Chopin's heart exhumed - After 155 years in a jar of liquor, Frederic Chopin's heart has been exhumed to assess if the method used to preserve it is still effective and if the heart is decaying.
Chopin heart's exhumation was reportedly a secret mission. The team put in-charge of the task was sworn to secrecy before having Chopin's heart exhumed. Officials say Chopin's heart exhumation took place on the midnight of April 14th at the Holy Cross Church in Poland.
The Archbishop of Warsaw, the Polish Culture Minister, two scientists and other officials were among those present to oversee Chopin's heart exhumed.
Frederic Chopin was a child prodigy composer and virtuoso pianist, born in Warsaw, Poland in 1810. Chopin is said to have composed many of his famous works in Warsaw before leaving on a self imposed exile to Paris at 21.
When he was about to die in Paris about 18 years later in 1849, Chopin reportedly asked that his heart is laid to rest in his home country. While Chopin's body was buried in Paris at the famous Pere Lachaise cemetery after his death, his heart was placed in jar with liquor reported to be cognac.
The jar which contained Chopin's heart is said to have passed through different hands and relatives. It was finally smuggled past Russian border guards in Warsaw. Once in his home town, Chopin's heart was entombed within a pillar in the Holy Cross Church.
The heart has been preserved as a symbol of Polish history and patriotism. It momentarily fell under Nazi control during the Second World War, but was safely returned afterwards.
"This is a very emotional object for Poles," said Michal Witt, a geneticist witnessed Chopin's heart exhumed recently. Chopin's heart is "extremely special for the Polish soul."
"We in Poland often say that Chopin died longing for his homeland," Zdrojewski, a Polish lawmaker at the European Parliament said. He also addressed suggestions from people who think that the exhumation should have been made public and tests conducted to discover what really killed Chopin.
"Additional information which could possibly be gained about his death would not be enough of a reason to disturb Chopin's heart," Zdrojewski said.
Reports indicate that after having Chopin's heart exhumed, the team of 13 checked the state of the organ and added hot wax to the jar in order to prevent its alcohol content from evaporating. The team is reported to have also taken over 1,000 pictures of the treasure-muscle before the Archbishop of Warsaw prayed over it and it was returned to its resting place.
Polish authorities say the routine inspection process that saw Chopin's heart exhumed will not be repeated until 50 year from now in 2064.
