Kościół Karmelitów Bosych
Churches of Kraków
Church (Roman Catholic), Stare Miasto district. Architect: Tadeusz Stryjeński. A listed monument (heritage register). Run by: Zakon Braci Bosych Najświętszej Maryi Panny z Góry Karmel (Karmelici Bosi).
History
The Discalced Carmelites settled on Rakowicka Street in 1911, when a monastery was formally established there. Work on it had begun earlier, however, in the autumn of 1907, to plans by Tadeusz Stryjeński. By the end of 1909 the friars could already use the residential part, and in April 1910 the chancel, the tower and a side chapel were completed. In November of that year five bells were bought from the Hiller foundry, in December an organ, and on 5 December Bishop Anatol Nowak blessed the building. In 1913 the west wing of the monastery was added, designed by Augustyn Tarkowski of Tarnów.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was completed in 1929-1932. The world financial crisis was approaching, so the original plans were abandoned. Franciszek Mączyński designed a nave two bays shorter, with three bays instead of five. The church was consecrated on 11 September 1932 by Archbishop Adam Sapieha.
Above the main entrance on the façade is a mosaic from 1934, made to a design by Jan Bukowski. It depicts Our Lady with Saints John of the Cross and Teresa of Ávila adoring her. The interior makes generous use of alabaster from Żurawno: in 1931 the altars and the pulpit, among other things, were made of it to plans by Józef Szostakiewicz. In the porch you can see the relics of St Raphael Kalinowski. From 1948 to 1983 the ashes of St Brother Albert Chmielowski, brought from Rakowicki Cemetery, also lay here; after his beatification they were moved to the Ecce Homo church in Prądnik Czerwony. Cardinal Karol Wojtyła also often came to the monastery for closed retreats for priests.
Did you know?
By the side entrance stands a small iron cross on a sandstone plinth. It used to stand at the city tollgate, and it was placed by the Carmelite church in 1934 to commemorate the opening of the tram line to Rakowicki Cemetery.