Holy Apparition. The birth and development of St Andrew Bobola’s cult in Strachocina

Abstract

Both the end of 20^th century and the beginning of 21^st have brought into Polish religious life new places of cult, built upon miraculous events. The epoch considered as secularised turned out to be a time of intense manifestation of the supernatural. This paper presents the origins and the development of the St Andrew Bobola sanctuary in Strachocina. The text is based on available literary sources as well as the author’s empirical research conducted over several years of field study. First, selected information concerning the martyr’s cult in the past is provided, followed by an outline of its development. Second, the presence of the saint in the consciousness of contemporary inhabitants of Strachocina and pilgrim visitors is depicted.