Sacred
Paintings and Sculptures in Krakow Churches
Krakow’s
churches
shelter some 25 sacred images whose supernatural powers are
well established. Probably the best known is picture of the
Merciful
Christ in the Sanctuary
of Divine Mercy,
painted according to a vision of St. Faustyna Kowalska in
1931.
Miraculous
Mural in Krakow's Carmelite Church
Our Lady of Piasek
icon, painted by the end of the 15th century on the wall of once
extramural Carmelite church of the Virgin Mary’s
Annunciation at 19 Karmelicka street has been most admired
among the historic paintings in Krakow. Tradition has it that a
pious monk, who had only begun the fresco, found his work
miraculously finished overnight and glowing with an unworldly
light that gathered a crowd of bewildered spectators. Nowadays
the place is well worth visiting for the splendid baroque of
the quiet Lady Chapel if nothing else.
Cross
of the Black Christ in the Krakow Cathedral
Yet the most visible of
all miraculous images of Krakow is the 14th-century crucifix
of Queen-Saint Jadwiga
(Hedwig) in the tourist-swarmed Wawel
Cathedral. This
remarkable 13-foot-tall Gothic sculpture of The Savior
allegedly spoke to the queen on several occasions. Later on
the Holy See declared that hearing Mass here could release one
soul from the purgatory each time.
The
14th-century crucifix
of Queen-Saint Jadwiga
in the Wawel
Cathedral
allegedly spoke to her.
Krakow's
other miracle pictures
More
sacred images with
well-established reputation for making wonders on behalf of
the faithful can be found in several churches in Krakow’s
historic center. So, there is the consoling picture of the
Sorrowful Mother of God in the chapel of the basilica of St.
Francis’ at the Franciszkanska Street. At the same time,
prayer before the high altar’s crucifix in the church of St.
John’s at the Sw. Jana Street can help in freeing prisoners
of war and hostages. While the Black Madonna icon in Our Lady
of Czestochowa’s chapel of the
basilica of the Virgin Mary’s
at the Grand Square borrows its powers from Poland’s holiest
image.
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