Holy Spirit's Church and Monastery of Pauline Fathers

Main data:

Year of construction: 1717
Year of reconstruction: 1953
Designers: Józef Szymon Belotti, Józef Piola
Location: ul. Nowomiejska 23 / ul. Długa 1

When we walk through the Barbican, from Old to New Town, straight away we see two impressive churches. The one on the left, with two towers, is the Church of Holy Spirit, also known as the Church of Pauline Fathers.

Already in the second half of 14th century a temple existed in the place of today's church. The Mazovian prince Janusz Stary (Janusz the Old) founded here then (probably in 1388) a complex of wooden buildings of the Hospital of Holy Spirit. Also a small, gothic chapel was located here. Step by step, it was enlarged, but during the Swedish Deluge (the war between Poland and Sweden in 17th century), battles took place here, and because of that, the temple was completely destroyed.

In 1671 king Jan Kazimierz (John II Casimir) transferred the plot with the ruined temple to Pauline Fathers from Czestochowa. It was a gift for them in recognition of their achievements during the Swedish Deluge (mainly for the defence of Czestochowa). In the first phase, about year 1682, the fathers built here a new, brick monastery, where the Hospital of Holy Spirit was located again. And later, from 1707 till 1717 a church was constructed. Its Joseph Simon Belotti and Joseph Piola were the designers of this two-towered, baroque temple. Pauline Fathers lived here until the beginning of 19th century. In 1809 the conquerors organised in the building a magazine and barracks. In 1819 their order was secularised. The building became then an office of Brotherhood of St. Benon, and later a university church. And the Hospital of Holy Sprit, which still functioned here then, was moved to nearby Przyrynek street.

In 1845, when Freta Street was modernised, stairs to the church were constructed. Also a sculpture of Our Lady was put in front of the church. During Warsaw Uprising the Holy Spirit's Church was much destroyed, the towers collapsed and the interior was burned. After the war Pauline Fathers came back to Warsaw. On their initiative the church was reconstructed in years 1949-53.

At the temple's frontage we can see sculptures of St. Paul, St. Romuald, St. Zygmunt, St. Helena. Inside, the most interesting items are baroque altars (especially an enormous main altar with a scene of Descent of Holy Spirit), a pulpit and the chapel of Our Lady of Czestochowa, at the end of right aisle.

The building in the shape of letter L, on the corner of Nowomiejska and Podwale streets is a monastery of Pauline fathers. This is where in the past the Hospital of Holy Spirit was located.

It is worth mentioning, that the front of the Pauline Father's Church is the place where the annual Warsaw pilgrimage to Czestochowa starts from. This custom was initiated already before the church was completed, in 1711, and it lasts till today.

Practical information:

The masses in the church take place on working days at 6, 7, 8 and 17, and on Sundays and Holidays at 7, 8, 9.30, 11, 12.30 and 18. In order to visit the church the best solution is to come here just before or after a mass, on Sundays the temple is usually open all day long.

Photos from the outside:

Photos of the interior: