St. Anthony's Basilica in Rybnik

The Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua in Rybnik, built between 1903 and 1906, is the tallest church in Upper Silesia, reaching a height of 95 meters. Its design is the work of Ludwig Schneider, a regional architect from Opole, and the construction was overseen by Father Franciszek Brudniok. The church, made of high-quality bricks from a local brickyard, was consecrated on August 29, 1907, by Father Dr. Tomasz Reginek. Inside, there is a statue of St. Anthony dating back to the 16th or 17th century, as well as an organ built between 1960 and 1965. After the fire of the northern tower in 1959 and wartime damage in 1945, the basilica was thoroughly rebuilt. An interesting fact is that on the occasion of the church's 100th anniversary in 2006, the bell "Divine Mercy," one of the largest in Silesia, was donated, and 15 carillons were installed, which play the melody of the hymn "Antoni, patronie ty nasz" ("Anthony, Our Patron"). In 1993, Pope John Paul II granted the church the title of a minor basilica, which significantly enhanced its status as a center of religious and cultural life in the region. The Rybnik basilica is a venue for numerous cultural initiatives, including concerts, and its interior is adorned with new stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the life of St. Anthony. It is also worth mentioning the many administrators of the church, each of whom contributed to its development and maintenance, as well as the significant role it played in the history of the local community, including during the communist era in Poland, when messages from the pulpit regularly conveyed opposition to the regime. The history of the basilica is inextricably linked with the history of the city and the region, making it an important landmark on the map of Upper Silesia.