EUROPE: POLAND: CELEBRATION OF HOLIDAY CORPUS CHRISTI WITH PROCESSION

THENEWS.PL REPORT: Processions across the country are taking place to celebrate the feast of Corpus Christi, one of the most important dates in the Catholic Church.

The Corpus Christi procession in the south-eastern town of Przemysl. Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz

In Warsaw, Cardinal Kazimierz Nycz is leading the ceremony, which saw a procession run through the streets of the capital’s Old Town to St. Anne’s Church.

During his homily, Nycz said that family affairs should be one of the most important items on the agenda for Poland’s upcoming presidency of the EU Council starting 1 July.

“Matters concerning European religious identity comprise a programme for those who will be leading Europe for the next six months – for Poland,” Nycz said.

Corpus Christi is one of the major feasts of the Catholic Church, and is also a national holiday in Poland as well as a number of other countries in Europe and the world.

Since the time of Poland’s partitions in the 18th century, the Corpus Christi processions took on the role of a manifestation of national identity. Likewise under communist rule, members of the Party were banned from taking part in the procession. (jb)

http://www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/46674,Poles-celebrate-Corpus-Christi