Poczta Polska does not forget about "steadfast soldiers". Another hero commemorated with a postage stamp

News of: March 2 2023

The black and white photograph of Archbishop Antoni Baraniak, which was subjected to graphic modification, was presented on the postal stamp of Jarosław Ochaddzan. Along with the philatelic value, an envelope of the first day of circulation (FDC) was also released, depicting the wall of the prison cell at ul. Rakowiecka in Warsaw and the Archbishop's coat. Antoni Baraniak. Photos used for the project come from the exhibition of the Museum of Cursed Soldiers and Political Prisoners of the Polish People's Republic, entitled "Baraniak. 145 auditions on Rakowiecka. " The issue of emissions devoted to the "steadfast" is also accompanied by a date stamp in which Faximile Archbishop was introduced. Antoni Baraniak.

The ceremony was attended by, among others: Ewa Kozanecka, MP of the Polish Sejm, Mikołaj Bogdanowicz, prof. Mirosław Golon, deputy director of the IPN branch, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivode, Radosław Kempiński, II deputy voivode of Kujawsko-Pomorski, priest Piotr Zdanowicz, priest of the parish Saint. Stanisław Kostka in the turn and representatives of Poczta Polska, president Krzysztof Falkowski and vice president Wiesław Włodek.

Antoni Baraniak was born on January 1, 1904 in Sebastianów. He was the secretary of the Primate Cardinal August Hlond and the director of the secretariat of the Primate Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. He was arrested on September 26, 1953 together with the "Primate of the Millennium", and then went to the largest torture room for political prisoners at ul. Rakowiecka in Warsaw. He was accused of, among others for contacts with the Freedom and Independence Association. He was imprisoned, brutally interrogated and tortured. He did not bend under mental and physical pressure. After the release in October 1956, Bishop Antoni Baraniak remained the head of the Primate's secretariat, until the end of May 1957, i.e. until the day of his nomination by Pope Pius XII at the Poznań Archbishop. He died after a long illness on August 13, 1977. Thanks to his bold attitude today he is called the steadfast soldier of the Church.

On June 19, 2017, the prosecutor of the Departmental Commission for Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation operating within the Institute of National Remembrance in Warsaw resumed the investigation in 2011 regarding the persecution of Archbishop Baraniak.

This year's broadcast is a continuation of a series of stamps initiated in 2016, which resembles the silhouettes of soldiers of the anti -communist independence underground. The first advantage of the series "National Day of Remembrance of Cursed Soldiers" was devoted to Major Zygmunt Szendzielarz pseud. "Łupaszka". In 2019, the company introduced a stamp commemorating Major Marian Bernaciak, pseud. "Columbine". In 2021, the figure of Colonel Łukasz Ciepliński pseud. "Plow", in 2022, the edition was devoted to Józef Franczak pseud. "Dude". The topic is also complemented by stamps from the series "Ryngraphs of Cursed Soldiers" from 2017, with the gorge of Lieutenant Franciszek Majewski pseud. "Słony", senior sergeant Mieczysław Dziemieszkiewicz pseud. Swarm ”, from 2018 with RTM gornets. Witold Pilecki pseud. "Witold" and Danuta Sitikówna pseud. "Inka" and from 2020 with the gutter of Fr. Capt. Władysław Gurgacz pseud. "Sem" and lieutenant Henryk Jastrzębski pseud. "Zbych". In addition to both series, in 2017 a stamp with Franciszek Selmanowicz pseud. "Zagończyk".

About the stamp:

Author of the project: Jarosław Obsendzan

Number of stamps: 1

Value: PLN 3.90

Edition: 120,000 pcs.

Print technique: Rotograwiura

Stamp format: 31.25 x 51 mm

Paper: fluorescent

Sales sheet: 12 stamps (4 × 3)

Date of introduction into circulation: March 1, 2023.