The “Indestructible Wreath of Oak Leaves” Exhibition at Eight Piarist Schools
On 17 September 2025, the 86th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland, the exhibition “Indestructible Wreath of Oak Leaves” opened at eight Piarist educational institutions in Poland. The exhibition was prepared by the Parafiada Association as part of the educational programme “Katyn… To Preserve from Oblivion”.
The title of the exhibition refers to the words: “For God gives His servants an indestructible wreath…”. The symbolism of the oak – a strong, long-lived tree with deep roots – emphasises the idea of preserving the memory of those who gave their lives for Poland. The exhibition presents the stories of 18 Polish Army officers and State Police officers who were victims of the Katyn massacre and who are commemorated by Memorial Oaks planted at Piarist institutions in Katowice, Poznań, Bolesławiec, Kraków, Rzeszów, Warsaw, Łowicz and Elbląg. What united them was not only their deaths and the decades-long conspiracy of silence surrounding their fate, but above all a tradition of selfless service to an independent Poland – a commitment to serve unconditionally and “to the very end”. The 15 exhibition panels feature concise biographies of the individuals commemorated. QR codes on the panels provide access to a website containing more extensive biographies, photographs, archival materials and links to source websites. The exhibition therefore serves not only as a form of commemoration, but also as a starting point for learning more about the lives and fates of the victims.
The photographic and textual materials presented in the exhibition come, among other sources, from the collections of the Katyn Museum, the “Nasi Bliscy” (in English: Our Loved Ones) application of the Federation of Katyn Families, the archives of Piarist institutions, as well as the resources of the Military Archives, the Military Historical Bureau and the public domain.
The project was carried out with financial support from the Office for War Veterans and Victims of Oppression.
