The Basilica of the Humble Mother of God in Rudy

The Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rudy is a historic church dating back to the 14th century. Once a Cistercian abbey, it now forms part of the Post-Cistercian Monastery and Palace Complex and serves as an Educational and Formation Center of the Diocese of Gliwice. In 1995, the church was designated as the diocesan sanctuary of Our Lady of Rudy, and in 2009, it was elevated to the status of a minor basilica. Built in the Gothic style with Romanesque elements, the church features a three-aisle basilica layout and distinctive pointed-arch windows. The chancel and adjoining side chapels are square in form, and the interior is adorned with ribbed cross vaults. Originally built without a tower, the church gained a Baroque façade and a new porch in the 17th century. During an 18th-century renovation, the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary was added, and some decorative elements were altered. The interior of the basilica suffered severe damage in a fire in 1945 but was subsequently rebuilt, with restoration works continuing until 2000. Notably, the basilica houses relics of St. Valentine and fragments of the True Cross. A key object of veneration is the image of the Humble Mother of God, dating back to the mid-15th century, which is likely a copy of an earlier painting. This image survived various historical upheavals, including Hussite invasions and the Reformation. Pilgrimages to Rudy played a significant role in the sanctuary’s history, reaching their peak in the 18th century. These traditions were suppressed during the communist era after World War II, but since 1995, the sanctuary has once again attracted pilgrims. The coronation of the image by Pope John Paul II in 1999 further intensified Marian devotion in the region.