The Sanctuary of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lipinki

The figure of Our Lady of Lipinki, carved from linden wood, boasts a rich history and exceptionally valuable artistic qualities. Standing 121 cm tall, it depicts Mary as the Assumed Queen with the Child Jesus in her arms, in a contrapposto pose, adorned in a golden dress and crown. Its history is not fully known; neither the time of the figure's creation nor the identity of its creator is certain, although it is suspected to have originated in Krakow. Legend claims that the figure has Hungarian origins, but historians reject this. It is likely that the figure was commissioned by the townspeople of Biecz for the parish church in Męcina Wielka, whose parish was closed due to wars and plague. As a result of relocation, the figure ended up in Lipinki, where its veneration truly began. The Beskid village of Lipinki, home to the sanctuary, possesses an equally rich heritage of traditions and culture, and its churches evolved from wooden structures to Renaissance-style brick buildings, and later to contemporary forms. Fires in 1912 and 1972 necessitated reconstructions, with the 1972 fire nearly completely destroying the church, although the figure largely survived despite damages. The coronation of the figure, which took place in August 1980, strengthened the Marian devotion that has flourished since the 17th century, attracting numerous pilgrims. The sanctuary in Lipinki has become one of the main places of worship in the Rzeszów diocese, with particular emphasis on intentions related to agriculture and sobriety. Annually, it is visited by 50–70 pilgrimage groups, amounting to around 10,000 pilgrims, especially during the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 2005, the consecration of the new church on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the coronation and the guardianship of the figure crowned over five centuries of Marian devotion in Lipinki.