Fragment przewodnika „Oliwa - Different taste of Gdansk”

 Oliwa „Ora et labora”

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Oliwa used to be a neglected and separate settlement. The appearance of Cistercians, so called “white monks”, made this place flourish. The monks arrived there in the beginning of XII century (1178-1186) and settled over Oliwa Brook. It is commonly acknowledged that the founder of Oliwa Abbey was a Pomeranian prince – Sambor I. At first, Oliwa Abbey consisted of Danish and German friars, and main ascetic and aesthetic principles of monks assumed strictness and simplicity of monastic life.

Religious order’s charisma was to serve God and man by praying and working, which is formulated in ‘ora et labora’ (pray and work) motto. Monks’ daily routines, the way of managing the monastery, and functioning of the Abbey were in accordance with this motto, mainly in order to make it economically independent as well as sufficient for monastic society. Apart from spreading Christian faith and Marian Worship, ‘White Monks’’ outstanding diligence, entrepreneurship, organizational abilities, constant tool upgrading have contributed to propagating agriculture, breeding and craftsmanship.

Fertile soil in Oliwa was cultivated, animals and fish were bred, and all of these nature bounties were processed. Cistercians also were occupied with trading and arts and crafts. They gathered numerous library collections, developed literature and studied at European universities. Initially, Cistercians gained their goods through donations, they earned their living off trade transactions, ground and lake leases, as well as tithes. Mill industry, artistic woodwork workshops, and printing houses were a significant part in
‘White Monks’’ economy (XVII-XVIII century). Unfortunately, the development of the Abbey and its domain were severely affected by Prussian raids and Prussian-Teutonic conflicts (XII –beginning of XIV century), foray of Protestants from Gdansk (1577) and Polish-Swedish wars (XVII century). As a result of the Ist Partition of Poland, monastery in Oliwa was within borders of Prussian country, the authorities of which decided to suppress its goods on October the 1st in 1831. A little while later, when last of the monks died, the church was assigned to a Catholic Parish. In 1929, the temple was elevated to the status of a cathedral. It was titled Minor Basilica in 1971, since 1992 (after establishing Gdańsk Metropolis) it has become Archdiocesan Basilica. The monastery buildings house Episcopal Curia and Diocesan Seminary. Since April 1945, when Cistercians returned, the monastery has been seated in Gdańsk Oliwa, at Polanki street, as a priory of Mother of God, Queen of The Polish Crown’s parish.

Oliwa on European Cistercian

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Route The renewal of monastic life, based on St. Benedict’s rule, gave birth to the Cistercian Order, the ideals of monastic life of which brought widespread popularity. Centralized system of authorities, dependence of particular abbeys, and annual, general chapters taking place in September, in Citeaux were the order’s specificity. It was the Cistercian Order - one of the first institutions which united diverse Europe. Cistercian cultural legacy in Pomerania appears as a significant stretch of Cistercian Route in Poland, which is a part of The European Cistercian Route established by EU Council in 1990, within the scope of an international program of cultural, European roads by UNESCO. The idea of creating the route is to present history and cultural achievements of the abbeys, to reveal their importance in cultural development of this particular region, and historical connection with Western Europe. The Cistercian Track, one of a few cultural routes, is suitable for exhibiting and spreading the idea of unity of Europe. It is a reflection of Christian roots of our continent, inseparable parts of which are Poland and Pomerania.

 

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zarezerwuj nocleg na przyjazd do Oliwy, Gdańska, Sopotu, Gdyni