St. Anthony of Padua Sanctuary in Niewodnica Kościelna

The Sanctuary of St. Anthony of Padua in Niewodnica Kościelna, located in the municipality of Turośń Kościelna, is one of the nine sanctuaries of the Archdiocese of Białystok. The history of the parish dates back to January 30, 1596, when the Korycki family founded the first wooden church dedicated to the Holy Trinity. After the church was destroyed by a storm in 1884, thanks to the determination of the faithful and the clergy, permission was obtained to rebuild it. The new single-nave church in the Neo-Gothic style, designed by Romuald Samotya-Lenczewski, was completed on October 5, 1889, and its consecration took place on October 22 of the same year. The church was dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua due to the growing devotion to this saint, reflected in the presence of a miraculous image. The main altar features an image of Our Lady of Częstochowa from 1890, while the side altars display images of St. Anthony and statues of Christ crowned with thorns. The miraculous image of St. Anthony, which drew the faithful to the sanctuary, is associated with Franciscan monks who fled from Lithuania to escape the Russians between 1654 and 1656. The site gained particular significance during feast days, such as those celebrated on June 13, the feast of St. Anthony, and on the first Sunday after July 16 in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In 1860, during a solemn service for the liberation of the Homeland, crowds of believers gathered in Niewodnica, highlighting the devotion to St. Anthony and the importance of the site in the life of the local community. Thus, the sanctuary is not only a place of prayer but also an important cultural and historical landmark of the region.