Black Madonna of Czestochowa
Believers think that the Black Madonna of Czestochowa is one of the most important pilgrimage sites besides Fatima, Lourdes and Medjugore. The lore says that Lucas in Nazareth painted the Virgin Mary on a wooden board. After many stations the icon eventually reached the Pauline Fathers of Jasna Gora in the 14th century. Here the image attracted umpteen pilgrims.
In 1430, robbers attacked the Pauline monastery on the “Bright Mount”. They stole the gifts which the pilgrims had laid down and blemished the Madonna’s visage with sword thrusts. These are visible on the Madonna’s right cheek up until this very day. The image was restored, however the traces of the damage were not removed and kept as a reminder. When in the 16th century the besiegement of Lutheran Sweden ended after 40 days it was attributed to the Black Madonna. She was then appointed patron saint and “Queen of Poland”.