Jakub Strzemię
Blessed Jakub Strzemię (c. 1340–20 October 1409) was a Polish archbishop and a Franciscan friar. He served as Archbishop of Halicz from 1392 until his death; the diocese later became part of the Archdiocese of Lviv. Born into Polish nobility in Galicia, he felt a strong devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi and joined the Order of Friars Minor. In 1375 he became the head of the Brothers Association of Pilgrims for Christ, a group of Franciscans and Dominicans who preached across Europe. From 1385 to 1388 he led the Lviv Franciscan convent as its guardian.
Pope Boniface IX appointed him Archbishop of Halicz on 27 June 1391, and he was consecrated as bishop in Tarnów in early 1392. As archbishop, he defended the mendicants against attacks from secular clergy and the government and fought for the rights of the faithful. He also served as Vicar-General of Franciscan missions in western Russia and helped build churches, schools, monasteries, and hospitals in his territory.
He died on 20 October 1409. In 1419 his remains were found incorrupt. He was beatified on 11 September 1791 by Pope Pius VI after widespread devotion in Poland and nearby regions. He is the patron of the Archdiocese of Lviv and the Diocese of Zamość-Lubaczów.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:41 (CET).