Our Lady of Czestochowa
by Barbara McMahon
Title
Our Lady of Czestochowa
Artist
Barbara McMahon
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
This photo was taken in the Kazuby retreat in Renfrew County, Ontario. It is a banner approximately 25 ft. high x 15 ft. wide and is set in an open air church.
The origin of this miraculous image in Czestochowa, Poland is unknown for absolute certainty, but according to tradition the painting was a portrait of Our Lady done by St. John sometime after the Crucifixion of Our Lord and remained in the Holy Land until discovered by St. Helena of the Cross in the fourth century. The painting was taken to Constaninople, where St. Helena's son, the Emperor Constantine, erected a church for its enthronement. This image was revered by the people of the city. Polish people continue to honor their beloved portrait of the Madonna and Child, especially on August 26, the day reserved by St. Ladislaus. Because of the dark pigment on Our Lady's face and hands, the image is affectionately called the "Black Madonna," most beautifully prefigured in the Bible, in the Canticle of Canticles, "I am black but beautiful." The pigmentation is ascribed primarily to age and the need to keep it hidden for long periods of time in places where the only light was from candles, which colored the painting with smoke.
Uploaded
August 11th, 2012
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Viewed 1,820 Times - Last Visitor from Beverly Hills, CA on 03/28/2024 at 7:54 AM
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Comments (24)
Barbara McMahon
Thank you to the New Year's Day 2021 Buyer from Cape Elizabeth, ME! I hope you enjoy your purchase. Thank you for your patronage. Sincerely, Barbara McMahon
Barbara McMahon
Thank you to the Buyer from Pearland, Texas! May Our Lady of Czestochowa fill you and yours with blessings and grace.
Andrzej Szczerski
This is simply divine!!!beautiful, excellent work. f / v
Barbara McMahon replied:
Thank you so much Andrzej for your lovely comment. I enjoyed working on this image so much.
Jolanta Anna Karolska
Congratulations on your sale Basia...bravo!
Barbara McMahon replied:
Thank you so much Jolanta! You will have to take a drive to Renfrew County to see this wonderful banner hanging at the open air church.
Inspired Nature Photography By Shelley Myke
Congratulations on your recent sale Barbara. Many more ahead!
Odon Czintos
congrats on your sale..............Odon.
Barbara McMahon replied:
Thank you Odon! All the way from Hungary! Isn't this amazing! Thank you again.
Barbara McMahon
Thank you so much to the buyer from Vienna, VA! I hope you enjoy this beautiful print of Our Lady.
Rose Santuci-Sofranko
CONGRATULATIONS on tying for 3RD PLACE in our "THANKS BE TO GOD!" Contest! God bless!
Barbara McMahon replied:
Oh my....Thank you Rose! I hadn't checked. Being of Polish heritage a picture of Our Lady of Czestochowa was part of my childhood. When I saw this huge banner, hanging in an outdoor church in the wilderness this summer, I knew I had to capture it in some way. Thanks again and God Bless!
Helena Wierzbicki
Beautiful image !!
Barbara McMahon replied:
Thank you so much Helena! It astounds me that people such as yourself that live so far away would be kind enough to comment.
Jolanta Anna Karolska
I have just seen your comment in Andrzejs gallery...and had to have a look at your image...this is beautiful Basia...great description too... pozdrawiam serdecznie... f/v
Barbara McMahon replied:
Thank you Jolanta. If you are ever in the Barry's Bay area it is worth viewing and staying for Mass. Such an awesome setting. Thank you again for your kind of support. I understand what you write in Polish but am limited to writing and speaking, but it's nice to see those words again.