On September 28^th, 2010 at 6 pm in the House of Literature at 87/89 Krakowskie Przedmieście Street will take place a meeting devoted to the book of Rev. Jan Zieja and Jacek Moskwa „Życie Ewangelią. Spisane przez Jacka Moskwę” (“Living the Gospel. Written down by Jacek Moskwa”). This publication first appeared 20 years ago in the publishing house of the Polish Pallotines, Éditions du Dialogue,in Paris. Because of the growing interest in the figure and deeds of Rev. Zieja, Znak decided to reissue the book. During the meeting in the House of Literature fragments of the film „W duchu i w prawdzie” (“In the Spirit and Truth”) by Krystyna Mokrosińska and Jacek Moskwa will be screened. The central figure of the book will be presented by the author of the extended interview that took place in the eighties.

Rev. Jan Zieja, born in 1897 in the village of Osse, was a multidimensional figure, a man who was not afraid of crossing boundaries. He represented an open church, a church understanding the significance of ecumenism. Rev. Zieja was a great friend of Jews. He participated in their rescuing during the Nazi occupation, was one of the co-founders of the Council to Aid Jews “Żegota” and activist of the Catholic organization Front of Poland’s Rebirth, which also helped Jews. In the book “Living the Gospel” Rev. Zieja explains how he managed to reconcile his pacifism with the function of chaplain of the Szare Szeregi (Grey Ranks) organization and of the Home Army Headquarters. Rev. Zieja was interested in people with unique, exceptional opinions and he was fascinated by Gandhi. He tried to help all those who were in need. He co-founded the Center for the Blind in Laski, and in the seventies he became one of the first members of the Workers’ Defence Committee. At the end of the book“Living the Gospel” readers will find a calendar and memoirs of people who knew Rev. Zieja, among others Jacek Kuroń, Adam Michnik and Władysław Bartoszewski.

Rev. Jan Zieja was a priest who fulfilled evangelical ideals. He was a modest, humble man who never held high positions in the Church and who did not receive the title and medal awarded by Yad Vashem to the heroes of the Second World War, the Righteous Among the Nations. He is one of the most famous Polish clergymen, one of the biggest moral authorities of his time, and his choices fill with admiration to this day. Rev. Jan Zieja died in 1991, at the age of 94. More information about the book and its central figure can be found on the website of the Znak Publishing House and on the website devoted to Rev. Jan Zieja.