Kościół pw. Świętego Łazarza
Churches of Kraków
Church (Roman Catholic), Grzegórzki district. A listed monument (heritage register).
History
Officially this is the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but it is commonly known as St Lazarus' Church, after the hospital that operated in the former monastery. It stands at Mikołaja Kopernika Street 19, in the area known as Wesoła. Its story began with the Discalced Carmelites: in 1634 Tomasz Oborski, auxiliary bishop of Kraków, blessed the foundation stone of their new church. The war with Sweden halted the work, so the church was not completed until 1683, and it was solemnly consecrated by auxiliary bishop Mikołaj Oborski.
In 1772, during the Bar Confederation, the building was destroyed. The Carmelites rebuilt it in 1780-1782, and in 1787 they left the monastery and handed it over, together with the church, to the Daughters of Charity. The sisters ran a hospital in the former monastery under the patronage of St Lazarus, and that is how the church got its second dedication. Since 1863 it has been in the care of the Vincentian Fathers (the Congregation of the Mission). Today Mass is celebrated here in the classical Roman rite, and the faithful of the Latin tradition are served by priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter.
The Baroque façade is modelled on the Carmelite church of Santa Maria della Scala in Rome. Its triangular gable is crowned with a statue of Mary, and the corners hold figures of saints: Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross. Both towers were completed in 1680; their domed caps were designed in 1885 by Karol Zaremba. Inside, a single nave opens through tall arches into side chapels. The high altar is a two-level perspective altar dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary, while the other Baroque altars, portals and balustrades were made in 1685-1688.
Did you know?
The altars, portals and balustrades are made of black Dębnik "marble", and this is the richest collection of such works in the whole of Kraków. The uniform furnishing of the interior is also a rarity.