The Legend of the Oaks of Rogalin

Once upon a time, three brothers- princes Lech, Czech and Rus went on a hunt to the forest over the Warta River. The hunting was going smoothly, when suddenly a large herd of elks hurried out of the backwoods, led by an exceptionally beautiful stag.

The riders set off in pursuit of the animal. Suddenly they got into a forest clearing, in the middle of which an impressive oak tree grew, together with a few young trees. The stag, surrounded on all sides, bent his neck and prepared to mortal combat. Suddenly Lech stopped the hunters crying: - Stop! Do not kill! It is a holy grove! The moose felt that the danger had passed and slowly walked away into the woods.

Meanwhile, an old man with grey hair wearing a white robe came into the clearing - it was the priest of Svetovid, the guardian of the holy grove, who invited the unexpected guests to delicious mead. To commemorate this event, Lech ordered to build in this place a temple in which the old man could duly fulfil his priestly ministry.

In this place a settlement called Rogalin was also established (from the Polish word "rogi" meaning "antlers") - to commemorate the meeting with the remarkable stag. The years passed....

The messengers arrived to Rogalin to Duke Mieszko with an order to destroy the statue of Svetovid; they were commanded to spread the new faith. An oak cross was put on the old temple as a symbol of the new faith.

Three mighty oaks growing around the temple were left uncut only because they bore the names of the legendary rulers of the Slavs - Lech, Czech and Rus. The legend has it that they are the same oaks that have grown in the park in Rogalin until today.

P RESENTATION PREPARED BY THE 5 TH GRADE STUDENTS. I T CONSISTS OF THEIR OWN DRAWINGS, PICTURES FORM THE I NTERNET AND THE TEXT OF THE LEGEND FOUND ON THE WEBPAGE OF THE R OGALIN M USEUM.