The article deals with the issue of Roman inscriptions containing the name of St. Hyacinth Odrowąż – a question that so far has been completely ignored in scientific research. As a result of a study undertaken in situ the author collected, verified and translated into Polish for the first time probably all the commemorative plaques that refer to the Polish Dominican. An important result of this research is the identification of two chapels dedicated to St. Hyacinth, in the basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri and in the church Santa Maria del Suffragio, that hitherto had been ignored in Polish works concerning Rome. The analysis of the gathered material points to the wide and longstanding character of the the cult of St. Hyacinth in the Eternal City, maintained both by Dominicans and representatives of the ecclesial hierarchy as also by lay donors. A sign of the vitality of this cult is the fact that the name of the Polish saint was given to children in Italy even a century after his canonization (e.g. the name of the founder of the chapel of St. Hyacinth in the church Santa Maria del Suffragio). The inscriptions that until now were marginalized in studies on the history of the cult of St. Hyacinth are therefore a precious cognitive source, showing its multidimensional character.

Since 1989, the collection of Gothic art at the Archdiocesan Museum in Katowice has been systematically expanded through new acquisitions. A substantial portion of the collection has also undergone conservation treatment. Research conducted as an integral part of this conservation work has generated new insights that complement existing scholarship on the subject. Drawing on archival sources, including the museum’s conservation records, the author proposes revised datings for some objects, broadens their iconographic interpretation, and examines the possible locations of the artists’ workshops. Earlier studies of the museum’s holdings – whether in the form of catalogues or academic monographs – obviously did not take into account the most recent acquisitions that have significantly enriched the collection. Therefore, in addition to presenting new research findings, this study also introduces these newly acquired works, thereby extending and updating previous scholarship.

Since the beginning of Christianity, the communication of the faith has taken place within the everyday life of believers, using the means of communication available at the time: language, gestures and objects meaningful in daily life. In this way, Christians discovered that they are invited to experience closeness with God in every situation of
life, both personally and communally in the liturgy. Entrance doors – in the case of churches – have acquired Christian meaning and a liturgical function in sacramental celebration.
The aim of this article is to present the symbolic and liturgical function of church entrance doors, based on the example of the main doors of the Archcathedral of Christ the King in Katowice, consecrated on 22 November 1975. The study employs ritual and iconographic analysis, as well as iconological interpretation enriched by a theological and liturgical perspectives, preceded by an outline of the historical and theological context. The results indicate that the cathedral’s entrance doors serve as a form of visual catechesis, integrating theological content with the liturgical experience of the faithful. The conclusions show that their symbolism allows us to dicern the religious sensibility and identity of Silesian Catholics during the process of their formation and also possesses a mystagogical potential that remains relevant for contemporary recipients.

The article discusses one of the most important works of the Silesian sculptor Zygmunt Brachmański – the Stations of the Cross in the Archcathedral of Christ the King in Katowice. It recalls the context of such representations and analyzes their artistic form. The text characterizes the figure of the recently deceased artist, the author of over 50 sculptural realizations of a sacral nature in Silesia, awarded in 2024 with the honorable title Lux et Silesia.

In 1925, the Apostolic Nuncio to Poland, Archbishop Lorenzo Lauri, arrived in Upper Silesia to participate in the coronation of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Piekary. Preparations for this event were reflected in his correspondence with the Apostolic Administrator of Upper Silesia, Fr. August Hlond SDB. The collection of letters and telegrams exchanged between the clergy members, currently preserved in the holdings of the Vatican Apostolic Archive, allows for a reconstruction of the circumstances surrounding the organization of the nuncio’s journey and highlights the significance of the presence of the Holy See’s representative at one of the most important religious events in Upper Silesia during the interwar period.

The study recalls the profile and scientific and teaching activities of Father Professor Romuald Rak. He belonged to a group of theologians who, as witnesses to the changes brought about by the Council, conducted intensive research on the activities of the Church and issues related to liturgy and musicology. Therefore, a significant part of Fr. Rak’s scientific work focused on these issues. His theological and pastoral legacy, comprising over 220 publications, constitutes a solid foundation for post-conciliar theological works. In his work, Rev. Prof. R. Rak devoted many years of his academic life to teaching at the Catholic University of Lublin and the Higher Silesian Seminary. The curriculum vitae presented in this study and the directions of scientific research, teaching and organisational work of Rev. Prof. Romuald Rak show the scope, diversity, significance and richness of the Silesian researcher's activities.