Film about the Polish Righteous, bishop Albin Małysiak
Bishop Małysiak, born in the nearby village of Kocoń, is 93 years old today and is the oldest bishop in Poland. The film was made for the 40th anniversary of his anointment. Albin Małysiak took holy orders on May 1st, 1941.
The fictionalized documentary, lasting 26 minutes, presents the story of the priest, who was not only a hard-working man faithful to his vocation, but also risked his life to save Jews during the Second World War. His deeds were honored by Yad Vashem, who awarded him the title “Righteous Among the Nations” in 1993.
The film “With Faith Into Deep Water” was shot in Ślemień, Kraków and Warsaw. Bishop Małysiak is recalled by the cardinals Józef Glemp, Stanisław Dziwisz, Franciszek Macharski and Rev. Stanisław Bryła.
The film was made thanks to its originator and co-producer Łukasz Lech, the co-initiator of bishop Małysiak’s jubilee, and thanks to Anna Kaszewska, journalist of TVP Kraków, involved in this project. The shooting was done by Wojciech Kursa and Ryszard Mroczkowski.
During the Nazi occupation bishop Albin Małysiak was chaplain of the Krakow Helcl Center – an institution for the elderly and disabled.
Together with Sister Bronisława Wilemska, director of the Center who was awarded with the title of the Righteous Among the Nations in 1995, he helped five Jews. Katarzyna Styczeń, Helena Kachel, Henryk Juański, Zbigniew Kozanowski and a fifth man, whose identity remains unknown, became residents of the center.
They received baptismal certificates and other documents authenticating their so-called “Aryan” origin. They were also provided with food, medicines and clothing. Other residents knew about the hiding, but no one reported it to the Germans.
Bishop Albin Małysiak was awarded with the title “Righteous Among the Nations” on November 21st, 1993.
