,,Such a Man comes along once in a thousand years.”These words were uttered by Saint Pope John Paul II in the year of the death of Primate Cardinal Wyszynski, who went down in history as one of the greatest figures in the history of the Polish Church. His teachings and relations with the faithful, as well as his unyielding attitude towards the communist authorities, earned him a permanent place alongside Karol Wojtyla among the most eminent Polish pastors of the 20th century. During the period of communist repression Stefan Wyszynski defended the Christian identity of the nation. He developed and implemented a great pastoral program in Poland, which included the Jasna Góra Vows of the Nation, the nine-year Great Novena and the celebration of the Millennium of the Baptism of Poland. The Primate presided over all the millennium celebrations. The culmination of the millennium celebrations was the feast of the Queen of Poland, May 3, 1966. Stefan Wyszynski was the only Polish cardinal who participated in the conclave four times. The crowning achievement of Cardinal Wyszynski’s life and desires was the first pilgrimage of John Paul II to his homeland in June 1979. Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski was an unquestionable moral and spiritual authority, co-creator of the social changes that led to the fall of communism. Stefan Wyszynski, Primate of Poland, passed away on May 28, 1981, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. He was 80 years old, of which 57 years he lived as a priest, 35 years as a bishop, 32 years as Archbishop of Warsaw and Gniezno, Primate of Poland. The funeral of Cardinal Wyszynski was a great religious and patriotic manifestation. It was a funeral expressing respect and honor for the Primate of the Millennium, who was called the father of the Nation. In a letter to the Polish people, which was also a tribute to the deceased, Pope John Paul II wrote that Cardinal Wyszynski was a fearless advocate of human dignity and his inviolable rights in personal, family, social and national life. He also pointed out that the Primate was a special example of living love for the Homeland. Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, an outstanding statesman considered to be one of the greatest Poles of the 20th century, led the Catholic Church in Poland in the years 1948-1981. The Primate Wyszyńński was called the Primate of the Millennium, a chaplain of the nation in times of trial, a hero of the Church, a symbol of Polish courage, the Primate of historic change.
The online premiere of the concert will take place on September 10 at 2.00 at www.fkis.org. The event is organized by the Culture and Arts Foundation in cooperation with the Roman Dmowski and Ignacy Paderewski Institute for the Heritage of National Thought and the Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski Institute in Warsaw.
