Kościół pw. Matki Boskiej Zwycięskiej
Churches of Kraków
Church (Roman Catholic), Łagiewniki-Borek Fałęcki district. A listed monument (heritage register).
History
The church stands on Borkowska Hill on Zakopiańska Street. Until 1947 parishioners worshipped in a barrack church built in 1920-1922 by Fr Adam Gałuszkiewicz. As the congregation grew, in 1936 it was decided to build a new church. The idea came from Fr Adolf Zagrodzki, and the building committee was chaired by Franciszek Wadas. The design of the modernist building of reinforced concrete and brick was prepared by the engineer Tadeusz Ruttié. The foundation stone was set into the wall on 14 November 1937, and in 1939 the building was still waiting to be finished, standing as a bare shell.
The outbreak of war halted construction. The Germans set up an ammunition store in the building, and during round-ups they also used it as a temporary sorting camp. At the beginning of the war the parish priest, Fr Władysław Mączyński, and the prefect, Fr Dercz, were arrested; both died in a camp. After the war the building regained its religious function. The parish priest Władysław Ryba continued the finishing work and the furnishing of the interior. The work was completed in 1947, and Bishop Rospond blessed the church on 15 August. It was consecrated on 26 October 1975 by Cardinal Karol Wojtyła.
The church has a single nave, is oriented towards the east, and has a gabled roof and a three-sided chancel. In front of the facade rises a bell tower in the form of a free-standing tower, topped with an openwork gable. The stained-glass windows in the chancel and nave were designed by Wacław Taranczewski; they were made in the 1960s.
Did you know?
The high altar, designed by Jan Budziła and made in 1978 by Antoni Oremus, holds a stone figure of Our Lady carved by Konstanty Laszczka in 1916. It was a gift to the parish from the Metropolitan of Kraków, Adam Sapieha.