19Imperial Eagle ornamentation on Ludwig Zinzendorf’s walking stick, Postilla of Priest Samuel Dambrowski, portrait of Philip Melanchthon… These items conceal many secrets and revealing them changes our perception of the world.
The above-mentioned pieces, including detailed information about their origin and meaning, can be found in the new Muzeum Protestantyzmu (Museum of Protestantism), founded to present the spiritual life and material culture of Cieszyn’s evangelical community in time. The museum offers a permanent exhibition entitled as “Z dziejów luteranizmu na Śląsku Cieszyńskim” (From the History of Lutheranism in Cieszyn Silesia), which helps understanding better the complexity of denominational relationships in Cieszyn Silesia and multicultural character of the region.
Establishment of Poland’s second museum (following the one in Mikołajki, Mazury region) devoted to the history of evangelicalism was possible thanks to the subsidy of the EEA Financial Mechanism granted to Cieszyn for the project of “Protection and preservation of Cieszyn’s writing heritage”. Arrangement of three exhibition rooms required many installation and construction jobs (more in the article: “To the library with trowel in hand”), collecting the unique items and purchasing of adequate cabinets.
The official opening of the Museum, held on the 29th of March 2009, on the 300th anniversary of the establishment of Cieszyn’s Church of Jesus, was preceded by a mass honored by the presence of Bishop Janusz Jagucki, supervisor of the Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Poland, Bishop Stanisław Piętak from the Silesian Evangelical Church of Augsburg Confession in Zaolzie and Bishop Paweł Anweiler, supervisor of Cieszyn’s Diocese of the Lutheran Church. The course of operations, which allowed establishment of the Museum of Protestantism, as well as the plan of the exposition were presented by the authors, Maciej Oczkowski and Marcin Gabryś.
Starting on the 29th of March 2009, all interested persons can visit the Museum of Protestantism on appointment. Appointments can be requested in the Parish Office located at the Plac Kościelny Street 6 in Cieszyn;
tel. 033 857 96 69;
e-mail: peacieszyn@poczta.onet.pl
