St. Martin's Church
Main data:
Year of construction: 1400 (approximately)
Year of reconstruction: 1959
Designer: ???
Location: ul. Piwna 9/11
St. Martin's Church (former Augustinians' church), which is located at Piwna street is one of three temples on Warsaw Old Town, probably the least known. The history of this church dates back to many centuries ago. Wooden buildings of the Order of Saint Augustine were probably the first church buildings located in this place. They were founded for the order by Mazovian prince Siemowit III and his wife Eufemia about the year of 1353.
The church itself, which was a stone, gothic building, was erected at the turn of 14th and 15th century. Its entrance was located from the side of the town walls, not from Piwna street, as today. The temple had three altars: main altar of St. Martin and side altars of the Holly Ghost and of St. Dorothy.
In the 17th century on the churchyard of Augustinians' Monastery was the place where sessions of local Mazovian parliament were organised. After some fires, which destroyed the church in 15th and 17th century, it was converted in baroque style by Jan Spinola from Italy. Also at that time the church was reoriented, the main entrance was located from Piwna street and the altar was moved to south-western side (to the side of the town walls). In 1650 in the church's basements Adam Jarzebski was buried. He was the author of the first Warsaw guidebook and court constructor and musician of the king Wladyslaw IV. In 1744 an impressive, late-baroque facade was added to the church from the side of Piwna street. It was designed by Karol Bay.
After January Uprising the Augustinians were displaced from the monastery by the Russians. During Second World War the church and the monastery were completely destroyed.
In 1950s the reconstruction of the church and the monastery was started. Since 1956 they are ordered by Franciscan nuns. Today's furnishing of the church, which was designed by sister Alma Skrzydlewska, is a mosaic of modern décor and remained historical elements.
The church is a three-naved basilica. Next to the facade from Piwna street a belfry is located, inside its lower part there are some remained gothic fragments. Inside the church, at the end of right nave a chapel of Our Lady of Consolation with a copy of a painting from 15th century and at the end of the left one - the chapel of Jesus Christ. Next to the sanctuary there is a chapel of St. Francis with the most valuable element of the church's furnishing - polychromed figure of the Virgin Mary with the Child.
Practical information:
Masses in St. Martin's church take place from Monday to Saturday on 6.30, 8.00 and 17.30 (in July and August only on 6.30 and 17.30), and on Sundays and Holidays on 8.00, 9.30, 11.00 and 17.30. The temple is open for sightseeing before 12.15 and after 15.00.
Translation of the street's name:
Piwna street - this can be translated exactly as the 'Beer Street' (although it is probably not the best name for a street where a church is located :)
Interior of the church:
(C) 2001-2010 Maciej Blazejewski