The Wawel Cathedral (Polish: Katedra Wawelska), formally titled the Archcathedral Basilica of Saint Stanislaus and Saint Wenceslaus, (Polish: Bazylika archikatedralna św. Stanisława i św. Wacława) is a Catholiccathedral situated on Wawel Hill in Kraków, Poland. Nearly 1000 years old, it is part of the Wawel Castle Complex and is a national sanctuary which served as the coronation site of Polish monarchs.
The current Gothic cathedral is the third edifice on this site; the first was constructed and destroyed in the 11th century and the second one, constructed in the 12th century, was destroyed by a fire in 1305. The construction of the existing church began in the 14th century on the orders of Bishop Nanker. Over time, the building was expanded by successive rulers resulting in its versatile and eclectic architectural composition. There are examples of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassical and Neogothic elements in the cathedral's façade and interior. The exterior is adorned by side chapels and representative mausoleums, most notable being the golden-domed Sigismund's Chapel.
It is the official seat of the Archbishop of Kraków and of the Archdiocese of Kraków. A symbol of Polish statehood and faith, the cathedral hosts important religious events and annual celebrations. Karol Wojtyła, who in 1978 became Pope John Paul II, the day after his ordination to the priesthood offered his first Mass as a priest at the Wawel Crypt on 2 November 1946, and was ordained Kraków's auxiliary bishop in the cathedral on 28 September 1958.[1]
The cathedral comprises a nave with aisles, transepts with aisles, a choir with double aisles, and an apse with ambulatory and radiating chapels. The main altar, located in the apse, was founded about 1650 by Bishop Piotr Gembicki and created by Giovanni Battista Gisleni. The altar painting of Crucified Christ by Marcin Blechowski is from the 17th century.[2] Over the main altar stands a tall canopy of black marble supported by four pillars, designed by Giovanni Battista Trevano and Matteo Castelli between 1626 and 1629. Underneath the canopy is placed a silver coffin of national patron Stanislaus of Szczepanów (also Stanisław Szczepanowski) created between 1669 and 1671 after the previous one (donated in 1512 by King Sigismund I the Old) was stolen by the Swedes in 1655.[3]
Sigismund's Chapel, or Zygmunt Chapel ("Kaplica Zygmuntowska"),[4] adjoining the southern wall of the cathedral, is one of the most notable pieces of architecture in Kraków and perhaps "the purest example of Renaissance architecture outside Italy."[4] Financed by Sigismund I the Old, it was built between 1517 and 1533 by Bartolommeo Berrecci, a Florentine Renaissance architect, who spent most of his career in Poland.
A square-based chapel with a golden dome, it houses the tombs of its founder and those of his children, King Sigismund II Augustus and Anna Jagiellon (Jagiellonka).
The iconic three towers: Sigismund Tower, Clock Tower, and Silver Bell Tower
Main gate between the Holy Cross Chapel (right) and Holy Trinity Chapel (left)
The Wawel Cathedral has been the main burial site for Polish monarchs since the 14th century. As such, it has been significantly extended and altered over time as individual rulers have added multiple burial chapels.
Schematic of Wawel Hill showing the location of the Wawel CathedralBurial chambers beneath Wawel Cathedral: A-I Royal Crypts (B St. Leonard's Crypt), J Crypt of National Poets, K Crypt of the Archbishops.
^George Weigel (2005). Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II. Harper Perennial. p. 81. ISBN0-06-073203-2.
^"Wawel". www.integracja.org (in Polish). Retrieved 2010-09-11.
^(in English and German) Adam Bujak, Stanisław Bogdanowicz (1997). Die polnischen Kathedralen (Polish Cathedrals). Biały Kruk. p. 32. ISBN83-907760-1-4.
^ abCODART, an international network of curators of art from the Low Countries, . Archived from the original on 2005-12-02. Retrieved 2007-12-23. Accessed 2007-12-23
^Marek Strzala. "Royal tombs" (in Polish). Krakow-info.com. Retrieved 2010-09-11.
External linksEdit
Media related to Wawel Cathedral at Wikimedia Commons
Wawel Cathedral official website
October 14, 2023
wawel, cathedral, polish, katedra, wawelska, formally, titled, archcathedral, basilica, saint, stanislaus, saint, wenceslaus, polish, bazylika, archikatedralna, stanisława, wacława, catholic, cathedral, situated, wawel, hill, kraków, poland, nearly, 1000, year. The Wawel Cathedral Polish Katedra Wawelska formally titled the Archcathedral Basilica of Saint Stanislaus and Saint Wenceslaus Polish Bazylika archikatedralna sw Stanislawa i sw Waclawa is a Catholic cathedral situated on Wawel Hill in Krakow Poland Nearly 1000 years old it is part of the Wawel Castle Complex and is a national sanctuary which served as the coronation site of Polish monarchs Wawel CathedralKatedra Wawelska Polish Wawel Cathedral on Wawel Hill Sigismund s Chapel right with a gold dome and Vasa dynasty chapel to the left ReligionAffiliationCatholicProvinceArchdiocese of KrakowRiteLatinEcclesiastical or organizational statusRoyal Arch cathedral BasilicaStatusActiveLocationLocationKrakow PolandGeographic coordinates50 03 17 N 19 56 07 E 50 0546 N 19 9354 E 50 0546 19 9354ArchitectureTypeChurchStyleRomanesque Gothic Renaissance Baroque NeoclassicalCompleted11th centuryThe current Gothic cathedral is the third edifice on this site the first was constructed and destroyed in the 11th century and the second one constructed in the 12th century was destroyed by a fire in 1305 The construction of the existing church began in the 14th century on the orders of Bishop Nanker Over time the building was expanded by successive rulers resulting in its versatile and eclectic architectural composition There are examples of Romanesque Gothic Renaissance Baroque Neoclassical and Neogothic elements in the cathedral s facade and interior The exterior is adorned by side chapels and representative mausoleums most notable being the golden domed Sigismund s Chapel It is the official seat of the Archbishop of Krakow and of the Archdiocese of Krakow A symbol of Polish statehood and faith the cathedral hosts important religious events and annual celebrations Karol Wojtyla who in 1978 became Pope John Paul II the day after his ordination to the priesthood offered his first Mass as a priest at the Wawel Crypt on 2 November 1946 and was ordained Krakow s auxiliary bishop in the cathedral on 28 September 1958 1 Contents 1 Interior 1 1 Sigismund s Chapel 2 Royal chapels and crypts 2 1 Crypt of National Poets 3 Notable burials 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksInterior EditThe cathedral comprises a nave with aisles transepts with aisles a choir with double aisles and an apse with ambulatory and radiating chapels The main altar located in the apse was founded about 1650 by Bishop Piotr Gembicki and created by Giovanni Battista Gisleni The altar painting of Crucified Christ by Marcin Blechowski is from the 17th century 2 Over the main altar stands a tall canopy of black marble supported by four pillars designed by Giovanni Battista Trevano and Matteo Castelli between 1626 and 1629 Underneath the canopy is placed a silver coffin of national patron Stanislaus of Szczepanow also Stanislaw Szczepanowski created between 1669 and 1671 after the previous one donated in 1512 by King Sigismund I the Old was stolen by the Swedes in 1655 3 nbsp The main gilded altar established in about 1650 nbsp Cenotaph of king Wladyslaw of Varna nbsp Tomb of king Casimir III the Great nbsp Sarcophagus of St Stanislaus nbsp Sacristy nbsp King Stephen Bathory s tomb monumentSigismund s Chapel Edit Further information Sigismund s Chapel Sigismund s Chapel or Zygmunt Chapel Kaplica Zygmuntowska 4 adjoining the southern wall of the cathedral is one of the most notable pieces of architecture in Krakow and perhaps the purest example of Renaissance architecture outside Italy 4 Financed by Sigismund I the Old it was built between 1517 and 1533 by Bartolommeo Berrecci a Florentine Renaissance architect who spent most of his career in Poland A square based chapel with a golden dome it houses the tombs of its founder and those of his children King Sigismund II Augustus and Anna Jagiellon Jagiellonka nbsp The iconic three towers Sigismund Tower Clock Tower and Silver Bell Tower nbsp Main gate between the Holy Cross Chapel right and Holy Trinity Chapel left nbsp Vasa chapel nbsp Holy Cross chapel nbsp Entrance to the Wawel cathedral from the west nbsp Sigismund s ChapelRoyal chapels and crypts EditThe Wawel Cathedral has been the main burial site for Polish monarchs since the 14th century As such it has been significantly extended and altered over time as individual rulers have added multiple burial chapels nbsp Schematic of Wawel Hill showing the location of the Wawel Cathedral nbsp Burial chambers beneath Wawel Cathedral A I Royal Crypts B St Leonard s Crypt J Crypt of National Poets K Crypt of the Archbishops The crypts beneath the Wawel Cathedral hold the tombs of Polish kings national heroes generals and revolutionaries including rulers of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth such as John III Sobieski and his consort Marie Casimire Maria Kazimiera the remains of Tadeusz Kosciuszko the leader of a Polish national insurrection and Brigadier General in the American Revolutionary War Wladyslaw Sikorski Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile and Commander in Chief of the Polish Armed Forces Marshal Jozef Pilsudski founder of the Second Polish Republic 5 Pope John Paul II celebrated his first mass in St Leonard s Crypt He considered being buried at the Wawel Cathedral also at one point in time while some of the people of Poland had hoped that following ancient custom his heart would be brought there and kept alongside the remains of the great Polish rulers John Paul II was buried under St Peter s Basilica a papal burial site since antiquity instead Crypt of National Poets Edit Here are buried the national bards Adam Mickiewicz laid to rest there in 1890 and Juliusz Slowacki 1927 Notable burials EditMonarchs SaintsWladyslaw I the Elbow high Casimir III the Great Jadwiga Wladyslaw II Jagiello Casimir IV John I Albert Sigismund I the Old Sigismund II Augustus Stephen Anna Jagiellonka Sigismund III Wladyslaw IV John II Casimir Michael John III Sobieski Augustus II the Strong Stanislaus the Martyr JadwigaOthers Elizabeth Bonifacia Adam Stefan Sapieha Tadeusz Kosciuszko Jozef Pilsudski Wladyslaw Sikorski Jozef Poniatowski Adam Mickiewicz Lech Kaczynski and Maria Kaczynska Juliusz Slowacki Cyprian Norwid soil from his grave in France Gallery Edit nbsp The Sigismund s Tower which contains the Sigismund s Bell nbsp The cathedral s treasury nbsp Stained glass window in the Holy Trinity Chapel nbsp The sarcophagus of Jadwiga of Poland nbsp Tadeusz Kosciuszko MonumentSee also EditRoyal coronations in Poland The Royal Road in Krakow Polish Crown Jewels Szczerbiec Tomb of Casimir IV Jagiellon Poznan Cathedral Gniezno Cathedral Sigismund Bell St John s Cathedral Warsaw List of Gothic Cathedrals in EuropeNotes EditReferences Edit George Weigel 2005 Witness to Hope The Biography of Pope John Paul II Harper Perennial p 81 ISBN 0 06 073203 2 Wawel www integracja org in Polish Retrieved 2010 09 11 in English and German Adam Bujak Stanislaw Bogdanowicz 1997 Die polnischen Kathedralen Polish Cathedrals Bialy Kruk p 32 ISBN 83 907760 1 4 a b CODART an international network of curators of art from the Low Countries The CODART List Study trip to Gdansk Warsaw and Krakow 18 25 April 2004 Museums with Dutch art and Flemish art Archived from the original on 2005 12 02 Retrieved 2007 12 23 Accessed 2007 12 23 Marek Strzala Royal tombs in Polish Krakow info com Retrieved 2010 09 11 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Wawel Cathedral at Wikimedia Commons Wawel Cathedral official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wawel Cathedral amp oldid 1178475112, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
