More symbols of openness on Kraków’s map

Kraków’s genius loci has been shaped by centuries of peaceful coexistence of various nationalities and religious communities. Symbols of the friendly Kraków, whose gates – depicted in the city’s coat of arms – are open to everyone can also be found on its map. And there are more and more of them!

On 16 September, the intersection located at the junction of Ćwiklińskiej, Heleny and Barbary Streets was officially named the Republiki Słowackiej (Slovak Republic) Roundabout, following the idea of the Consul General of the Slovak Republic Tomáš Kašaj, who suggested commemorating the good neighbourly relations between Slovakia and Kraków in this manner. Mayor Jacek Majchrowski pointed out that the location of this particular roundabout was not an accident, as it provides easy connection with the roads leading to Slovakia. Martin Klus, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, pointed out that such projects are a perfect example of citizen-oriented diplomacy.

This term also comes to mind in the context of the new patrons of Kraków’s squares. The first of them – Ozjasz Thon – was a prominent Polish rabbi, preacher of the progressive Tempel Synagogue, journalist, sponsor of the “Ezra” Jewish library, initiator of the Zionist movement in Galicia and member of the Polish Parliament. On the initiative of the Jewish Religious Community in Kraków, on 23 September the square at the junction of Miodowa and Podbrzezie Streets in Kazimierz was officially named after him.

Two days later, Michał Belina-Czechowski – one of the founding figures of the international Seventh-day Adventist Church, was named patron of the square at the intersection of Róż Avenue and Żeromskiego Street at the initiative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Poland, which celebrated 100 years of its activities in Kraków in September. Ordained to the priesthood, Belina-Czechowski was heavily involved in patriotic and independence activism. As the first Adventist missionary he promoted the new religious movement in Europe, with his publications spreading the word to Kraków and all of Poland.

Julia Żylina-Chudzik