Church of Our Lady Queen of Poland in Krakow

The Church of Our Lady Queen of Poland, known as the Ark of the Lord (Arka Pana), is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Nowa Huta, Kraków. Its construction began on the initiative of Father Józef Gorzelany between 1967 and 1977, based on a design by architect Wojciech Pietrzyk. The church's architecture resembles an ark and draws inspiration from the chapel in Ronchamp designed by Le Corbusier. The temple covers an area of 1,300 m² and can accommodate approximately 6,000 people, while a 70-meter cross towering above it symbolizes faith. The church is distinguished by numerous symbols, such as seven doors and seven steps leading to the altar, which refer to the sacraments and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The altar, carved from Carrara marble, is stylized to resemble a hand. The central point of the temple is the monumental sculpture "From Life to Life" depicting the crucified Christ, a work by Professor Bronisław Chromy. The walls are adorned with the Stations of the Cross by Mariusz Lipiński. In the crypt, there is the Chapel of Reconciliation with the "Polish Pietàs" by Antoni Rząsa and a figure of the Armored Mother of God, while a monument to John Paul II stands in front of the church. The church has been honored with the Pilgram Award and the Caritas Award for religious architecture. The organ, built by the German company Rudolf von Beckerath Orgelbau, has 44 voices and 3,244 pipes and was consecrated in 1979. The bells, donated by Catholics from the Netherlands and Belgium, play melodies of well-known church hymns. The history of the temple's creation is linked to the defense of the cross by the residents of Nowa Huta in 1960. Communist authorities eventually permitted construction, but in a different location than originally planned. Cardinal Karol Wojtyła blessed the cornerstone in 1969 and consecrated the church in 1977, dedicating it to Our Lady Queen of Poland. An interesting feature is the "moon rock" placed in the tabernacle, which has sparked controversy regarding its origin. The Ark of the Lord remains an important place of worship and tourism in Kraków, combining rich symbolism, architecture, and history.