Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Święta Woda

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sorrows in Święta Woda, located in Wasilków, is a renowned place of worship, established as an archdiocesan sanctuary in 1997. The sanctuary complex includes a church, a grotto, a hill of crosses, a miraculous spring, chapels, and an open-air altar. The history of this site dates back to the Middle Ages, with the first documented healing miracle occurring in 1719. This event led to the construction of the first chapel, funded by the healed nobleman, and placed under the care of Basilian hermits. In the 18th century, the site gained prominence after being granted an indulgence privilege. Following the dissolution of the Uniate Church in 1839, the veneration of Our Lady of Sorrows was suspended. After World War I, in 1921, the site was taken over by Roman Catholic clergy, and on August 27, 2006, the image of Our Lady of Sorrows was enthroned. In 1876, an Orthodox chapel was built on the site of the former wooden chapel, which was destroyed during wartime and later rebuilt in 1949 by Father Wacław Rabczyński. It was also his initiative to construct a grotto modeled after the one in Lourdes. In 1997, Archbishop Stanisław Szymecki established the sanctuary, and its first custodian, Father Alfred Butwiłowski, modernized the facility by building a rectory and a Pilgrim-Tourist Center. The site features a "Hill of Crosses," where votive crosses are erected, and in 2013, the Smoleńsk Cross was unveiled to commemorate the victims of the Smolensk air disaster. The sanctuary hosts indulgences in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Our Lady of Sorrows, as well as pilgrimages on foot, including a special one for women in May. Święta Woda is a significant place not only spiritually but also historically and culturally, showcasing rich traditions associated with Marian devotion and set within a beautiful natural environment.