Portal:Catholicism/Patron Archive/April 11

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Stanisław Szczepanowski or Stanislaus of Szczepanów (July 26, 1030 – April 11?, 1079) was a Bishop of Kraków known chiefly for having been slain by Polish King Bolesław II the Bold. Stanisław is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church as Saint Stanislaus the Martyr (as distinct from Saint Stanislaus Kostka).There is little credible information about Stanisław's life. The only almost contemporary source was a chronicle of Gallus Anonymus, but the author purposely evaded writing details about a conflict with the king. Later sources are the chronicles of Wincenty Kadłubek, and two vitae (hagiographies) by Wincenty of Kielce, but all are strongly biased and contain much legendary and hagiographic matter.According to tradition, Stanisław was born at Szczepanów, a village near the town of Bochnia in southern Poland, the only son of the noble and pious Wielisław and Bogna. He was educated at a cathedral school in Gniezno (then Poland's capital) and later, according to different sources, in Paris or Liège. On return to Poland, Stanisław was ordained a priest by Lambert Suła, Bishop of Kraków. After the Bishop's death (1072), Stanisław was elected his successor but accepted the office only at the explicit command of Pope Alexander II. Stanisław was one of the earliest native Polish bishops. He also became a ducal advisor and had some influence on Polish politics.Stanisław's major accomplishments included bringing papal legates to Poland, and re-establishment of a metropolitan see in Gniezno. The latter was a precondition for Duke Bolesław's coronation as king, which took place in 1076. Stanisław then encouraged King Bolesław to establish Benedictine monasteries to aid in the Christianization of Poland.
Attributes:Episcopal insignia, sword, resurrected Piotr
Patronage:Poland, Kraków, moral order
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