Pilgrim Badges. Archeological Evidence of the Marian Cult in Medieval Gdańsk

2016 10 04
The exhibition of finds related to the Marian cult in Europe from the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk will be opened at the Church Heritage Museum on 6 October 2016 at 17.00. 200 exhibits have reached our days from the period of the 14th–16th century, when Gdańsk became one of the most prominent centres of pilgrimage. They will be presented in Lithuania for the first time.
 
The aim of the exhibition is to present the phenomenon of pilgrimage going back to the times of classical antiquity, and to reveal the features of devotion to the saints and the aspects of world perception typical of mediaeval European society. A pilgrimage, a long and dangerous journey, is an expression of gratitude to God or a wish to repent for the committed sins. It is one of the keys that can help us to get to know the worldview of the mediaeval individual and to reflect on the foundations of the contemporary European identity.
 
The main group of exhibits is pilgrim badges. It is small souvenirs worn by pilgrims on their outer garments or fastened to their hats showing which sanctuary they had visited. The exhibition contains rare badges representing scenes related to the legends of concrete sacred sites, e.g. the consecration of the church of Einsiedeln (Switzerland) or the fishing out of the miraculous sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the canal in Amersfoort. The collection of pilgrim badges of the Archaeological Museum in Gdańsk is one of the largest in Europe. The exhibition also presents various souvenirs, items of everyday use, coins and other finds related to pilgrimage, which reveal the daily life of the travellers and bear witness to their devoutness. Tiles, plates and cutlery decorated with the initials and images of Mary reflect the world perception of the mediaeval individual imbued with piety. A highlight of the exhibition is a clay statuette of Mary produced by potters in the 16th century. This plain sculpture recalls the times of discord among Christians, and was found desecrated and thrown into a latrine with a broken head.
The exhibition of archaeological finds is supplemented by reconstructed pilgrim clothes, a film introducing the main centres of pilgrimage, and fifteen illustrated stands presenting a vivid narrative. The Church Heritage Museum plans to hold three events aimed to reveal various aspects of pilgrimage and bring the theme of the exhibition closer to the context of Lithuanian history and the contemporary world. On October 27, November 8 and December 6, at 5.00 p.m. the museum’s visitors will be able to listen to the lectures given by the dean of the Faculty of Catholic Theology of Vytautas Magnus University, dr. Benas Ulevičius, lecturers of the Faculty of History of Vilnius University, dr. Loreta Skurvydaitė, dr. Liudas Jovaiša, doctoral student Milda Kvizikevičiūtė, head of the Vilnius Pilgrim Centre Inesa Čaikauskienė, and an employee of the Church Heritage Museum Ugnė Kraulaidytė.
 
The exhibition will be open at the Church Heritage Museum until 7 January 2017.
 
Curators: Beata Ceynowa, Ewa Trawicka, Rita Pauliukevičiūtė
Organizers: Church Heritage Museum, Archaeological Museum inGdańsk
Sponsors: Vilnius Archdiocese, Lithuanian Council for Culture
Media sponsors: LRT, DELFI, „Veidas“
More information: tel.: 8 5 269 7800, e-mail: muziejus@bpmuziejus.lt.





FUNDING FOR THE MUSEUM IS PROVIDED BY

Vilniaus Akivyskupija          
 
   

Informational sponsors

                   bernardinai.lt
         

Sponsors

       Domus Maria