polish people.^[5]^[8] It replaced several smaller cults with a single, central one, clearly associated with the royal court.^[7] It would also improve the position and respectability of the Polish state on the international, European scene.^[7]^[8] The Church also helped to strengthen the monarch's authority and brought to Poland much experience with regard to state administration. Thus, the Church organisation supported the state, and in return, bishops received important government titles (in the later era, they were members of the Senate of Poland).^[5]

Millennial celebrations of 1966

The preparations for the millennial celebrations begun with the Great Novena of 1957, which marked a nine years period of fast and prayer. In 1966, the People's Republic of Poland witnessed large festivities on the 1,000th anniversary of those events, with the Church celebrating the 1,000 years of Christianity in Poland, while the Communist government celebrated the secular 1,000 years of the Polish State, culminated in twice denying Pope Paul VI permission to visit Poland that year. The desire of the Communist party to separate religion from the state made the festivities a culture clash between the state and the Church. While the Church was focusing on the religious, ecclesiastical aspects of the baptism, with slogans (in Latin) like Sacrum Poloniae Millenium (Poland's Sacred Millennium), the Communist Party was framing the celebrations as a secular, political anniversary of the creation of the Polish state, with slogans (in Polish) like Tysiąclecie Państwa Polskiego (A Thousand Years of the Polish State). As Norman Davies noted, both the Church and the Party had "rival, and mutually exclusive, interpretations of [Poland's baptism] significance".^[12]

On 30 July 1966, the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing issued 128,475,000 commemorative stamps honoring the millennium anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Poland.^[13]

An anniversary parade was held in front of the Palace of Culture and Science on Parade Square on 22 July to coincide with the annual National Day of the Rebirth of Poland celebrations (set on the anniversary of the signing of the PKWN Manifesto).^[14] It was attended by Władysław Gomułka, the then First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party, as well as members of the PUWP and the Polish Council of State.^[15] The parade inspector was Marshal of Poland Marian Spychalski while it was commanded by the commander of the Warsaw Military District Major General Czesław Waryszak (1919–1979). Troops of the Polish People's Army were on parade, featuring units such as the Representative Honor Guard of the LWP, the Band of the LWP (led by Colonel Lisztok), as well as cadets of military academies and other ceremonial units dressed in Polish historical military uniforms dating back to the Piast dynasty.^[16]^[17] The parade is today regarded as the largest military parade in the history of Poland.^[18]

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Halina Lerski (30 January 1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945. ABC-CLIO. pp. 104–105. ISBN 978-0-313-03456-5. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
^ Chrystianizacja Polski południowej. Materiały sesji naukowej odbytej 29 czerwca 1993 roku, Kraków, 1994
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Jerzy Lukowski; W. H. Zawadzki (6 July 2006). A Concise History of Poland. Cambridge University Press. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-0-521-85332-3. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
^ Geneviève Zubrzycki (15 September 2006). The Crosses of Auschwitz: Nationalism And Religion in Post-communist Poland. University of Chicago Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-226-99304-1. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Juliusz Bardach, Boguslaw Lesnodorski, and Michal Pietrzak, Historia panstwa i prawa polskiego Warsaw: Paristwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 1987, pp. 53–54
^ Norman Davies (30 March 2005). God's Playground: The origins to 1795. Columbia University Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-231-12817-9. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Jerzy Kłoczowski (14 September 2000). A History of Polish Christianity. Cambridge University Press. pp. 10–13. ISBN 978-0-521-36429-4. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Halina Lerski (30 January 1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945. ABC-CLIO. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-313-03456-5. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b Norman Davies (30 March 2005). God's Playground: The origins to 1795. Columbia University Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-231-12817-9. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
^ ^a ^b Leszek Moczulski (2007). Narodziny Międzymorza: ukształtowanie ojczyzn, powstanie państw oraz układy geopolityczne wschodniej części Europy w późnej starożytności i we wczesnym średniowieczu. Bellona. p. 638. GGKEY:KQL3CPL831C. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
^ Professor Anita J. Prazmowska (13 July 2011). A History of Poland. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-230-34537-9. Retrieved 5 April 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
^ Norman Davies (30 March 2005). God's Playground: The origins to 1795. Columbia University Press. pp. 15–17. ISBN 978-0-231-12817-9. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
^ U.S. #1313 Polish Millennium MNH Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Defilada tysiąclecia – partyjne obchody milenium – zdjęcie nr 7". wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
^ "Niesamowita Defilada Tysiąclecia. Tak to wyglądało w 1966 [WIDEO] | Warszawa W Pigułce". 16 August 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
^ "Kronika RP". kronikarp.pl. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
^ "Рыцари (в кинореквизите) участвуют в параде в честь 1000-летия Польского государства". Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
^ "Jak wyglądała największa parada wojskowa w historii Polski". 19 July 2016.

External links

[LERSKI1996-1] Halina Lerski (30 January 1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945. ABC-CLIO. pp. 104–105. ISBN 978-0-313-03456-5. Retrieved 5 April 2012.

[chrystianizacja-2] Chrystianizacja Polski południowej. Materiały sesji naukowej odbytej 29 czerwca 1993 roku, Kraków, 1994

[LukowskiZawadzki2006-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Jerzy Lukowski; W. H. Zawadzki (6 July 2006). A Concise History of Poland. Cambridge University Press. pp. 9–10. ISBN 978-0-521-85332-3. Retrieved 5 April 2012.

[Zubrzycki2006-4] Geneviève Zubrzycki (15 September 2006). The Crosses of Auschwitz: Nationalism And Religion in Post-communist Poland. University of Chicago Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-226-99304-1. Retrieved 5 April 2012.

[bardach53-54-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Juliusz Bardach, Boguslaw Lesnodorski, and Michal Pietrzak, Historia panstwa i prawa polskiego Warsaw: Paristwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 1987, pp. 53–54

[Davies2005-53-6] Norman Davies (30 March 2005). God's Playground: The origins to 1795. Columbia University Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-231-12817-9. Retrieved 5 April 2012.

[Kłoczowski2000-7] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Jerzy Kłoczowski (14 September 2000). A History of Polish Christianity. Cambridge University Press. pp. 10–13. ISBN 978-0-521-36429-4. Retrieved 5 April 2012.

[LERSKI19962-8] Halina Lerski (30 January 1996). Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945. ABC-CLIO. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-313-03456-5. Retrieved 5 April 2012.

[Davies2005-57-9] Norman Davies (30 March 2005). God's Playground: The origins to 1795. Columbia University Press. p. 57. ISBN 978-0-231-12817-9. Retrieved 5 April 2012.

[Moczulski2007-10] Leszek Moczulski (2007). Narodziny Międzymorza: ukształtowanie ojczyzn, powstanie państw oraz układy geopolityczne wschodniej części Europy w późnej starożytności i we wczesnym średniowieczu. Bellona. p. 638. GGKEY:KQL3CPL831C. Retrieved 5 April 2012.

[Prazmowska2011-11] Professor Anita J. Prazmowska (13 July 2011). A History of Poland. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-230-34537-9. Retrieved 5 April 2012.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

[Davies-12] Norman Davies (30 March 2005). God's Playground: The origins to 1795. Columbia University Press. pp. 15–17. ISBN 978-0-231-12817-9. Retrieved 5 April 2012.

[13] U.S. #1313 Polish Millennium MNH Archived 14 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine

[14] "Defilada tysiąclecia – partyjne obchody milenium – zdjęcie nr 7". wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 31 July 2020.

[15] "Niesamowita Defilada Tysiąclecia. Tak to wyglądało w 1966 [WIDEO] | Warszawa W Pigułce". 16 August 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2020.

[16] "Kronika RP". kronikarp.pl. Retrieved 31 July 2020.

[17] "Рыцари (в кинореквизите) участвуют в параде в честь 1000-летия Польского государства". Archived from the original on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.

[18] "Jak wyglądała największa parada wojskowa w historii Polski". 19 July 2016.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
-{{good article}}
-{{GA icon}}
+{{Good article}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2013}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
-[[File:Matejko Christianization of Poland.jpg|thumb|350px|right|''[[Christianization of Poland A.D. 966.]]'' by [[Jan Matejko]]]]
+[[File:Matejko Christianization of Poland.jpg|upright=1.35|300px|thumb|''[[Christianization of Poland A.D. 966.]]'' by [[Jan Matejko]]]]
+{{History of Poland}}
-The '''Christianization of Poland'''<ref name="LERSKI1996"/> (Polish: ''chrystianizacja Polski'')<ref name="chrystianizacja"/> refers to the introduction and subsequent spread of [[Christianity in Poland]].<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006"/> The impetus to the process was the '''Baptism of Poland''' ({{lang-pl|chrzest Polski}}), the personal [[baptism]] of [[Mieszko I of Poland|Mieszko I]], the first ruler of the future Polish state, and much of his court. The ceremony took place on the [[Holy Saturday]] of 14 April 966, although the exact location is still disputed by historians, with the cities of [[Poznań]] and [[Gniezno]] being the most likely sites. Mieszko's wife, [[Dobrawa of Bohemia]], is often credited as a major influence on Mieszko's decision to accept Christianity.
+The '''Christianization of Poland'''<ref name="LERSKI1996"/> ({{langx|pl|chrystianizacja Polski}} {{IPA-pl|xrɘs.tja.ɲiˈza.t͡sja ˈpɔl.ski|}})<ref name="chrystianizacja"/> refers to the introduction and subsequent spread of [[Christianity in Poland]].<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006"/> The impetus to the process was the '''Baptism of Poland''' ({{langx|pl|chrzest Polski}} {{IPA-pl|ˈxʂɛst ˈpɔl.ski|}}), the personal [[baptism]] of [[Mieszko I of Poland|Mieszko I]], the first ruler of the future Polish state, and much of his court. The ceremony took place on [[Holy Saturday]], 14 April 966 (under the Julian pre-Gregorian calendar, equivalent to 19 April 966 Gregorian), although the exact location is disputed by historians, with the cities of [[Poznań]] and [[Gniezno]] being the most likely sites. Mieszko's wife, [[Dobrawa of Bohemia]], is often seen as a major influence on Mieszko's decision to accept Christianity.
 While the spread of Christianity in Poland took centuries to finish, the process was ultimately successful, as within several decades Poland joined the rank of established European states recognised by the papacy and the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. According to historians, the baptism of Poland marks the beginning of Polish statehood.<ref name="Zubrzycki2006"/> Nevertheless, the Christianization was a long and arduous process, as most of the Polish population remained pagan until the [[Pagan reaction in Poland|pagan reaction]] during the 1030s.
@@ Line 15: / Line 16: @@
 ===Baptism===
-[[File:MieszkoDagome.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Mieszko I]], the first Christian ruler of Poland. Depicted by [[Jan Matejko]] as holding a crucifix in an allusion to the Baptism of Poland.]]
+[[File:MieszkoDagome.jpg|thumb|[[Mieszko I]], the first Christian ruler of Poland. Depicted by [[Jan Matejko]] as holding a crucifix in an allusion to the Baptism of Poland.]]
-The "Baptism of Poland" refers to the ceremony when the first ruler of the Polish state, [[Mieszko I]] and much of his court, converted to the Christian religion.<ref name="bardach53-54"/><ref name="LERSKI19962"/> Mieszko's wife [[Dobrawa of Bohemia]], a zealous Christian, played a significant role in promoting Christianity in Poland, and might have had significant influence on converting Mieszko himself.<ref name="LERSKI1996"/><ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/>
-The exact place of Mieszko's baptism is disputed; Most historians argue that [[Gniezno]] or [[Poznań]] are the most likely sites.<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/><ref name="Moczulski2007"/> However, other historians have suggested alternative locations, such as [[Ostrów Lednicki]], or even in German [[Regensburg]].<ref name="Moczulski2007"/> The date of Mieszko's baptism was on the [[Holy Saturday]] of 14 April 966.<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/>
+"The Baptism of Poland" refers to the ceremony when the first ruler of the Polish state, [[Mieszko I]], and much of his court converted to the Christian religion.<ref name="bardach53-54"/><ref name="LERSKI19962"/> Mieszko's wife [[Dobrawa of Bohemia]], a zealous Christian, played a significant role in promoting Christianity in Poland, and might have had a significant influence on converting Mieszko himself.<ref name="LERSKI1996"/><ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/>
+The exact place of Mieszko's baptism is disputed; Most historians argue that [[Gniezno]] or [[Poznań]] are the most likely sites.<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/><ref name="Moczulski2007"/> However, other historians have suggested alternative locations, such as [[Ostrów Lednicki]], or even in German [[Regensburg]].<ref name="Moczulski2007"/> The date of Mieszko's baptism was 14 April 966, [[Holy Saturday]].<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/>
 The ceremony was preceded by a week of oral catechism and several days of fasting. The actual ceremony involved pouring water over the segregated groups of men and women, although it is possible that their heads were immersed instead, and anointed with the [[chrism]].<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/>
 ===Christianization of Poland===
-The baptismal mission which began in the two major cities of Gniezno and Poznań with the baptism of Mieszko and his court spread throughout the country.<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/> During the 10th and 11th centuries various ecclesiastical organs were established in Poland.<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006"/><ref name="bardach53-54"/> This included the building of churches and the appointment of clergy.<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006"/><ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/> The first [[List of Bishops of Poznań|Bishop of Poland]], [[Jordan (Bishop of Poland)|Jordan]], was appointed by [[Pope John XIII]] in 968.<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/> Mieszko's son [[Bolesław I Chrobry]] supported Christianization missions to neighboring lands, notably the mission of future Saint [[Adalbert of Prague]] to [[Old Prussians]], and established the [[Archbishopric of Gniezno]] in the year 1000.<ref name="LERSKI19962"/>
+The baptismal mission which began in the two major cities of Gniezno and Poznań with the baptism of Mieszko and his court spread throughout the country.<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/> During the 10th and 11th centuries various ecclesiastical organs were established in Poland.<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006"/><ref name="bardach53-54"/> This included the building of churches and the appointment of clergy.<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006"/><ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/> The first [[List of Bishops of Poznań|Bishop of Poland]], [[Jordan (Bishop of Poland)|Jordan]], was appointed by [[Pope John XIII]] in 968.<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/> Mieszko's son [[Bolesław I the Brave]] supported Christianization missions to neighboring lands, notably the mission of future Saint [[Adalbert of Prague]] to [[Old Prussians]], and established the [[Archbishopric of Gniezno]] in the year 1000.<ref name="LERSKI19962"/>
-Although at first the Christian religion was "unpopular and alien", Mieszko's baptism was highly influential<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006"/> but needed to be enforced by the state, and ran into some [[Pagan reaction in Poland|popular opposition, including an uprising in the 1030s]] (particularly intense in the years of 1035–1037).<ref name="bardach53-54"/><ref name="Davies2005-57"/> Nonetheless, by that time Poland had won recognition as a proper European state, both from the papacy and from the [[Holy Roman Empire]].<ref name="Prazmowska2011"/>
+Although at first the Christian religion was "unpopular and alien", Mieszko's baptism was highly influential<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006"/> but needed to be enforced by the state, and ran into some popular opposition, including [[Pagan reaction in Poland|an uprising in the 1030s]] (particularly intense in the years of 1035–1037).<ref name="bardach53-54"/><ref name="Davies2005-57"/> Nonetheless, by that time Poland had won recognition as a proper European state, from both the papacy and the [[Holy Roman Empire]].<ref name="Prazmowska2011"/>
 Out of various provinces of today's Poland, Christianity's spread was slowest in [[Pomerania]], where it gained a significant following only around the 12th century.<ref name="bardach53-54"/> Initially, the clergy came from the Western Christian European countries; native Polish clergy took three or four generations to emerge, and were supported by the monasteries and friars that grew increasingly common in the 12th century.<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006"/> By the 13th century Roman Catholicism had become the dominant religion throughout Poland.<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006"/>
-In adopting Christianity as the state religion, Mieszko sought to achieve several personal goals.<ref name="bardach53-54"/> He saw Poland's baptism as a way of strengthening his hold on power, as well as using it as a unifying force for the Polish people.<ref name="bardach53-54"/><ref name="LERSKI19962"/> It replaced several smaller cults with a single, central one, clearly associated with the royal court.<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/> It would also improve the position and respectability of the Polish state on the international, European scene.<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/><ref name="LERSKI19962"/> The Church also helped to strengthen the monarch's authority, and brought to Poland much experience with regard to state administration. Thus, the Church organisation supported the state, and in return, bishops received important government titles (in the later era, they were members of the [[Senate of Poland]]).<ref name="bardach53-54"/>
+In adopting Christianity as the state religion, Mieszko sought to achieve several personal goals.<ref name="bardach53-54"/> He saw Poland's baptism as a way of strengthening his hold on power, as well as using it as a unifying force for the Polish people.<ref name="bardach53-54"/><ref name="LERSKI19962"/> It replaced several smaller cults with a single, central one, clearly associated with the royal court.<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/> It would also improve the position and respectability of the Polish state on the international, European scene.<ref name="Kłoczowski2000"/><ref name="LERSKI19962"/> The Church also helped to strengthen the monarch's authority and brought to Poland much experience with regard to state administration. Thus, the Church organisation supported the state, and in return, bishops received important government titles (in the later era, they were members of the [[Senate of Poland]]).<ref name="bardach53-54"/>
 ==Millennial celebrations of 1966==
 {{Main|Millennium of the Polish State}}
-[[File:Baptism of Poland.Mural in Gniezno.JPG|thumb|250px|Contemporary mural in [[Gniezno]] commemorating the baptism of Poland.]]
+[[File:Baptism of Poland.Mural in Gniezno.JPG|thumb|Contemporary mural in [[Gniezno]] commemorating the baptism of Poland.]]
 [[File:Jeźdźcy w strojach husarii podczas defilady w czasie święta Tysiąclecia Państwa Polskiego.jpg|thumb|Ceremonial cavalry during the parade in 1966.]]
-The preparations for the millennial celebrations begun with the Great Novena of 1957, which marked a nine years period of fast and prayer. In 1966, the [[People's Republic of Poland]] witnessed large festivities on the 1,000-year anniversary of those events, with the Church celebrating the 1,000 years of Christianity in Poland, while the Communist government celebrated the secular 1,000 years of the Polish State, culminated in twice denying [[Pope Paul VI]] permission to visit Poland that year. The desire of the Communist party to separate religion from the state made the festivities a culture clash between the state and the Church. While the Church was focusing on the religious, ecclesiastical aspects of the baptism, with slogans (in Latin) like ''Sacrum Poloniae Millenium'' (Poland's Sacred Millennium), [[Polish United Workers' Party|the Communist Party]] was framing the celebrations as a secular, political anniversary of the creation of the Polish state, with slogans (in Polish) like ''Tysiąclecie Państwa Polskiego'' (A Thousand Years of the Polish State). As [[Norman Davies]] noted, both the Church and the Party had "rival, and mutually exclusive, interpretations of [Poland's baptism] significance."<ref name=Davies/>
+The preparations for the millennial celebrations begun with the Great Novena of 1957, which marked a nine years period of fast and prayer. In 1966, the [[People's Republic of Poland]] witnessed large festivities on the 1,000th anniversary of those events, with the Church celebrating the 1,000 years of Christianity in Poland, while the Communist government celebrated the secular 1,000 years of the Polish State, culminated in twice denying [[Pope Paul VI]] permission to visit Poland that year. The desire of the Communist party to separate religion from the state made the festivities a culture clash between the state and the Church. While the Church was focusing on the religious, ecclesiastical aspects of the baptism, with slogans (in Latin) like ''Sacrum Poloniae Millenium'' (Poland's Sacred Millennium), [[Polish United Workers' Party|the Communist Party]] was framing the celebrations as a secular, political anniversary of the creation of the Polish state, with slogans (in Polish) like ''Tysiąclecie Państwa Polskiego'' (A Thousand Years of the Polish State). As [[Norman Davies]] noted, both the Church and the Party had "rival, and mutually exclusive, interpretations of [Poland's baptism] significance".<ref name=Davies/>
 On 30 July 1966, the [[U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing]] issued 128,475,000 commemorative stamps honoring the millennium anniversary of the adoption of Christianity in Poland.<ref>[http://www.ihobb.com/p/USSTAMPS1278-1896/USSM1313.html U.S. #1313 Polish Millennium MNH] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414045800/http://www.ihobb.com/p/USSTAMPS1278-1896/USSM1313.html |date=14 April 2015 }}</ref>
-An anniversary parade was held in front of the [[Palace of Culture and Science]] on [[Parade Square]] on 22 July to coincide with the annual National Day of the Rebirth of Poland celebrations (set on the anniversary of the signing of the [[PKWN Manifesto]]).<ref>http://wyborcza.pl/5,140981,19910958.html?i=6&disableRedirects=true</ref> It was attended by [[Władysław Gomułka]], the then [[First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party]], as well as members of the PUWP and the [[Polish Council of State]].<ref>https://warszawawpigulce.pl/niesamowita-defilada-tysiaclecia-tak-to-wygladalo-w-1966-wideo/</ref> The parade inspector was [[Marshal of Poland]] [[Marian Spychalski]] while it was commanded by the commander of the [[Warsaw Military District]] Major General Czesław Waryszak (1919-1979). Troops of the [[Polish People's Army]] were on parade, featuring units such as the [[Representative Honor Guard Regiment of the Polish Armed Forces|Representative Honor Guard of the LWP]], the [[Representative Central Band of the Polish Armed Forces|Band of the LWP]] (led by Colonel Lisztok), as well as cadets of military academies and other ceremonial units dressed in Polish historical military uniforms dating back to the [[Piast dynasty]].<ref>http://www.kronikarp.pl/pop-up.php?id=58989&type=2</ref><ref>http://phistory.info/photo-history/679-rycari-v-kinorekvizite-uchastvuyut-v-parade-v-chest-1000-letiya-polskogo-gosudarstva.html</ref> The parade is today regarded as the largest military parade in the history of Poland.<ref>https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/historia/1668606,1,jak-wygladala-najwieksza-parada-wojskowa-w-historii-polski.read</ref>
+An anniversary parade was held in front of the [[Palace of Culture and Science]] on [[Parade Square]] on 22 July to coincide with the annual National Day of the Rebirth of Poland celebrations (set on the anniversary of the signing of the [[PKWN Manifesto]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wyborcza.pl/5,140981,19910958.html?i=6|title=Defilada tysiąclecia – partyjne obchody milenium – zdjęcie nr 7|website=wyborcza.pl|access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref> It was attended by [[Władysław Gomułka]], the then [[First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party]], as well as members of the PUWP and the [[Polish Council of State]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://warszawawpigulce.pl/niesamowita-defilada-tysiaclecia-tak-to-wygladalo-w-1966-wideo/|title=Niesamowita Defilada Tysiąclecia. Tak to wyglądało w 1966 [WIDEO] &#124; Warszawa W Pigułce|date=16 August 2015|access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref> The parade inspector was [[Marshal of Poland]] [[Marian Spychalski]] while it was commanded by the commander of the [[Warsaw Military District]] Major General Czesław Waryszak (1919–1979). Troops of the [[Polish People's Army]] were on parade, featuring units such as the [[Representative Honor Guard Regiment of the Polish Armed Forces|Representative Honor Guard of the LWP]], the [[Representative Central Band of the Polish Armed Forces|Band of the LWP]] (led by Colonel Lisztok), as well as cadets of military academies and other ceremonial units dressed in Polish historical military uniforms dating back to the [[Piast dynasty]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kronikarp.pl/pop-up.php?id=58989&type=2|title=Kronika RP|website=kronikarp.pl|access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://phistory.info/photo-history/679-rycari-v-kinorekvizite-uchastvuyut-v-parade-v-chest-1000-letiya-polskogo-gosudarstva.html |title=Рыцари (в кинореквизите) участвуют в параде в честь 1000-летия Польского государства |access-date=14 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714001618/http://phistory.info/photo-history/679-rycari-v-kinorekvizite-uchastvuyut-v-parade-v-chest-1000-letiya-polskogo-gosudarstva.html |archive-date=14 July 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The parade is today regarded as the largest military parade in the history of Poland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/historia/1668606,1,jak-wygladala-najwieksza-parada-wojskowa-w-historii-polski.read|title=Jak wyglądała największa parada wojskowa w historii Polski|date=19 July 2016}}</ref>
 ==See also==
+* [[Catholic Church in Poland]]
 * [[Lech, Czech, and Rus]]
 * [[Christianization of Bohemia]]
@@ Line 53: / Line 57: @@
 {{reflist|colwidth=33em|refs=
 {{refbegin}}
-<ref name="bardach53-54">Juliusz Bardach, Boguslaw Lesnodorski, and Michal Pietrzak, ''Historia panstwa i prawa polskiego'' Warsaw: Paristwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 1987, pp.53–54</ref>
+<ref name="bardach53-54">Juliusz Bardach, Boguslaw Lesnodorski, and Michal Pietrzak, ''Historia panstwa i prawa polskiego'' Warsaw: Paristwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, 1987, pp. 53–54</ref>
 <ref name="chrystianizacja">''Chrystianizacja Polski południowej.'' Materiały sesji naukowej odbytej 29 czerwca 1993 roku, Kraków, 1994</ref>
-<ref name="Davies">{{cite book|author=Norman Davies|title=God's Playground: The origins to 1795|url=https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0|url-access=registration|accessdate=5 April 2012|date=30 March 2005|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-12817-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0/page/15 15]–17}}</ref>
+<ref name="Davies">{{cite book|author=Norman Davies|title=God's Playground: The origins to 1795|url=https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0|url-access=registration|access-date=5 April 2012|date=30 March 2005|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-12817-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0/page/15 15]–17}}</ref>
-<ref name="Davies2005-53">{{cite book|author=Norman Davies|title=God's Playground: The origins to 1795|url=https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0|url-access=registration|accessdate=5 April 2012|date=30 March 2005|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-12817-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0/page/53 53]}}</ref>
+<ref name="Davies2005-53">{{cite book|author=Norman Davies|title=God's Playground: The origins to 1795|url=https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0|url-access=registration|access-date=5 April 2012|date=30 March 2005|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-12817-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0/page/53 53]}}</ref>
-<ref name="Davies2005-57">{{cite book|author=Norman Davies|title=God's Playground: The origins to 1795|url=https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0|url-access=registration|accessdate=5 April 2012|date=30 March 2005|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-12817-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0/page/57 57]}}</ref>
+<ref name="Davies2005-57">{{cite book|author=Norman Davies|title=God's Playground: The origins to 1795|url=https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0|url-access=registration|access-date=5 April 2012|date=30 March 2005|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=978-0-231-12817-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/godsplaygroundhi00norm_0/page/57 57]}}</ref>
-<ref name="Kłoczowski2000">{{cite book|author=Jerzy Kłoczowski|title=A History of Polish Christianity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ecdye8hk_tgC&pg=PA10|accessdate=5 April 2012|date=14 September 2000|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-36429-4|pages=10–13}}</ref>
+<ref name="Kłoczowski2000">{{cite book|author=Jerzy Kłoczowski|title=A History of Polish Christianity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ecdye8hk_tgC&pg=PA10|access-date=5 April 2012|date=14 September 2000|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-36429-4|pages=10–13}}</ref>
-<ref name="LERSKI1996">{{cite book|author=Halina Lerski|title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=luRry4Y5NIYC&pg=PA104|accessdate=5 April 2012|date=30 January 1996|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-03456-5|pages=104–105}}</ref>
+<ref name="LERSKI1996">{{cite book|author=Halina Lerski|title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=luRry4Y5NIYC&pg=PA104|access-date=5 April 2012|date=30 January 1996|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-03456-5|pages=104–105}}</ref>
-<ref name="LERSKI19962">{{cite book|author=Halina Lerski|title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=luRry4Y5NIYC&pg=PA27|accessdate=5 April 2012|date=30 January 1996|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-03456-5|page=27}}</ref>
+<ref name="LERSKI19962">{{cite book|author=Halina Lerski|title=Historical Dictionary of Poland, 966–1945|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=luRry4Y5NIYC&pg=PA27|access-date=5 April 2012|date=30 January 1996|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-03456-5|page=27}}</ref>
-<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006">{{cite book|author1=Jerzy Lukowski|author2=W. H. Zawadzki|title=A Concise History of Poland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMylRh-wHWEC&pg=PA9|accessdate=5 April 2012|date=6 July 2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-85332-3|pages=9–10}}</ref>
+<ref name="LukowskiZawadzki2006">{{cite book|author1=Jerzy Lukowski|author2=W. H. Zawadzki|title=A Concise History of Poland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMylRh-wHWEC&pg=PA9|access-date=5 April 2012|date=6 July 2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-85332-3|pages=9–10}}</ref>
-<ref name="Moczulski2007">{{cite book|author=Leszek Moczulski|title=Narodziny Międzymorza: ukształtowanie ojczyzn, powstanie państw oraz układy geopolityczne wschodniej części Europy w późnej starożytności i we wczesnym średniowieczu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FY_u2_TUiFoC&pg=PA638|accessdate=5 April 2012|year=2007|publisher=Bellona|id=GGKEY:KQL3CPL831C|page=638}}</ref>
+<ref name="Moczulski2007">{{cite book|author=Leszek Moczulski|title=Narodziny Międzymorza: ukształtowanie ojczyzn, powstanie państw oraz układy geopolityczne wschodniej części Europy w późnej starożytności i we wczesnym średniowieczu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FY_u2_TUiFoC&pg=PA638|access-date=5 April 2012|year=2007|publisher=Bellona|id=GGKEY:KQL3CPL831C|page=638}}</ref>
-<ref name="Prazmowska2011">{{cite book|author=Professor Anita J. Prazmowska|title=A History of Poland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r_0-BjHIkh4C&pg=PT24|accessdate=5 April 2012|date=13 July 2011|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-0-230-34537-9|page=24}}</ref>
+<ref name="Prazmowska2011">{{cite book|author=Professor Anita J. Prazmowska|title=A History of Poland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r_0-BjHIkh4C&pg=PT24|access-date=5 April 2012|date=13 July 2011|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-0-230-34537-9|page=24}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
-<ref name="Zubrzycki2006">{{cite book|author=Geneviève Zubrzycki|title=The Crosses of Auschwitz: Nationalism And Religion in Post-communist Poland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6HI5Bbn9e8sC&pg=PA64|accessdate=5 April 2012|date=15 September 2006|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-99304-1|page=64}}</ref>
+<ref name="Zubrzycki2006">{{cite book|author=Geneviève Zubrzycki|title=The Crosses of Auschwitz: Nationalism And Religion in Post-communist Poland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6HI5Bbn9e8sC&pg=PA64|access-date=5 April 2012|date=15 September 2006|publisher=University of Chicago Press|isbn=978-0-226-99304-1|page=64}}</ref>
+{{refend}}
 }}
+==Further reading==
+{{Main|Bibliography of the history of Poland}}
+==External links==
 {{Christian History|collapsed}}