# Millennium of Poland's Baptism (1966)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1966-millennium-of-poland-s-baptism
Location: Poland

The Church celebrated the thousandth anniversary of the Baptism of Poland with mass pilgrimages, while the state organised rival celebrations of the millennium of the Polish state. Within the broader People'S Republic period: Shifted westward and placed under communist rule, Poland rebuilt from the war but repeatedly rose against the regime, until the Solidarity movement forced a negotiated transition in 1989. At this point in the timeline (1966), the governing authority was Edward Ochab (Chairman of the Council of State), together with Władysław Gomułka (First Secretary of the PZPR). Briefly party leader in 1956; resigned as head of state in protest at the antisemitic campaign of 1968. Millennium of Poland's Baptism mattered because religion shaped Polish identity, culture and the country's place in Europe. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Millennium of Poland's Baptism mattered because religion shaped Polish identity, culture and the country's place in Europe.

Ruler at the time: [August Zaleski](https://poland-history.com/rulers/august-zaleski)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Christianization of Poland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianization_of_Poland)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Millennium of Poland's Baptism](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Millennium+of+Poland%27s+Baptism)
- [Wikipedia — Polish People's Republic (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_People's_Republic)