About this Saint
Stanislaus, the revered bishop of Kraków and patron of Poland, is a notable figure in Eastern European history for his strong stance against corrupt governance. Born on July 26, 1030, in Szczepanow near Kraków, he was educated in Gniezno and Paris before being ordained a priest. He later became the bishop of Kraków in 1072, known for his eloquence and ability to inspire genuine conversion among clergy and laity alike.
His political involvement peaked during an expedition against the Grand Duchy of Kiev, where he criticized the injustices of the peasantry and King Boleslaus II, particularly focusing on the king's unjust wars and immoral behaviors. Despite facing accusations of treason and death threats, Stanislaus excommunicated the king, who, in a fit of rage, murdered him personally after his soldiers refused to do so.
King Boleslaus was forced to flee to Hungary, spending his remaining days in penance at the Benedictine abbey in Osiak. Stanislaus, like Saints John the Baptist, Thomas Becket, and Thomas More before him, is remembered for his courageous denunciation of corruption, echoing the actions of Jesus in confronting moral corruption within religious leadership.
