SWIATOWID 1977

I RULED on the Isle of Rugen - The Baltic Citadel of the Slavs.

I WATCHED OVER the four corners of the Heaven and the Earth..

I WARRED ONLY in defense against those who threatened the peace of My People and Their Lands.

THE PAGAN POLES had cause to mourn the loss of SWIATOWID when the Teutonic Knights forcibly christianized them by fire and sword..

THUS SWIATOWID was lost to the world of myth and legend until his stone effigy was found in 1857 in the river Zbrucz near Husiatin, Galicia - Poland.

RESURRECTED, SWIATOWID, the good god, now crosses the seas to be enshrined in the Temple of the King Spirit in Hackensack, New Jersey.

THE TEMPLE of the King Spirit (Krol Duch) houses an ethno­graphic museum of ancient Poland's beginning with King Krak and Queen Wanda.

FLORIAN RACHELSKI, celebrated sculptor of Zakopane, Paris and New York, has now sculptured his version of SWIATOWID, which will be unveiled with due ceremony on Sunday, March 27 at 3 PM.

WE INVITE your participation in this unique ritual of step­ping back into the mythical past of our forbears - the Rugenians, the Polanie, the Wislanie, the Drewlianie, Pomorzanie, Jadzwings and others.

AT THIS WRITING it is anticipated that Mayor Casimir Wysocki of Hackensack, will unveil the Swiatowid sculpture.. It is anticipated too that the Polish TV Program of Channel 68 UHF will televise the ceremonies.. The Post Eagle will also give full coverage.

THE TEMPLE of the King Spirit is located at 252 Park Street and Central Avenue, near the center of Hackensack. The telephone number is (201) HU 7-9168.

THE COMMITTEE on Arrangements is headed by Rev. Tomasz Kolakowski, Henry Archacki, Dr. Edward C. Rozanski, Walenty Gusciora, Tadeusz Sala and Andrzej Panek.

TO EXPERIENCE a significant moment of Poland's pre-history come and join us on Sunday, March 27, 1977 at 2.30 PM.

DOES A  'TREE h ave a  soul? .. We believe it has! . Reverend Tomasz Kolakowski, founder of The Museum of Polish Culture in Hacken­sack, N.J., planted a willow sapling over 25 years ago in back of his King Spirit Church. This 'Polish Wierzba' grew and grew. Along came Hurricane Bella in August of 1976 and toppled the tree. The saddened Rev. Kolakowski cut out the heart of the tree stump and then let it season. It was destined to take on a now life of its own when Florian Rachelski, celebrated sculptor, agreed to carve out of it his concept of SWIATOWID, the great ancient god of the Slavs.

ON MARCH 27, 1977, ŚWIATOWID was unveiled with high ceremony and we see in the above historic photo (taken by Jerzy Koss) the sculptor Florian Rachelski (left) responding to the acclaim accorded his masterpiece.. . As the Fates would have it - it was to be Rachelski's last major work and his last public appearance for six months later on November 6th he was to die suddenly in his New York studio. Rachelski asserted that the Slavic Gods of the Pagan Poles were as old as those of Greek Mythology dating back some 6000 years. Henry Archacki (center) initiator of the project, and Rev. Tomasz Kolakowski (right) seriously reflect upon that assertion.

CZY DRZEWO MA DUSZĘ?... Oczywiście - o ile jest to Polskie drzewo. Żyją dęby jak 'Bartek', które są starsze niz Polska! Żyła 'Polska Wierzba' posadzona osobistą ręką Ks. Tomasza Kołakowskiego przeszło 25 lat temu. Zawiał Huragan Bella i przewrócił drzewo. Zasmu­cony Ks. Kolakowski wyrznął serce z tego pnia i zachował. Florian Rachelski, światowej sławy rzeźbiarz, nadał tej zgasłej wierzbie nowe zycie gdy w swojej wyobraźni wyrzeźbił 'ŚWIATOWIDA' wielkiego boga Słowian. Było to ostatnie dzieło mistrza Rachaskiego bo wkrótce zmarł nagle. Ku Jego Pamięci Światowid żyje w Świątyni Króla Ducha jako symbol 6000-letniej starozytności naszych pra­ojców i pradziadów!