The Carmelite Church and Queen Jadwiga's Footprint

05/15/2012 09:33

Here’s a strange little story. There’s a Carmelite Church just a few blocks off of the main square on Karmelicka Street. I used to walk by here and would notice a footprint in the stone near the base of the building. As it turns out, it’s not just any footprint. It’s supposedly that of Queen Jadwiga, a ruler from the 1300s, who is generally deemed to be Poland’s favorite and most venerated queen.

The legend states that Jadwiga, who actually bore the title of “King,” very much loved her adopted country of Poland (she was actually the daughter of a Hungarian king). She enjoyed getting out of the castle and meeting with those whom she ruled. Apparently, she liked to visit the Carmelite Church, which was undergoing construction. On one of her trips, she saw a teary-eyed worker. Questioned as to why he was so sad, he told a story of his wife who was very ill and could not afford treatment. Jadwiga, touched by the man’s tale, removed a golden buckle from her shoe and gave it to him. As she was doing this, she rested her shoe on a stone. Later, the workers noticed that, on the very spot where she had placed her foot, an imprint had miraculously appeared. Legend states that the footprint, which is still possible to see today, is indeed the same one that Jadwiga left back in the 1300s.

Jadwiga, who was eventually elevated to sainthood, is associated with other miracles and fascinating stories as well. For me, however, perhaps my favorite thing about her doesn’t even concern her directly, but rather a relative. It turns out that one of her close forebears was apparently not very tall, and went down in history known forever as “Vladislaw the Elbow-high.” Jeez, what a way to be remembered! Finally, judging from her footprint, I would also guess that Jadwiga was, herself, just a tiny little thing. If I remember correctly, I’d give her about a size five at the most. :-)