St. Martin's Parish in Krasiczyn

The Parish of St. Martin in Krasiczyn, located in the Archdiocese of Przemyśl, was established in 1625. Its history dates back to the early 16th century when Jakub of Siecin arrived in Śliwnica. As a leaseholder of royal estates, he built a defensive manor. His son, Stanisław Krasicki, contributed to the region's development by constructing a brick castle in 1584, which underwent a major reconstruction between 1598 and 1619. The use of the name "Krasiczyn" for the castle in 1602 and the founding of the town between 1615 and 1620 were linked to the aspirations of the local nobility. In 1616, King Sigismund III Vasa approved the plan to establish a parish, but the process faced resistance from the cathedral vicars' college, resulting in only a chaplaincy being created. The first chaplain was Fr. Jan Tarnowski. The construction of the church dedicated to St. Martin and St. Barbara encountered numerous difficulties, and in 1713, construction work was halted. In 1745, the parish was reactivated, and Ludwika Potocka née Mniszech invested in the church's construction, which was consecrated in 1760. Over the years, the parish gathered residents from many surrounding villages, and in 1939, it faced the brutality of Soviet troops, who devastated the church. Despite difficult times, in 2012, the rectorate of Tarnawce-Zalesie was established. As an interesting note, Cardinal Archbishop Adam Stefan Sapieha, who ordained Karol Wojtyła (the future Pope John Paul II) as a priest in 1946, originated from this parish. Currently, the parish has 1,452 faithful, and its filial churches are located in several nearby towns. The parish's history reflects architectural diversity and the cultural significance of the region, evidenced by its long pastoral traditions and connections with prominent church figures.