St. Jacek's Church and Monastery of Dominicans

Main data:

Year of construction: 1639
Year of reconstruction: 1962
Designer: Joannes Italus
Location: ul. Freta 8/10

At the north-eastern side of Nowomiejska street, near the Barbican, a white solid of Dominicans' Church attracts attention. This church is known also as St. Jacek's Church. What is characteristic about it is the fact, that it has only one tower (what is interesting - inside it there are two cafes), but situated asymmetrically, and also the fact, that when we come in to this church, we do not go up the stairs, like to most of the churches, only down. And it is even a few metres down.

Dominican Fathers came to Warsaw in 1603. Father Abraham Bzowski lead them and eleven more brothers came with him. They bought a plot between Freta and Rybaki streets, which was a suburb at that time. First, a brickyard was built and bricks production, necessary for further construction, was started there. Later a provisional wooden chapel and a simple monastery were built.

The construction of the church was started in 1605, also in that year relics of St. Jacek were brought to Warsaw. There were plans to build the temple of great magnificence, on the model of churches in Rome. Joanes Italus was the building's designer.

Soon, it turned out that Dominicans do not have enough funds for such big undertaking. Luckily, a lot of Warsaw inhabitants and magnates gave a support. But in spite of the fact that the first mass was said in the finished part of the church in 1606, the construction did not completed until 1639. An later, from 1639 to 1651 the building of monastery was constructed. It was a building constructed in the shape of letter T, it was located on the back of the temple, closer to Vistula river.

The chancel of the church was completed in gothic style, and nave and aisles in baroque. Furnishing the interior took actually all the first part of 17th century, among other things, side chapels and stalls in the chancel were made then.

Because the church stands close to town walls, it was much destroyed during Swedish Deluge, similarly as the neighbouring Holy Spirit's Church. But already in second half of 17th century the church returned to its magnificence. In 1662 a belfry was constructed, and in 1690 Adam Kotowski has founded a tomb chapel for his family. Tylman van Gameren was its designer. Today this chapel is the most valuable part of the church.

In 18th century the Dominicans' Monastery was famous because of one of the biggest libraries in Poland. Unfortunately, till today nothing survived from its collection.

In 1805, during Napoleonic Wars, a field hospital was organised in the monastery and also some soldiers were quartered here. And in 1815 a new titlear was built, because an old one had been destroyed. In 1823 a annexe with arcades was added, which was a place for stalls. Apparently, a market place located just next to the entrance of the church was not a problem for anybody at that time.

After January Uprising the order of Dominicans was secularised. The temple became a branch church of the parish of New Town and the building of monastery was taken over by Warsaw Charity Society, which organised here a school and a kindergarten.

In 1944, during Warsaw Uprising, a field hospital was organised in the church. In result of bombings, more than 1000 people were killed here and the building was nearly totally destroyed. Only a small fragments of walls and Kotowskis' Chapel survived.

After the war, the Dominicans returned to the church, or actually to its ruins. The reconstruction of the temple and the buildings of monastery lasted from 1947 until 1962. But there was no chance to reconstruct most of the rich furnishing, so know the interior may look a bit empty. Also the annexe in front of the church was not restored.

But despite that, the church is for sure worth visiting. In the massive frontage we can see three figures: of Our Lady, St. Jacek and St. Dominic. A baroque belfry, standing right of the main entrance is a characteristic element of the temple.

St. Jacek's Church is also unusual because of its floor, which is on much lower level than Freta streets. When we walk in, first we take a few steps down to a small square in front of the church and then, inside, some more steps down. Inside, the building seems to be very spacious and light, even more because its walls are white. The main titlear is rather simple, comparing to its pre-war appearance. We can see here a crucifix, sculptures of Out Lady and St. John and paintings of St. Jacek and St. Dominic.

On the end of right aisle there is a former chapel of Our Lady of Snow (Matki Boskiej Snieznej), today - of Our Lady of Fatima. In the right aisle there is also a valuable tombstone of Katarzyna Ossolinska.

But the most valuable item of the church is the already mentioned Kotowskis' Chapel, which is situated next to the left aisle. We can see here frescos, an titlear and epitaphs of the founders. In the chapel's basement there is a crypt of Kotowskis' family. On the end of left aisle there is a chapel of St. Dominic, with a tombstone of Ossolinskis' family.

What is also worth seeing is the sequence of paintings presenting the history of the Dominican Order. It comes from Dominican monastery in Zhovkva in Ukraine. There are also some more tombstones and epitaphs in the temple.

On the back of the church, closer to Vistula (at Stara street), we can see the Dominicans' monastery buildings.

Practical information:

The masses take place on weekdays at 7, 8.15, 12 and 18, and on Sundays and Holidays at 8, 9, 10.30, 12, 16, 18, 19.30 and 21.30. Apart from those hours it is usually open for tourists. More detailed information (only in Polish) can be found on the official website of the church: www.freta.dominikanie.pl.

The church seen from the outside:

The interior: