Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace – the Duchess of Wieliczka in Wieliczka - Obiekt

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace – the Duchess of Wieliczka in Wieliczka

Monuments

ul. Br. Alojzego Kosiby 31, 32-020 Wieliczka Tourist region: Pogórza

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On the edge of Wieliczka, famous for its UNESCO-listed salt mine, stands the Reformed Franciscan monastery and the Church of the Stigmata of Saint Francis (Kościół Stygmatów świętego Franciszka). The miraculous image of the Madonna and Child is venerated there.

Thanks to King Sigismund III, the construction of the church between 1624 and 1626 was funded primarily by the revenues of the local salt mine. Between 1650 and 1655, a monastery was erected from the foundation of Sebastian Koszucki, the Wieliczka magnate. The church in Wieliczka was the first Reformed brick church in Poland. In 1718, the monastery buildings and church burned down; they were rebuilt in 1721. The monastery was severely damaged during the First World War and was occupied by Russian troops in 1915 and later by Austrian soldiers. In 1928, the novitiate building, which today houses the school, was erected.

The furnishings in the baroque monastery church from the mid-18th century were made mainly by monks who were skilled carpenters and woodcarvers. The polychromes of 1928 are the work of Jan Bukowski. There is an antique crucifix by the sacristy in the chapel. Michał Stachowicz painted the paintings in the central and side altars as well as the Stations of the Cross and the Last Supper in the refectory. The newer paintings are the work of local painter Stefan Chmiel.

The side altar holds the image of Our Lady of Grace, painted on a thin stone panel in a Baroque manner. It was created in Italy in the mid-16th or early 17th century and found its way to Wieliczka thanks to merchants from Italy and the Balkans who came to buy salt. Initially, it was placed in a chapel on the site where the monastery church was erected. A gilded metal dress and numerous votive offerings cover the image. In 1878, the dress carved in linden wood was replaced by a silver dress. The image has been restored and partially repainted several times, including in 1878, 1933, and 1976. Mary's intercession is credited with saving the town in 1992 when a violent outflow of water from the mine threatened to destroy vast sections of the town. In 1995, the painting was crowned with golden crowns, consecrated by Pope John Paul II.

The indulgence feasts fall on 2 August (Feast of Our Lady of the Angels) and 4 October (commemoration of St Francis of Assisi).