Saturday, 11 February 2012, update date: 08.02.2012
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Pilgrimages to the Shrine in Częstochowa.

Each year, in the first days of August, Catholic Poles from every part of Poland set out for a walking pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Częstochowa.

For hundreds of years, walking pilgrimages have been a Catholic tradition of penance, redemption and plea for blessings. During the communist era, pilgrimages to the Częstochowa shrine have been an opportunity to manifest the cult of the Black Madonna - the mother of the Polish nation, people's faith in individual rights, and patriotic traditions.

Walking pilgrimages set out from different geographical directions starting from all major cities in Poland and continued marching towards the Jasna Góra in order to meet in the city of Częstochowa on August 15th which is the Holiday of the Assumption of Holy Mary.
Below, photos taken by the secret service of the Polish People's Republic dated 1969 and 1983. All descriptions are original ones and come from the former files of the Ministry of the Interior. The photographs come from the archives of the Institute of National Remembrance.

August 14-15, 1983 - banners, crosses and emblems from pilgrimages hung on a fence of the Jasna Góra Monastery.
August 14-15, 1983 - banners, crosses and emblems from pilgrimages hung on a fence of the Jasna Góra Monastery.
August 26, 1983 - Banners from pilgrimiges hung on the fence of the Jasna Góra shrine in Częstochowa.
August 26, 1983 - Banners from pilgrimiges hung on the fence of the Jasna Góra shrine in Częstochowa.
August 26, 1983 - Banners from pilgrimages hung on the fence of the Jasna Góra shrine in Częstochowa.
August 26, 1983 - Banners from pilgrimages hung on the fence of the Jasna Góra shrine in Częstochowa.
August 6, 1969 - A group of people at Podwale Street in Warsaw - in the background - the Barbican.
August 6, 1969 - A group of people at Podwale Street in Warsaw - in the background - the Barbican.
August 6, 1969 - Entrance to the Pauline's church by Freta Street in Warsaw - a group of people and cars in front of the entrance to the church.
August 6, 1969 - Entrance to the Pauline's church by Freta Street in Warsaw - a group of people and cars in front of the entrance to the church.
August 6, 1969 - a group of people surrounding a truck where an unknown woman stands; (Before setting out from Warsaw).
August 6, 1969 - a group of people surrounding a truck where an unknown woman stands; (Before setting out from Warsaw).
August 6,1969 - Before setting out from Warsaw - a group of people standing by a truck. A priest holds a sign with no. 7.
August 6,1969 - Before setting out from Warsaw - a group of people standing by a truck. A priest holds a sign with no. 7.
August 6, 1969 - a group of pilgrims by a truck, some wearing straw hats, before setting out from Warsaw.
August 6, 1969 - a group of pilgrims by a truck, some wearing straw hats, before setting out from Warsaw.
August 6, 1969 - A small group of pilgrims before setting out from Warsaw.
August 6, 1969 - A small group of pilgrims before setting out from Warsaw.
August 6, 1969 - A small group of pilgrims before setting out from Warsaw.
August 6, 1969 - A small group of pilgrims before setting out from Warsaw.
August 14, 1983 - 272nd Warsaw Walking Pilgrimage marching through Częstochowa; Participants of the pilgrimage carry a white and red flag with a slogan saying: "God, Honor, Motherland, Human Being".
August 14, 1983 - 272nd Warsaw Walking Pilgrimage marching through Częstochowa; Participants of the pilgrimage carry a white and red flag with a slogan saying: "God, Honor, Motherland, Human Being".
August 6, 1969 - Two priests among participants of the pilgrimage before setting out from Warsaw.
August 6, 1969 - Two priests among participants of the pilgrimage before setting out from Warsaw.
August 6, 1969 - town of Raszyn - a group of pilgrims; A man wearing a scout uniform carries a sign - "Warsaw's walking pilgrimage to Jasna Góra."
August 6, 1969 - town of Raszyn - a group of pilgrims; A man wearing a scout uniform carries a sign - "Warsaw's walking pilgrimage to Jasna Góra."
August 6, 1969 - town of Raszyn - a group of pilgrims in front of an unknown building; A man in the middle of a group carries a lamp on a long stick.
August 6, 1969 - town of Raszyn - a group of pilgrims in front of an unknown building; A man in the middle of a group carries a lamp on a long stick.
August 6, 1969 - town of Raszyn - participants of the pilgrimage on the main street.
August 6, 1969 - town of Raszyn - participants of the pilgrimage on the main street.
August 6, 1969; the town of Raszyn - Two women in white aprons and bags with medical aid; next to them an unknown woman, behind them participants of the pilgrimage.
August 6, 1969; the town of Raszyn - Two women in white aprons and bags with medical aid; next to them an unknown woman, behind them participants of the pilgrimage.
August 14, 1983 - Participants of the 272nd Warsaw Pilgrimage and Legnica Pilgrimage walking down Częstochowa Streets.
August 14, 1983 - Participants of the 272nd Warsaw Pilgrimage and Legnica Pilgrimage walking down Częstochowa Streets.
August 14, 1983; Pilgrims from the town of Oleśnica walking down the streets of Częstochowa.
August 14, 1983; Pilgrims from the town of Oleśnica walking down the streets of Częstochowa.
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