Kazimierz Lyszczynski – the patron of Polish atheists

The 325th anniversary of Kazimierza Łyszczyński’s torment is passing by. Sentenced to death in 1689 for writing De non existentia Dei (“On the non-existence of God”). The event was described by Tadeusz Miciński with the following words:

“There stood in front of him a terrible shadow of atheist Kazimierz Łyszczyński, burnt to death during the reign of Jan Sobieski III. Łyszczyński led an impeccable life, but then, full of thoughts on the essence of faith and doubts regarding the existence of God, on 15 sheets gathered he the sentences of ancient and contemporary authors proving there was no God. The neighbour of his, a scoundrel owing him money, reported him to the bishop hoping for debt cancellation.”

Polonia non parit monstra – said the Instigator during the trial, and now you cannot tell that, for Łyszczyński monstrum!… And such defensors of God like primate Radziejowski, applied for death penalty in torment and flames. The convict, once convinced of his inncocence, in the end spoke words full of despair and insanity: “If I am heavily punished, I doubt if I can resist temptations swarming in me…”

He was brought to the execution site. First subjected to torment were his lips and tongue which “severily harmed God”. Then his hand, the tool of the most hideous product, was burnt along with blasphemous sheets. In the end, the “monster of the century, God killer and criminal – Legirupa, impudens, impurus, inverecundissimus himself was beheaded and eaten by pleading flames, if only they could plead God” – the bishop said.

Reconstruction of Kazimierz Łyszczyński’s execution at the Old Town Market will finish this year’s March of Atheists.

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