Starania wyznawców Kościoła Schwenkfelder z USA o odzyskanie dawnego cmentarza i obelisku pamiątkowego w Twardocicach w latach 1975–1977
Endeavours of followers of the Schwenkfelder Church of the USA to regain the old cemetery and commemorative obelisk in Twardocice in the years 1975–19

Summary/Abstract: The paper makes reference to the history of the Schwenkfelder Church – a most original and, to a large extent, forgotten religious union. The Church was established by Caspar Schwenkfeld von Ossig (1489–1561) – a religious reformer, a preacher who was active within the Protestant movement in the area of Lower Silesia. The followers of Schwenkfeld (the Schwenkfeldists) remained in a certain doctrinal opposition towards the then dominant Protestant denominations and also – which is obvious – towards the Catholic Church. To some they were thusdissidents, to others – heretics. Their number oscillated around 1.300–1.500 people. In the first half of the 13th century, part of the Schwenkfeldists emigrated from Lower Silesia to America. In 1976, a group of followers of the Schwenkfelder Church from the USA undertook to regain the old cemetery (including the commemorative obelisk erected within the cemetery’s borders) that had belonged to this denominational community, which was located on a private farm in Twardocice, in the former Province of Legnica. The endeavours of the followers of the Schwenkfelder Church turned successful only after many years. Thanks to the personal engagement, among others, of a representative of the US Senate, on 2 August 2003, it was possible to once again consecrate the monument in the cemetery in Twardocice. The author essays also to present the actions related to the whole issue under discussion, which were taken by the administration of the People’s Republic of Poland.

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