Kościół pw. Świętej Barbary
Churches of Kraków
Church (Roman Catholic), Stare Miasto district. Date according to Wikidata: 1338. A place of pilgrimage (shrine). A listed monument (heritage register).
History
The Church of St Barbara stands right next to St Mary's Basilica, between Mariacki Square and the Small Market Square. The Gothic brick building was erected in 1338-1402. It probably served as a cemetery church from the start, since for many centuries Mariacki Square was the parish cemetery. In 1583 the church was handed over to the Jesuits, and it was here that Father Piotr Skarga preached his sermons. After the order was dissolved in 1773, the church was taken over by the Kraków Merchants' Congregation, in 1796 by the Canons of the Holy Sepulchre, and since 1874 it has once again belonged to the Jesuits. Beneath the church lies Father Jakub Wujek, the first translator of the Bible into Polish.
In front of the facade is the Ogrojec (Garden of Gethsemane), a former cemetery chapel joined to the porch. Inside stands a carved scene of the Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, attributed to Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz) or his workshop and complemented by paintings by an unknown master. The church interior was remodelled in the Baroque style in 1688-1692, and the main altar of 1760-1764 is adorned with a Gothic crucifix from around 1420.
The most valuable work of art here is the Pietà, a Gothic limestone sculpture 62 centimetres high. It was made in the 1390s by an unknown artist. It is regarded as one of the most precious works of the early Beautiful Style. Since 1731 it has stood in the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows, today in a small niche closed with a grille. The same chapel houses the painting of Our Lady of Jurowicze, venerated by the faithful as miraculous. It was originally in Jurowicze in Polesie, and in 1886 it was given to the Kraków Jesuits.
Did you know?
The first surviving mention of the Pietà in this church dates only from the 17th century. In 1677 the sculpture was found in a dark corridor, and soon afterwards devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows grew rapidly here. The figure began to be adorned with garments of gold and silver, and from 1726 services were held in honour of Our Lady of Sorrows.