Edward Michalczyk was a longtime surface worker at the now-defunct Konrad Mining Works in Iwiny and also the chief volunteer caretaker of the St. Barbara’s Grotto there, serving in that role since it was built in 1981. For nearly 35 years, he has cared for what he calls “the only surviving memento of the former Konrad copper-ore mine in Iwiny.”
The idea and main initiative for building the St. Barbara’s Grotto in Iwiny came from the late Marian Jurczek, the first chairman of the Company Commission of NSZZ “Solidarity” at ZG Konrad. It was designed by Wacław Rospodnek and built as a community effort by Konrad employees. Though not only by them.
“I also personally helped build the grotto, and after it was built I painted the whole thing myself,” Mr. Edward recalls. “It wasn’t a problem for me because I am a painter by profession.”
The grotto was built in record time. On March 25, 1981, a foundation charter was ceremonially placed in its foundations. Then, on June 26, in the presence of more than 10,000 people, the site was consecrated by Bishop Adam Dyczkowski.
The campaign to save and defend St. Barbara’s Grotto from the liquidator’s plans
On March 28, 2003, the liquidator of the former mine’s assets and former president of Aquakonrad, a company established on the basis of the Konrad mine’s assets, also intended to remove the grotto. “In March 2003, I had already been working at the Lubin Mining Works for many months,” Edward Michalczyk recalls. “But the liquidator underestimated me. He thought that since I worked in Lubin, I would not have time to save St. Barbara’s Grotto. He was very wrong. Although I worked at ZG Lubin, I still came to Iwiny every day after work, even if only for a short while, to see for myself whether everything was in its place and all was well. I still do that today.”
Mr. Edward decided to defend the grotto “by every available means and method.” On behalf of thousands of former Konrad employees, he wrote a letter of protest to the liquidator. He also appealed for help to the head of Warta Bolesławiecka Municipality, Mirosław Haniszewski, local residents, and journalists from regional and national newspapers. “I asked everyone I could for help so that the unfolding drama would receive as much publicity as possible,” he says.
At that time, E. Michalczyk was visited by the then parish priest in Warta Bolesławiecka. “He tried to convince me that removing St. Barbara’s Grotto from the former Konrad mine site was justified,” the chief volunteer caretaker recalls. “The priest argued that someone—a German or a Jehovah’s Witness—might buy the Konrad site in the future. I told him that I absolutely disagreed. I informed him that I would notify the church authorities and all the municipality’s residents about our entire conversation.”
And that is what happened. What is more, the late Dean Władysław Rączka also learned about the conversation. He praised Edward Michalczyk’s persistence and told him to “always defend St. Barbara’s Grotto with determination and persistence.” Interestingly, not long afterward, the parish priest from Warta was transferred to a parish near Wałbrzych.
A blessing in disguise
E. Michalczyk: “When I began the campaign to save St. Barbara’s Grotto, I accidentally dislocated my left collarbone. I was on sick leave and therefore had a great deal of free time to devote to defending the grotto. An additional advantage was that I could walk and my right hand was fully functional, so I wrote letter after letter—to anyone I could.”
Mr. Edward also organized a spontaneous campaign to defend the grotto. Many newspapers covered the matter. “All the journalists I approached with this desperate appeal did a wonderful job,” the caretaker acknowledges. The result? The liquidator gave in and abandoned his plans. Local officials from Warta Bolesławiecka also distinguished themselves in the campaign to save the site: head of the municipality Mirosław Haniszewski and chairman of the Municipal Council Adam Maksymczyk.
A holy place
Holy Masses were organized at the grotto. Services were celebrated there, among others, by Bishop Adam Dyczkowski, Dean Władysław Rączka, Canon Władysław Strach, Father Zdzisław Pytel, Father Jan Olender, and Father Józef Gołębiowski. Well-known local officials, including Piotr Roman, Cezary Przybylski, and Janina Piestrak-Babijczuk, parliamentarians (Ryszard Matusiak and Tadeusz Maćkała), and distinguished athletes (Ryszard Tomczyk) also attended ceremonies held there, including the farewell ceremony for the Konrad mine.
“Since 1981, I have also had the habit that even when no ceremonies are being held at St. Barbara’s Grotto, I gladly show it to people from different parts of Poland whenever the opportunity arises,” E. Michalczyk emphasizes. Many well-known people have had the chance to see it.
Today
For years, May 3, St. Barbara’s Day, and other Masses have been held not at the grotto but in the church in Iwiny. However, after some services, residents of the municipality still come to the grotto, lay flowers, and light candles.
Only one thing has not changed—Mr. Edward is still the site’s caretaker. “St. Barbara’s Grotto in Iwiny, the most beautiful mining grotto in Poland, is simply my whole life and my greatest passion,” says the resident of Raciborowice Górne. “It is with great pride and appreciation that I state that, since 2010, head of the municipality Mirosław Haniszewski and his municipal maintenance crew have carried out all the necessary repairs at St. Barbara’s Grotto.”
Some time ago, to protect the grotto from vandalism, two highlanders—Zdzisław and Józef Łopatowie—built a metal entrance gate free of charge. The thefts that had occurred in the grotto made installing the gate necessary. A mining sword and hammer disappeared and were never found, as did a gilded crown of St. Barbara, stolen by one of the residents of a juvenile rehabilitation center. The latter was recovered because the thief had left behind… books signed with his first and last name.
The message
In 2003, the nationwide periodical “Górnik” wrote about the campaign to save St. Barbara’s Grotto, concluding that all of Poland should follow Konrad’s example. Edward Michalczyk: “I want everyone in Poland, in all their workplaces, always to defend their inalienable right to human dignity to the very end, just as we did at that time.”
Updated 2017-12-01
“I can proudly emphasize that head of the municipality Mirosław Haniszewski still helps us with everything. He is a friend of this grotto,” Edward Michalczyk told istotne.pl at the beginning of December last year. The chief volunteer caretaker of St. Barbara’s Grotto also added that words of appreciation were due to Marianna Golińska from Iwiny.
And he added: “The grotto is beautiful all year round.”