Church of the Holy Cross in Kraków

The Church of the Holy Cross in Kraków is a Roman Catholic place of worship with a rich history, located in the Old Town at St. Spirit Square. It was built in the 14th century on the site of an earlier wooden church, which according to tradition was founded by Bishop Pełka. The Order of the Holy Spirit, established at the church in 1244 by Bishop Jan Prandota, ran a hospital here. The church stands out for its simple Gothic architecture, featuring a brick nave and a stone chancel that epitomizes the Gothic style in Kraków. The interior is adorned with a palm vault supported by a central pillar, as well as a 19th-century reconstruction of 16th-century paintings. One of its most valuable elements is the "Mirror of a Sinner" – a unique allegorical depiction of an old man in Polish painting, reflecting the influence of Dutch prints. The altars are particularly noteworthy, including the main 17th-century altar with a crucifix and the altar of St. Anne depicting the Education of Mary, inspired by a work by Rubens. The church has been renovated multiple times, including after a fire in 1528, during 19th-century restorations, and in the 1960s, when Bishop Karol Wojtyła preached retreats for artists here. The church houses numerous epitaphs, a Gothic triptych, and remnants of old confessionals, attesting to its cultural significance. The rectory adjacent to the church, considered the oldest residential building in Kraków, can be admired as part of the complete historical scenery. The Church of the Holy Cross is not only an important architectural monument but also a center of spiritual and cultural life, bridging the past with the present.