The history of the Cistercian Monastery in Jędrzejów.

The Cistercian Monastery was founded in the 12th century by the family of Jaksa-Gryfita. The family decided to build a manor and the church of St.Albert. The church was consecrated by the Cracow bishop Maurus and it was furnished by his

successor.

The manor and the church had probably been the residence of the Cracow Canon Janik Jaksa-Gryfita. Thanks to the Canon Janik Jaksa-Gryfita and his

brother Klemens of Klimontów a first Cistercian monastery in Poland was founded and in the foundation documents this place was called Brynsich,

Bryszyn, Brzeźnica.

In 1140 the monastery in Brzeźnica was founded as the 21st daughter-abbeyof Morimond. Consequently, it was given a name of Morimondus Minor. Then the Cistercians founded a settlement which they called Jędrzejów – in Latin Andreovia.

In 1149 the monastery was transformed into an abbey and it was given a privilege - the monastery did not have to pay ducal tributes and charges.

In 1271 the settlement became a town thanks to the contemporary abbot Jan III.

In 1447 Mikołaj Odrowąż made a decision to transform the Romanesque church into the Gothic one.

The abbot hired well-known artists such as Wit Stwosz, the Cracow goldsmiths - Mikołaj Kregler and Mikołaj Breimer. Thanks to the transformation the old church was changed into a new Gothic temple with the name of the Holly Trinity.

The Convent was closed down in 1819. In 1831 its buildings were used as a field hospital. In 1872 Russian authorities set up a

teaching seminary there. Finally, the Cistercians came back in 1945 and in 1989 it was again raised to the rank of an abbey.

Source of information contained in this presentation is the Internet:

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archiopactwo_Cysters%C3%B3w_w_J%C4%99drzejowie

Authors:Arkadiusz Żelazko

and

Damian Piłat