Published: 2023-12-20

Processions from Wawel to Skałka. From the religious heritage of Cracow

Dr hab. Róża Godula-Węcławowicz, prof. IAE PAN
Journal of Urban Ethnology
Section: Articles
DOI https://doi.org/10.23858/JUE21.2023.002

Abstract

Since the Middle Ages, two loca sacra have been marked in the religious space of Cracow: Wawel and Skalka, permanently linked by the hagiographic legend of St Stanislaus, a bishop and martyr. For more than eight hundred years, the cult of St Stanislaus has been as interesting as well as complex phenomenon, and has had many manifestations. Over the course of history, it has taken on various forms and varying degrees of intensity, with its spectacular expression being the cyclical religious rituals held in the urban space enclosed between the cathedral church on Wawel Hill and the sanctuary on Skałka. The annual patronal ceremoniesand the coronation ritual, belonging to the cyclical system of assuming the royal throne, had the longest lifespan. Their characteristic accent were the public processions from Wawel to Skałka. Of the many, the May patronal procession has survived to this day and is sometimes seen as a continuation of the previous ones. The author poses a question concerning the validity of identifying these ritual forms.

Keywords:

heritage, procession, ritual, ceremony, coronation, cult of St Stanislaus, Wawel, Skalka

Download files

Citation rules

Godula-Węcławowicz, R. (2023). Processions from Wawel to Skałka. From the religious heritage of Cracow. Journal of Urban Ethnology, 21, 27–44. https://doi.org/10.23858/JUE21.2023.002

Cited by / Share

Licence


This website uses cookies for proper operation, in order to use the portal fully you must accept cookies.