St. John the Baptist's Cathedral
Main data:
Year of construction: 1428
Year of reconstruction: 1956
Designer: ????
Location: ul. Swietojanska (St. John Street) 8
St. John's Cathedral is probably the most famous church in Warsaw. It is the place where many important historical events took place. Among other things, Piotr Skarga preached his sermons here. In 1632 king Wladyslaw IV confirmed 'pacta conventa' agreement here. In 18th century coronations of Stanislaw Leszczynski and Stanislaw August Poniatowski took place here. And also Constitution of 3rd May was confirmed here.
Although today's appearance of the Cathedral is a consequence of its reconstruction in years 1947-56, the building dates back to much earlier It is even often said to be the oldest church in Warsaw. Such statement is true if we talk about Warsaw within its borders from the times of the city's foundation. But if we think of Warsaw within its today's borders, probably St. Catharine Church in Ursynow district would be the oldest one.
The Cathedral's history
The first mention about the existence of a church in the place of today's Cathedral comes from year 1339. It says about a sentence pronounced here by Papal legates concerning a dispute between Teutonic Knights and king Kazimierz Wielki (Casimir the Great). This sentence condemned the annexation of Gdansk and the Land of Chelmno by Teutonic Knights. But probably the first wooden church existed here even earlier - in 13th century and was more or less as big as today's sanctuary. According to medieval tradition the Cathedral was oriented, so the main altar stands towards east. It is actually only theoretically, because in practise the altar is directed towards north-east.
In 1392 the conversion of the church into a stone one was started. It was in late-gothic style. The conversion was stopped about the year 1398. That was also the year when pope Boniface IX gave it a status of collegiate church, this title was confirmed in 1406 by the bishop of Poznan - Wojciech Jastrzebiec. Since then the church became a place where the Mazovian dukes were buried. The conversion of the church was finished in the years 1406-28, but in a reduced form. The church became a hall-, three-naved building. A construction of a tower, situated in the line of main alter, was also planned, but finally it was not build until the end of 15th century. In 16th century a covered passage, connecting the church with the castle, was built.
In 1598 it was a fire in the church and in 1602 the tower collapsed, damaging the elevation. That made the kings Zygmunt III Waza and Wladyslaw IV make a decision of the reconstruction of the church. About the year 1632 it was rebuilt in a baroque style, according to the plans of Joannes Italus. In the half of 17th century a belfry was constructed and in the half of 18th century a sacristy was built.
In 1798, because of establishing a diocese in Warsaw, the church became a cathedral. In years 1836-40 it was rebuilt in the style of Gothic Revival. In the first years of 20th century the Cathedral gained a new furnishing and elevation.
The saddest period for the Cathedral, as well as for the whole Warsaw was off course Second World War. In 1939 the building was bombed and partly burned, and in 1944 it was almost completely demolished. German tanks were riding inside the church then, destroying its interior. Only a baroque Baryczkow chapel and some fragments of the sanctuary's walls survived. Some pieces of valuable Mazovian dukes' tombstone and of a baptismal font coming from 16th century were also excavated from the ruins.
The Cathedral's reconstruction was started after Second World War thanks to primate August Hlond. But its pre-war appearance was not restored, it was reconstructed according to the plan of Jan Zachwatowicz, also in the style of Gothic Revival. This appearance corresponds to the church's original form. The reconstruction took place in years 1947-56, but furnishing the interior lasted until 1970s.
The interior's furnishing
The Cathedral is a three-nave building, two aisles are the same height as the main nave. On the right side from the front a belfry is situated, a passage to Dziekania street is situated underneath it. It is worth to walk through it, because an interesting thing can be seen behind it. It is a caterpillar thread fixed into the south-eastern wall of the Cathedral. It comes from a remote-controlled German tank Goliat, which used to fight in the Cathedral's surrounding during Warsaw Uprising.
The church's interior may look a little bit empty at the first sight. It is plastered, but it also has some brick elements. On the ceiling there is a ribbed vault, characteristic for gothic style.
If we look at the interior more carefully, we can see a lot of valuable furnishing. There is a pulpit from 1959, designed by Jozef Trenarowski and stalls which are a replica of the destroyed baroque ones, founded by the king Jan III Sobieski. The main alter dates back to 1966, stained glass windows were made in 1970s, according to the project of Waclaw Taranczewski. Opposite the main alter there is an organ, produced in 1987 by a German company from Bautzen. Organ concerts and events often take place in the Cathedral.
Moreover, there are many chapels, gravestones and epitaphs in the Cathedral. All left aisle is filled with numerous chapels. They are, in turn, from main alter:
1. Baroque Baryczkow Chapel, it ends the left aisle. There is a crucifix here, which is believed to be miraculous, it is said to be the most valuable element of the Cathedral's furnishing. Also the Eucharist is kept here. Also here pope John Paul II prayed four times while visiting the Cathedral.
2. The Chapel of Whipped Christ is situated left from the Baryczkow Chapel. It is the oldest chapel, it dates back to 15th century, but during Word War II it was much destroyed.
3. The Baptistery; there is a valuable baptismal font here, which dates back to 1631. During Warsaw Uprising it was broken into pieces, but it was then reconstructed.
4. The Chapel of John the Baptist, who is the patron saint of the church; the chapel is situated in the place of former chapel of Three Kings.
5. The Mausoleum of cardinal Stefan Wyszynski was erected in the years 1986-87, according to the project of Boleslaw Schmidt. It is situated in the place of former Saint Stanislaw Chapel, from 15th century.
In the right aisle there is a baroque chapel of Man of Letters' Guild and many plaques and epitaphs. A monument of Stanislaw Malachowski (Marshal of Four-Year Parliament) can be seen here, as well as the tombstone of the last Mazovian dukes, Stanislaw and Janusz.
Also the church's basements are worth seeing. It is the place were many famous people are buried. There are the tombs of Mazovian dukes here and of Warsaw bishops. Also pre-war Polish presidents, Gabriel Narutowicz and Ignacy Moscicki, as well as the famous writer Henryk Sienkiewicz and famous composer and prime minister Ignacy Paderewski are buried here. Since 1995 also here the tomb of the controversial last king of Poland, Stanislaw August Poniatowski is situated here.
Practical information
It is possible to visit the Cathedral from Monday to Saturday from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 17.30, and on Sunday between 15.00 and 17.30. Also the basements are open in this time (there is a small fee) - the entrance to it is situated next to Baryczkow Chapel, left from the main altar. The masses take place from Monday to Saturday at 6.30, 7.00, 8.00, 9.00 and 19.00, and on Sundays and on religious holidays at 8.00, 9.30, 11.00, 12.30, 18.00 and 19.00.
(C) 2001-2010 Maciej Blazejewski