Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Piotrków Trybunalski

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Piotrków Trybunalski, known as the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Piotrków, is a Baroque monument designed by the Bernardine Fathers, located at 2 Słowackiego Street. The history of this site dates back to the 1560s, when the Bernardines began evangelizing in the region. Thanks to the efforts of Father Leonard Starczewski, a plot of land was purchased between 1624 and 1625 for the construction of a monastery and church in the Rokszyce Suburb. The brick church, built between 1632 and 1642, was consecrated in 1642. Its architecture features two towers and Baroque altars, which were added during the reconstruction following the damage the church suffered during the Swedish invasion of 1655–1657. The church was dedicated to the Finding of the Holy Cross and surrounded by walls and bastions. After severe damage in World War II, conservation work was carried out in the 1950s, and in 2017, three-century-old polychrome paintings were discovered. The image of Our Lady of Piotrków, placed in a side altar, has its origins in the wooden church from 1625 and has significantly contributed to the region's religious devotion. Commissioned by Father Starczewski and painted by a monk on a copper sheet, the image gained popularity due to an alleged miracle associated with its creation. The depiction of the Virgin Mary earned both aesthetic and spiritual recognition, leading to the foundation of a special altar by Stanisław Starczewski. The solemn coronation of the image took place in 2003, attended by Archbishop Władysław Ziółek and Pope John Paul II, who blessed the crowns for Our Lady of Piotrków in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska. The church not only serves a religious function but is also an important landmark on Piotrków's cultural map, a witness to history, and a venue for numerous religious events. An interesting fact is that during the communist era, the authorities of Piotrków did not return the monastery garden, converting it into a public park, which left a lasting impact on the site's history.