Coronation of Barbara Radziwiłłówna
Barbara stepped forward to the altar. She knelt down, kissed the archbishop’s ring ,
whereupon she lay her body in the shape of a cross. Meanwhile all gathered began to recite lyrics of a prayer.
Hundreds of people resounded :” Kyrie elejson, Chryste elejson… “Celebrants solemnly called the most important women names from the Old Testament : Sara, Rebbeca , Judith and
Esthera. Thereafter Barbara was compared to sage wives and daughters instead the slave
married to Alexander the Great . Next, there were unction and coronation.
Barbara with the crown on her head, the royal apple and the scepter in hands, turned to the
crowd.
It was 7th of December 1550
That day she looked more attractive than ever. There wasn’t any trace of disease on her
face. She was young , proud and delicate: just a queen .Everyone could see her
expensive crown. Her clothes were decorated with hundreds of pearls, but the most could be
seen from her eyes and lips. Barbara smiled to the dignitaries who took part in the coronation.
Many people could say that this smile showed pride of the great aristocrat. Some believed that,
Barbara, alike her family, was absorbed by political lust. It’s hard to accept such a conception
because Barbara’s face was rather expressing a relief.
Despite her critical health condition, she survived a lot of processions and celebrations. Several
witnesses heard Barbara saying : “ God will give me another crown…”.
Damian Żuraw
