Szanowni Państwo, wierni Czytelnicy, Autorzy i Recenzenci „Ochrony Zabytków”!

This year’s second, and at the same time last issue of “Ochrona Zabytków” is to some extent extraordinary, due to an important anniversary. When, in early spring this year, I published an appeal directed to environments close to the heritage protection in all of its aspects, and containing a request to particularly mark in “Ochrona Zabytków” the hundredth anniversary of an outbreak of the World War I, I did not expect – truth be told – such a wide response. It turned out, meanwhile, that the memory of the Great War is still an inspiration for numerous specific studies, explorations of topics so far forgotten or insufficiently examined in due course, and also, obviously, reminders of anniversary nature. Fruit of the above-mentioned appeal turned out to be so abundant that it was impossible to print all of the sent and reviewed articles in this volume without prejudice to a sacred principle of diversity of topics. Thus, the charm of Wyniosła wieża [Majestic tower] and dramatic tension of Sierpniowe salwy [August bursts of fire] will accompany us in “Ochrona Zabytków” also in 2015. Although answered Bard’s prayers for Wojna Ludów became a macabre and barbaric bloodbath and for humankind it was not a memento for long, to Poles – inter alia – it finally brought freedom, and a legionnaire act became a legend. Could that be different? Mentioning well-known Vilnius artists, in June 1939, in the second issue of the “Wilno” quarterly, Helena Römer, daughter of the brilliant painter, caricaturist and collector, recalled the person of Franciszek Jurjewicz – an emigrant from the tsarist times known as Parisian. Jurjewicz entered the Legions in 1914 being... 73 years old! Let us then repeat: could that be different? Coming back to the table of contents, I must admit that from among important and interesting articles printed in this issue I am delighted with an article entitled Heritance Tea Factory – a hotel in an authentic tea factory – revitalisation in harmony with the monument. Of course, I do not recommend reading the volume from the end, because after all it is an oddity, but living “in an authentic tea factory” is a very well invented treatment – it gives joy, introduces the atmosphere of a fairy-tale, moves to the reality and climates of Sri Lanka, showing culture and skills of the architect worthy of utmost respect. This article in its entirety smells like the world’s best Ceylon tea and happily takes us to realities completely different from the war ones. It leads us straight to Christmas. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Jacek Serafinowicz Editor-in-Chief