Ikona Matki Boskiej Chełmskiej - między legendą, historią i polityką
The Icon of Our Lady of Chełm - Between Legend, History and Politics

Summary/Abstract: The article presents the history of the Icon of Our Lady of Chełm from the 11th century to the present day, showing its fate against the background of political and religious changes in the region. The authors analyzes various legends concerning the origin of the icon, including attributing its authorship to St. Luke the Evangelist and theories about its transportation from Byzantium by Princess Anna or from Kiev by the family of Daniel Romanovich. Particular attention is paid to the role of the icon during the period of the Union of Brest (1596-1875), when it became thesubject ofdisputes between Catholics, Uniates, and Orthodox believers. The icon accompanied King John Casimir during the victorious Battle of Berestechko in 1651, earning the nickname "War Madonna." The publication thoroughly documents the dramatic fate of the icon in the 20th century: evacuation during World War I, hiding in private homes during the Soviet period, temporary disappearance, and rediscovery by Nadia Gorlitska. Since 1996, the icon has been housed in the Volyn Regional Museum in Lutsk, where it has undergone comprehensive scientific research. The work demonstrates how the history of the icon reflects the complex history of the region and religious-political transformations on the Polish-Ukrainian borderland.

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