In the Christmas section of the weekly magazine, the editors of Sieci outline, as they do every year, the circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth and Polish Christmas traditions. The issue, spanning more than 100 pages, also offers commentary on the year’s political events, including reactions to the formation of Donald Tusk’s new government and discussions about its composition. Articles from the current issue are available through the Network of Friends subscription [Source: wPolityce].
Secrets of Bethlehem
Grzegorz Górny emphasizes in the piece Secrets of Bethlehem how oral tradition helped preserve the memory of sacred places and the early Christian relics found there, even as the Roman Emperor attempted to conceal the tomb. It is suggested that Mary herself shared stories with the Jerusalem branch of the early Church about Jesus’ birth. Through her accounts, the memory of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus endured. The writer notes that Justin Martyr, a contemporary observer born around the year 100 in Neapolis, described Christ as being born in a specific cave in Bethlehem. In 135 AD, Emperor Hadrian reportedly filled the site and planted a grove to honor Adonis, yet subsequent generations managed to locate the cave again.”
Grzegorz Górny also questions whether Jesus was ultimately born in a cave or a stable. Biblical archaeologists contend that both possibilities can be true. In Judea’s mountainous landscape, there are many caves that historically served as shepherds’ shelters, chosen for the cool of summer and warmth of winter. The cave associated with Jesus’ birth is described as elongated, with a carved basin at the back serving as a stone manger for animals. Luke’s account mentions a manger where Mary laid the newborn. Thus, the stories of cave and stable are not mutually exclusive.
Looters of the Lost Democracy
Konrad Kołodziejski presents the findings of a survey conducted for Rzeczpospolita. The question asked was, What kind of Prime Minister will Donald Tusk be? About 42 percent of respondents labeled him as bad or terrible. The author notes how surprising this result is, given that many voters two months earlier did not fully know whom they were voting for. They did not want Tusk, yet votes for Hołownia, PSL, and the Left helped return him to power.
Kołodziejski argues that Tusk’s only real program is revenge against PiS, and that social programs, welfare, and citizen security are secondary guidelines, useful mainly insofar as they advance that primary goal. He acknowledges ordinary people’s concerns about Tusk’s governing style but stresses that publicists should understand the old and new prime minister’s true identity. He also notes the warning raised by Marcin Matczak about a potential reversal of the entire situation, with Matczak having long criticized PiS for alleged legal bending and proclaimed the party itself as psychologically fascist. Yet Matczak believed Tusk could be an impeccable politician guided by the state’s good and democratic values. The article explains that Matczak does not understand how the new democratic authorities could push the state into fast, calculated moves, circumventing the law to gain control.”
Polish Pride
In Polish Pride, Stanisław Janecki asks who stood out as the most famous Pole worldwide last year. He concludes that Iga Świątek and Robert Lewandowski hold that honor. Świątek is recognized as a top tennis player, while Lewandowski is seen as a legendary figure in football and a symbol of global branding for Poland. Janecki notes that Lewandowski has long been the most famous living Pole in terms of reach and recognition, while Świątek’s prestige and visibility among social elites further elevate Poland’s profile. The article also reflects on other sectors, arguing that Polish business leaders have yet to reach global-scale prominence and that many Polish artists and scientists do not enjoy universal recognition beyond their fields.
Janecki highlights that, while Poland may not yet dominate global culture, there are notable exceptions in science and medicine. Examples include physicist Agnieszka Zalewska, who led CERN’s council in Geneva in 2013 as the first woman in that role, and cardiologist Piotr Ponikowski, frequently cited among researchers. The piece also mentions a selection of other analysts and authors, noting the diverse fields in which Polish professionals excel. A recommended reading list follows, featuring voices such as Stanisław Janecki, Marek Budzisz, Jakub Augustyn Maciejewski, Konrad Kołodziejski, Jan Rokita, Aleksandra Rybińska, and Milena Kindziuk. The issue also includes a conversation between Michał Karnowski and Stanisław Obertaniec, a journalist and activist, and Piotr Słabek with Prof. Aleksandra Skrzypietz on Christmas and New Year celebrations at historical royal courts. In addition, it presents current-event commentary from Dorota Łosiewicz, Bronisław Wildstein, Andrzej Rafał Potocki, Marta Kaczyńska-Zielińska, Alina Czerniakowska, and Katarzyna Zybertowicz.
The new Sieci issue also invites readers to engage with online content as part of the Network of Friends subscription and to watch the television program wPolsce.pl [Source: wPolityce].
NETWORKS / author: SIECI
Source: wPolityce