Corpus Christi Basilica in Krakow

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located in Kraków, is a Roman Catholic place of worship with a rich history and a legend that tells of a stolen monstrance and miraculous lights over a swamp. The foundation of the temple dates back to around 1340 by Casimir the Great, and construction began in the 1340s. Work on the church was interrupted due to a plague epidemic and resumed in 1369. The presbytery was consecrated in 1401, and the main nave was completed in 1477. The church was built in the style of a three-nave basilica, featuring a freestanding tower and a spire. The main altar dates from the 17th century and combines elements of Italian architecture with Dutch decorative art. The interior is adorned with Baroque stalls, Mannerist confessionals, and outstanding paintings by Tomasz Dolabella, as well as monumental organs, which are the largest in Kraków. The church houses bells, with five of them ringing from the tower, reminding of the history and religious significance of this place. It is also worth noting that Pope John Paul II elevated the church to the status of a minor basilica in 2005. The site is a place of worship for St. Stanislaus Kazimierczyk and the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Passion cemetery surrounding the church, destroyed during land leveling, testifies to the medieval heritage of this place. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is an integral part of the cultural and historical landscape of Kraków, proudly bearing its rich history and religious significance.