Stanisław Szczepanowski or Stanislaus of Szczepanów (July 26, 1030 – April 11?, 1079) was a bishop of Kraków known mostly for having been slain by King Boleslaus the Bold. He is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church as Saint Stanislaus. July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... Events Battle of Stiklestad ensures the Christianization of Norway. ... April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ... Events Halsten and Ingold I succeed Haakon the Red in Sweden. ... Motto: none Voivodship Lesser Poland Municipal government Rada miasta Kraków Mayor Jacek Majchrowski Area 326,8 km² Population  - city  - urban  - density 757,500 (2004 est. ... Categories: Poland-related stubs | Polish monarchs | Dukes of Wroclaw ... The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination of Christianity with over one billion members. ...

Life

The hacking to death of Saint Stanislaus

There is little credible information about the life of Stanislaus. The earliest sources are chronicles of the Anonymous Gaul and Wincenty Kadłubek, as well as two vitae written by Wincenty of Kielce. All of these sources are strongly biased and contain much legendary and hagiographic matter. Download high resolution version (600x827, 100 KB)The hacking to death of Saint Stanislaus This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (600x827, 100 KB)The hacking to death of Saint Stanislaus This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Gallus Anonymus (Polish: Gall Anonim) living in XIth and XIIth century. ... Wincenty Kadłubek, also known as Vincent Kadlubek, Vincent Kadlubo, Vincent Kadlubko, Vincent of Cracow. ... Vita (from the Latin word for life) can refer to a brief biography, often that of a saint (i. ...

According to tradition, he was born at Szczepanów, a village near the town of Bochnia in southern Poland, as the only son of noble and pious Wielisław and Bogna. He was educated in a cathedral school in Gniezno (then Poland's capital city), and later, according to different sources, in Paris or Liège. On his comeback to Poland he was ordained priest by Lambert Suła, the bishop of Kraków. After the bishop's death in 1072, he was elected his successor but accepted the office only on explicit command of Pope Alexander II. Stanislaus was one of the earliest native Polish bishops. He also became a ducal advisor and had some influence on Polish politics. Bochnia is a town in south-eastern Poland with 30,000 inhabitants (2001). ... The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and... Motto: none Voivodship Greater Poland Municipal government Mayor Jaromir Dziel Area 40,9 km² Population  - city  - urban  - density 71 040 none 1737/km² Founded City rights 8th century 1239 Latitude Longitude 52°32 N 17°36 E Area code +48 61 Car plates PGN Twin towns Anagni, Esztergom, Falkenberg, Saint... The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Liège ( Dutch: Luik, German: Lüttich) is a major city located in the Belgian province of Liège, of which it is the capital. ... Events William I of England invades Scotland, and also receives the submission of Hereward the Wake. ... Alexander II, born Anselmo Baggio (d. ...

His major accomplishments include bringing Roman legates to Poland and re-establishment of a metropolitan see in Gniezno. The latter was a precondition for Duke Boleslaus's coronation as king, which took place in 1076. Stanislaus then encouraged the king to establish Benedictine monasteries in the country in order to help the process of Christianization. A Papal legate is a representative of the Pope to the nations. ... Events February 14 - Pope Gregory VII excommunicates Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor. ... The longest lasting of the western Catholic monastic orders, the Order of Saint Benedict traces its origins to the adoption of the monastic life by St. ...

His first conflict with the king was a legal dispute over land ownership. The bishop purchased for the diocese a piece of land situated on the banks of the Vistula near Lublin from a certain Piotr, but the estate was claimed back by Piotr's family after his death. The king's ruling was in favor of the claimants, but – according to a legend – Stanislaus resurrected Piotr so that he could confirm that he had sold the land to the bishop. According to Augustin Calmet, an 18th century biblical scholar, Stanislaus asked the king if he could have three days to produce his witness Piotr. The king and the court were said to have laughed at his absurd request but the king allowed Stanislaus three days. Stanislaus spent three days in constant prayer and on the third day, dressed in his full bishop's insignia, he went with a procession to the cemetery where Piotr had been buried three years before. He is said to have had Piotr's grave dug up until his remains were discovered. Then it is said that Stanislaus in front of a multitude of witnesses commanded Piotr to rise and he did. Piotr was then dressed in a cloak and brought to tetsify in Stanislaus's favor before the king. Dumbfounded the court said nothing as Piotr repremanded his three sons and testified that Stanislaus had indeed paid for the land. Unable to give any other verdict, the king is said to have dropped the suit against the bishop. Stanislaus asked Piotr if he would like to remain alive and he is said to have declined, and so he was laid to rest once again in his grave and buried. Vistula river basin Vistula ( Polish Wisła, German Weichsel) is the longest river in Poland. ... Lublin (pronounce: [lublin]) is the biggest city in eastern Poland and the capital of Lublin Voivodship with a population of 355,954 (2004). ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ...

A more severe – and historically more credible – conflict with the monarch came after a prolonged war in Ruthenia when weary warriors deserted to come back home, alarmed by the information about their administrators taking over their propoerty and their wifes. According to Kadłubek, the king punished his soldiers' unfaithful wifes very cruelly and Bishop Stanislaus is supposed to have criticized him for that. Jan Długosz however, wrote that the bishop criticized his monarch for sexual immorality. Whatever the cause of the conflict, the bishop finally excommunicated the king. The excommunication helped the king's political opponents, so he accused Stanislaus of treason and had him killed. Ruthenia is a name applied to parts of Eastern Europe which were populated by Eastern Slavic peoples, as well as to various states that existed in this territory in the past. ... Jan Długosz Jan Długosz, also known as Joannes Longinus or Joannes Dlugossius (1415-1480) was a Polish historian (a chronicler) and a secretary of Bishop Zbigniew Oleśnicki of Kraków. ... Excommunication is religious censure which is used to deprive or suspend membership in a religious community. ...

The legend says that Boleslaus sent his men to execute Stanislaus without trial, but when they did not dare to hurt the bishop, the king decided to kill the traitor himself. He is said to have slain Stanislaus while he was celebrating a mass in the Church on the Rock outside the walls of Kraków. The bishop's body was then, supposedly, chopped into pieces and thrown into a pool of water outside the church. According to the legend, the bishop's members miraculously reintegrated while the pool was guarded by four eagles.

The exact date of Stanislaus's death is uncertain. According to different sources it happened either on April 11 or May 8, 1079. April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... Events Halsten and Ingold I succeed Haakon the Red in Sweden. ...

The murder caused outrage in the country and led to dethronement of the king who had to seek refuge in Hungary while he was succeeded by his brother, Ladislaus Herman. The question, whether Stanislaus should be regarded as a traitor or as a hero, remains one of classical unresolved disputes in Polish historiography. The story of Stanislaus has an interesting parallel in the almost contemporary murder of Thomas Becket in 1170, by the followers of English king Henry II. ... Saint Thomas à Becket (or Thomas Becket) (ca. ... Events December 29: Assassination of Thomas Beckett, Archbishop of Canterbury, in Canterbury cathedral Eleanor of Aquitaine leaves the court of Henry II because of a string of infidelities. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Henry II of England, depicted in Cassells History of England, Century Edition, published circa 1902 Henry II (March 25, 1133–July 6, 1189), ruled as Duke of Anjou and as King of England (1154–1189) and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland, eastern Ireland, and western France. ...

Veneration as a saint

Cults of Saint Stanislaus as a martyr began immediately after his death. In 1088 his relics were translated (i.e. moved) into the Wawel cathedral in Kraków. In early 13th century Bishop Iwo Odrowąż began preparations to Stanislaus's canonization and ordered Wincenty of Kielce to write the martyr's vita. Finally, Stanislaus was canonized by Pope Innocent IV on September 17, 1253 in Assisi. Pope Clement VIII set the saint's commemoration day on May 7 for the whole Church, though in Kraków it is observed on May 8, the alleged anniversary of the bishop's death. The first feast of Saint Stanislaus in Kraków took place on May 8, 1254, and was attended by numerous Polish bishops and princes. Bishop (disambiguation). ... Historically, a martyr is a person who dies for his or her religious faith. ... July 26 is the 207th day (208th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 158 days remaining. ... Events Battle of Stiklestad ensures the Christianization of Norway. ... The Republic of Poland, a democratic country with a population of 38,626,349 and area of 312,685 km², is located in Central Europe, between Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and... April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ... Events Halsten and Ingold I succeed Haakon the Red in Sweden. ... Motto: none Voivodship Lesser Poland Municipal government Rada miasta Kraków Mayor Jacek Majchrowski Area 326,8 km² Population  - city  - urban  - density 757,500 (2004 est. ... The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination of Christianity with over one billion members. ... This article discusses the process of declaring saints. ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... For broader historical context, see 13th century. ... The Lower and Upper Church from the lower piazza Assisi (Latin: Asisium) is a town and episcopal see on the western flank of Mt. ... The Italian Republic or Italy (Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. ... Eastern Orthodox shrine Buddhist shrine just outside Wat Phnom. ... The Wawel Hill in Kraków Wawel (Polish Wzgórze wawelskie or for short Wawel) is the name of a lime hillock situated on the left bank of the Vistula in Kraków, Poland at an altitude of 228 metres above sea level. ... April 11 is the 101st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (102nd in leap years). ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... In several forms of Christianity, a patron saint has special affinity for a trade or group. ... Historically, a martyr is a person who dies for his or her religious faith. ... Events Succession of Pope Urban II (1088-1099) Work begins on the third and largest church at Cluny Rebellion of 1088 against William II of England lead by Odo of Bayeux. ... The Wawel Hill in Kraków Wawel (Polish Wzgórze wawelskie or for short Wawel) is the name of a lime hillock situated on the left bank of the Vistula in Kraków, Poland at an altitude of 228 metres above sea level. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Canonization is the process of making someone into a saint and involves proving that a candidate has lived in such a way that he or she is worthy of sainthood. ... Innocent IV, né Sinibaldo de Fieschi ( 1180/90 - December 7, 1254), pope from 1243 to 1254, belonged to one of the first families of Genoa, and, educated at Parma and Bologna, passed for one of the best canonists of his time. ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... For broader historical context, see 13th century. ... The Lower and Upper Church from the lower piazza Assisi (Latin: Asisium) is a town and episcopal see on the western flank of Mt. ... Clement, in the monument in Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, erected by his Borghese heirs Clement VIII, born Ippolito Aldobrandini (March 1536 - March 5, 1605) was pope from 1592 to 1605. ... May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... Events December 2 - Manfred of Sicily defeats army of Pope Innocent IV at Foggia. ...

As the first native Polish saint, Stanislaus is a patron of Poland and Kraków, as well as some Polish dioceses. He shares the patronage of Poland with Saint Adalbert of Prague and Our Lady the Queen of Poland. His veneration had a great patriotic significance. In the times of feudal fragmentation it was believed that Poland would one day reunite just like the members of Saint Stanislaus's body joined together. The Wawel cathedral, which hosts the saint's relics, has become one of the major national shrines. Almost all kings from Wladislaus the Short on were crowned while kneeling in front of Stanislaus's sarcophagus which stands in the middle of the church. In the 17th century, King Wladislaus IV Vasa founded an ornate silver coffin to hold the relics. It was destroyed by Swedish troops during the Deluge but a new one was put in its place ca. 1670. Adalbert (Czech: Vojtěch, Polish: Wojciech, Germanic equivalent Adalbert - the joy of warrior) was a 10th century bishop of Prague who was martyred in his efforts to convert the Baltic Prussians. ... In the first centuries of its existence, the Polish nation was led by a series of strong rulers who converted the Poles to Christendom, created a strong Central European state, and integrated Poland into European culture. ... Categories: Poland-related stubs | Polish monarchs | Dukes of Pomerania | Dukes of Greater Poland | Dukes of Poznan | Dukes of Gniezno | Dukes of Kalisz ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Reign in Poland From November 8, 1632 until May 20, 1648 Reign in Russia From 1610 until 1635 Elected in Poland On November 8, 1632 in Wola, today suburb of Warsaw, Poland Elected in Russia In 1610 Coronation On February 6, 1633 in the Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland Royal House... This article is about the history of Poland. ... Events January 21 – Highwayman Claude Duval is executed in Tyburn, Middlesex April - Pope Clement X is elected. ...

Every year on May 8, a procession, led by the bishop of Kraków, goes from the Wawel to the Church on the Rock. Once a local event, the procession was popularized in the 20th century by Polish Primate Stefan Wyszyński and Bishop of Kraków, Karol Wojtyła. The latter, as Pope John Paul II, called Saint Stanislaus the patron saint of moral order. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... For the use of the word primate in biology, see primate (biology). ... Coat of Arms of primat Wyszyński Categories: Stub | 1901 births | 1981 deaths | Cardinals | Polish primates | Polish bishops ... His Holiness Pope John Paul II, officially in Latin , born Karol Józef Wojtyla [1] (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005), was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church for almost 27 years, from 16 October 1978 until his death. ...

Roman Catholic churches belonging to Polish communities outside Poland are often dedicated to Saint Stanislaus. Polonia is the Latin, Italian, Spanish name for Poland. ...

In iconography, Saint Stanislaus is usually depicted as a bishop with a sword (the tool of his martyrdom) in his hand, sometimes with Piotr rising from the dead at his feet. It has been said “A picture is worth a thousand words”, and so it is that iconography is the traditional art of portraying figures in pigment that symbolically mean more than a simple depiction of the person involved. ...

Related articles

• List of Roman Catholic bishops of Kraków
• List of saints
• Gaude mater Polonia