The Chapel of Our Lady of Studzieniczna

The Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Studzieniczna, located on an island in Lake Studzieniczne, is an important religious and historical site in the Augustów region. It belongs to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Studzieniczna and the Parish of Our Lady of the Scapular. Its history dates back to at least 1728, when a copy of the image of Our Lady of Częstochowa began to be venerated on the island. In 1772, the hermit Wincenty Morawski arrived in Studzieniczna and, with the help of the local community, relocated a wooden chapel to this site. The chapel was enriched with altars containing votive offerings and paintings of saints, which contributed to the growing popularity of Studzieniczna as a pilgrimage destination. A new brick chapel was built in 1872 according to the design of engineer Ludwik Jeziorkowski, and towards the end of the 19th century, the island was connected to the mainland by a causeway. The chapel, designed as an octagonal rotunda in the Renaissance style, is topped with a small spire. It gained cultural significance through events such as the coronation of the image of Our Lady of Studzieniczna by Cardinal Józef Glemp in 1995 and the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1999, which was commemorated with a nearby monument. The chapel also served as a filming location for the 1983 movie *Karate po polsku* (Karate Polish Style). Adjacent to the chapel stands the Church of Our Lady of the Scapular, underscoring its importance in the spiritual and social life of the local community.