All Souls' Day in Piaśnica on National Independence Day
Tribute to the memory of the Martyrs of the Piaśnica Forest
On Monday, November 11, 2025, the annual Piaśnica All Souls' Day commemorations took place in the Piaśnica Forest – a unique prayer service dedicated to the memory of the victims of German executions in 1939–1940. This year's celebrations traditionally coincided with the National Independence Day, which gave them a special, solemn character.
The celebrations began at 1:00 p.m. with a Holy Mass at the Chapel of the Martyrs of Piaśnica, celebrated for all those who rest in the cemetery in the Piaśnica Forest. Representatives of the clergy and residents of the region participated in the prayer.
After Holy Mass, the faithful took part in a funeral procession to 26 mass graves, during which the names of the known victims – the Martyrs of Piaśnica Forest – were remembered. Their fate was reflected upon, remembering the clergy, teachers, doctors, officials, merchants, and representatives of the Pomeranian intelligentsia who gave their lives for Poland in 1939.
All Souls' Day in Piaśnica is a time of special reflection and remembrance of people whose lives were taken in the name of hatred, but also a reminder of the values that their sacrifice embodies – freedom, dignity, and love for the homeland.
We would like to thank everyone who took part in this year's celebrations and joined us in paying tribute to those murdered in the Piaśnica Forest. May the light of the candles and our shared prayers be an expression of our remembrance.
