The inauguration of the jubilee in Cieszyn
The official opening of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation took place 31st of October in Jesus Church in Cieszyn.
The official opening of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation took place 31st of October in Jesus Church in Cieszyn. The ceremonial service attended 4000 people. The service was broadcast on Polish TV and Radio Katowice. Liturgy was led by Bishop Adrian Korczago (Diocese of Cieszyn), Bishop Marian Niemiec (diocese of Katowice) and Rev. Tomasz Bujok (Drogomyśl / Pruchna).
During the service young parishioners performed short scene with Luther’s theses. The service was filled with music: two Brass Bands, combined choirs of the diocese (nearly 400 people), children's and youth’s choirs.
Bishop Marian Niemiec gave the sermon about grace and justification. He pointed that the justification given by God is the liberating power that transforms human beings and calls them to change the world. It took 500 years to reform the Churches but today Christians can meet in peace and engage in dialogue based on Scripture.
Archbishop Wojciech Polak, the Primate of Polish Roman Catholic Church gave greeting during the service and stressed that celebration in Cieszyn is an opportunity to give thanks to God for the 50 years of the joint Catholic-Lutheran dialogue. He also pointed that the both Churches could look with hope to the future to the things that unite them. The example of the common testimony could be ministry of the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed.
The Polish President Andrzej Duda in the letter read by his adviser Agnieszka Lenartowicz-Łysik greeted the people gathered at the ceremony and mentioned the important Lutherans in Polish history. He said that he would like to pay tribute to all of them. He expressed his gratitude to Polish Lutheran community for its contribution to the Polish heritage.
Wojciech Saługa the Marshall of Śląskie Voivodship recalled that the Parliament of that province adopted resolution that the year 2017 is the Year of the Reformation. He stressed that the event which is the nationwide inauguration 500 years of the Reformation in Cieszyn is a special honour for the region.
Among the guests in Jesus Church in Cieszyn were numerous ministers of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland, members of the Consistory, the bishops of the Lutheran Churches in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, representatives of the Polish Ecumenical Council, members of the Polish Parliament, representatives of local authorities and universities.
Short tv report prepared by the Office of the Marshal of the Śląskie Voivodeship (Polish version)