Robert Niedźwiedzki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A sacred masterpiece from Gdansk. The Amber Altar of the Fatherland was made from almost a ton of raw material

For centuries, Poland has been famous for its natural wealth, which is amber. Its unique varieties and exceptional properties have made it one of the national symbols. It was this national heritage that inspired the creation of an extraordinary work of art. The Amber Altar of the Homeland in St Bridget’s Basilica in Gdansk is a monumental project that combines artistry, spirituality and tradition, paying tribute to Polish culture and history.

Polish amber

For millennia, Poland has been associated with two major natural resources: salt and amber. Although nowadays salt mining is a global phenomenon, amber still remains the hallmark of our country. Polish artists working with this raw material have achieved significant success on international markets, supplying 70% of the world’s demand for amber jewellery.

Photo by Robert Niedźwiedzki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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The Amber Altar of the Fatherland – the idea behind its creation

In the 1990s, at a time of dynamic economic changes in Poland, the Gdansk amber community came up with the idea of creating a work that would immortalise their artistic potential and the importance of amber in Polish culture. This initiative was supported by Father Henryk Jankowski, the then parish priest of St. Brygida Church. His idea was to build an altar made mainly of amber, which was to become a symbol of spirituality and national pride.

The construction of the altar

First stage of construction (2000-2003)

The first stage of work began in 2000. The designer of the altar was Professor Stanisław Radwański, former rector of the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk. The altar structure, measuring 10 metres wide and more than 12 metres high, was covered with amber decoration covering a total area of 120 square metres. In the centre was placed the image of ‘Our Lady – Protector of the Working People’ by Father Franciszek Znaniecki, decorated with an amber dress. Particularly noteworthy were the crowns made of amber, funded by Lech and Danuta Wałęsa and consecrated by St John Paul II. These crowns were embedded with 28 rubies, symbolising the victims of December 1970 in Gdańsk. The amber elements were mainly the responsibility of Mariusz Drapikowski, Alicja Pluta and Jakub Kukuryka.

Second stage of construction (2013-2023)

In 2013, under the direction of Fr Ludwik Kowalski, work on the altar entered the second stage. During this time, two reliquaries in the form of crosses, dedicated to St John Paul II and Blessed Father Jerzy Popieluszko, were installed. An amber eagle was suspended above the icon of the Mother of God, and a contour map of Poland with the inscription ‘Solidarity’ was placed below. One of the most unique elements is the 174 cm high monstrance, made of 34 kg of amber, designed by Mariusz Drapikowski. The entire structure is enriched with numerous crosses symbolising important events from the history of Poland, such as the Monument to the Fallen Shipyard Workers 1970 or the cross from the Wujek mine, as well as elements constituting references to the country’s riches. On the altar one can find cereal crops or bunches of fruit.

Robert Niedźwiedzki, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Amber Altar of the Fatherland – symbolism and meaning

The Amber Altar of the Homeland is the world’s largest sacred object made of this raw material, known as the Gold of the Baltic Sea. It combines artistic traditions with national spirituality, being a symbol of solidarity, sacrifice and steadfastness of the Polish nation. The designers and artists have already used more than 900 kg of amber, much of which came from donors. on 16 December 2017, an altar dedication ceremony was held with the participation of Apostolic Nuncio Salvatore Pennacchio and President Andrzej Duda. Although the project is still unfinished, it is already a unique work of sacred art and an integral part of Poland’s cultural landscape. In June 2023, Fr Ludwik Kowalski reported that the work was 50 per cent complete, with further progress dependent on funding and the availability of amber.

Source: brygida.gdansk.pl, gdansk.pl

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