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The St Barbara Mystery Play has delighted audiences for the fourth time
The 4th St Barbara’s Mystery Play was, once again, an extraordinary journey into the history of Tarnowskie Góry, back to the origins of the veneration of the saint as the patron saint of the town’s miners, and into a boundless world of musical inspiration.
All this was made possible thanks to the initiative of the Tarnowskie Góry Heritage Society and exceptional artists such as Anna Wiśniewska-Schoppa – soprano, Piotr Nikiel – tenor, Yaroslava Nekliaieva – harp, and Bartłomiej Kwiatkowski – organ and conductor of the In Tempore Chamber Vocal Ensemble, as well as the Kamilian Orchestra conducted by Aleksander König.
The programme featured works by outstanding composers, including Verdi, Brahms and Zimmer. The musical performances were accompanied by striking visualisations inspired by the figure of St Barbara, creating a unique artistic setting for the event.
The centrepiece of the programme was the Little Hours in honour of St Barbara, taken from the Prayer Book of the Brotherhood of St Barbara dating from 1747.
As a reminder, the veneration of St Barbara in Tarnowskie Góry has a rich history. In 1721, on the initiative of the Jesuits, one of the world’s first Confraternities of St Barbara was established here, approved in 1747 by a papal bull issued by Pope Benedict XIV.
The Mystery Play draws on this unique heritage; it is not only an artistic event but also an important initiative aimed at nurturing local identity and passing on mining traditions to future generations.
The significance of these customs is confirmed by their inclusion on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. On 3 March 2023, ‘Customs associated with the veneration of St Barbara and the traditions of ore miners in the Tarnowskie Góry region’ were added to the list.
Tarnowskie Góry may be on the cusp of another significant moment in the history of local heritage conservation. A decision by UNESCO on the international nomination of the ‘Feast of St Barbara and mining traditions’ for inclusion on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity is expected in early December 2026. The nomination was submitted jointly by Poland, Austria and Luxembourg.
A positive decision would signify further international recognition of the value of Tarnowskie Góry’s heritage. In 2017, the mining monuments of Tarnowskie Góry and the surrounding area were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This time, it is the living traditions – the rites, customs and veneration of St Barbara, which have been linked to the region’s identity for generations – that stand a chance of recognition.
During the event, a replica of the guild’s book, crafted by PIMAX Fine Bookbindery – Artistic Bookbinding Workshop in Koszalin, funded by SMZT itself. The original is currently in a conservation workshop and will return to its rightful place once the work is complete.
Photos
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The 4th St Barbara’s Mystery Play