Atonement Cross from Kijowice
The Kijowice Atonement Cross is a stone floor cross in the district of Kijowice (Vogelgesang) in the municipality of Bierutów (Bernstadt an der Weide) in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship in Poland.
history
At 2.4 meters high and 1.35 meters wide, the cross is the largest extant atonement cross in Lower Silesia , where it is said to be the most beautiful. It was probably built in the 14th century and is carved out of granite . On the front there is a depiction of Christ crucified and below a prayer whose identity could not be determined. It's about a Konrad who died in 1356. This probably belonged to the knighthood of the Duchy of Oels . Legend has it that he was killed by a wealthy merchant.
On the edge of the atonement cross there is a circumferential, no longer completely preserved inscription in Gothic script. It reads: ICE IN ME ET MISER MEI † ANNO D [...] MCCCLVII IN THE BEATE [...] IE • O [BIIT] • CONADUS [...].
In October 2009 the atonement cross was destroyed; it was supposed to be stolen, but it broke. After the fragments could be secured, it was restored and put up again in 2011.
About 300 stone crosses have been preserved in Lower Silesia, presumably erected as expiatory crosses. These were set up after a manslaughter or murder. The passers-by should say an intercessory prayer for those who were killed, as they could no longer receive the sacraments .
Web links
Coordinates: 51 ° 7 ′ 49.7 " N , 17 ° 30 ′ 44.4" E