Baptism of Poland - Aftermath and Significance

Aftermath and Significance

The next significant step in Poland's adoption of Christianity was the establishment of various ecclesiastical organs in the country during the 10th and 11th centuries. The baptismal mission began in the two major cities of Gniezno and Poznań, and then spread throughout the country. This included the building of churches and the appointment of clergy. The first bishop of Poland, Jordan, was appointed by Pope John XIII in 968.

Mieszko's action proved highly influential, although at first the Christian religion was "unpopular and alien" and had to be enforced by the state, and ran into some popular opposition, including an uprising in the 1030s (particularly intense in the years of 1035–1037). Nonetheless by that time Poland had won recognition as a proper European state, both from the papacy and from the Holy Roman Empire. Out of various Polish provinces, Christianity's spread was slowest in Pomerania, where it became established only around the 12th century. Native clergy took three or four generations to emerge, and supported by the monasteries and friars that grew increasingly common in the 12th century. By the 13th century, however, Roman Catholicism had become the dominant religion throughout Poland. Overall, according to at least some scholars, the baptism of Poland marks the beginning of Polish statehood.

In adopting Christianity as the state religion, Mieszko sought to achieve several personal goals. He saw Poland's baptism as a way of strengthening his hold on power, as well as using it as a unifying force for the Polish people. It replaced several smaller cults with a single, central one, clearly associated with the royal court. It would also improve the position and respectability of the Polish state on the international, European scene. The Church also helped to strengthen the monarch's authority, and brought to Poland much experience with regard to state administration. Thus the Church organization supported the state, and in return, bishops received important government titles (in the later era, they were members of the Senate of Poland).

On July 30, 1966 the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing issued 128,475,000 Commemorative Stamps Honoring the millennium anniversary of the adoption of Christianity by the Polish nation. The 5 cent stamp is red colored and printed by rotary press. The Scott Catalog number of this issue is U.S. #1313.