EN
Declaring martial law by gen. Jaruzelski in December 1981 resulted in a nation-wide breakdown of spontaneous civic initiatives, connected with the “Solidarity” movement. The incapacitated society became atomized and forced to cope with the difficulties of everyday life. However the Polish society was able to organize itself independently in at least one field – church building. This phenomenon has been happening all over the country – including the Kielce diocese. In the end-stage of communism (1983-1989) the building of 68 begun in this region. This number con-sisted of 56 churches and chapels, 9 belfries and 4 cemetery chapels. Moreover around 30 previous church constructions were continued to be built in the 1980’s. This movement was common both to people living in the villages and the city dwell-ers. Thousands volunteered to lay bricks, carry wood, raise funds, offer their cars as means of transport or cook meals for the builders. This united action of the bishops, priests, monks, nuns and lay people resulted in a unique paradox – the fastest devel-opment of church infrastructure (in a formally atheistic country) in the history of the Holy Cross region.