Licheń Stary

Lichen Stary is a village of 1,100 inhabitants in the eastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship in Koniński powiat in Poland. It more than twelve kilometers north-east of the center of Konin on a long lake and is part of the gmina Ślesin.

The village had from the 15th to the 17th century the city rights. Since the mid 19th century, it is a place of pilgrimage of total Polish importance. That since 1949, led by the Marians Marian shrine is visited annually by approximately 1.5 million pilgrims and tourists.

History of the Shrine

The beginnings of the sanctuary date back to the Battle of Leipzig in 1813. According to legend, originally from near the village blacksmith Tomasz Klossowski, who fought in the army of Napoleon, was seriously wounded. He prayed to Mary to be allowed to die at home. This appeared to him then as a vision promised him to return home and asked him to look as thanks her image and to set up at home. After the successful return, it took 23 years until the blacksmith at a street tree found an old picture that reminded him of the vision of the past. He took the picture and put it on in a chapel near. After the death of Smith oversaw the image, a local shepherd, who also allegedly had several visions Marie who ordered him to bring the portrait of Marie in a church. The conversion into the St. Dorothea 's Church of Lichen was then performed on 29 September 1852. The image was solemnly provided by the Polish Primate Stefan Wyszynski with a crown in 1967, what the dating from the 17th century tradition of Mary as the " Queen of Poland " corresponds.

The Basilica

The Basilica of the Most Holy Mary of Lichen Lichen Stary in today is the largest church in all of Poland and the eighth-largest church in Europe. It was completed in 2004.