Niepokalanów
Encyclopedia
Niepokalanów is a Roman Catholic religious community in Teresin
(near Warsaw
), Poland
founded in 1927 by Franciscan
Friar Maximilian Kolbe
, who was later canonized a saint of the Catholic Church. Also known as Immaculate City, at one time, it was the largest monastery
in the world, housing as many as 760 men. Quick growth of the Niepokalanów required more and more space, so now the area of the monastery reaches 28 ha.
During the Second World War, the monastery provided shelter to approximately 3,000 Polish and Jewish refugees from western Poland. Father Kolbe was arrested by Gestapo
and he died in Auschwitz concentration camp
in 1941. Because media evangelisation was forbidden, the friars in Niepokalanów tried to keep up common prayers and help for the prisoners and refugees. The courses of secret teaching were also held and Polish Red Cross circle functioned.
(since April 1980 called basilica minor). In June 1950, according to the decree of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, a new parish in Niepokalanów was established. The church was visited by Pope John Paul II during his 2nd Pastoral Visit in Poland, on the 18th of June 1983. The visit of the Pope made Niepokalanów famous not only in Poland, but also abroad.
Many pilgrims wanted to visit the place, sacred by activity of St. Maximilian. They came to Niepokalanów to pray in the local basilica, to see old chapel (one of the first buildings here, constructed in 1927) and to visit the Museum of St. Maximilian (called There was a Man). The monastery became also a place where the religious services and meeting are held.
Teresin, Sochaczew County
Teresin is a village in Sochaczew County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Teresin. It lies approximately east of Sochaczew and west of Warsaw....
(near Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
), Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
founded in 1927 by Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Friar Maximilian Kolbe
Maximilian Kolbe
Saint Maximilian Maria Kolbe OFM Conv was a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar, who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the Nazi German concentration camp of Auschwitz, located in German-occupied Poland during World War II.He was canonized on 10 October 1982 by Pope John Paul II, and...
, who was later canonized a saint of the Catholic Church. Also known as Immaculate City, at one time, it was the largest monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in the world, housing as many as 760 men. Quick growth of the Niepokalanów required more and more space, so now the area of the monastery reaches 28 ha.
Beginnings. The war
The facility served as a minor seminary and home for the Franciscan brothers, but also a center for charitable ministry and evangelization through the radio programmes and the distribution of printed materials. One of the magazines, The Knight of the Immaculate, countered religious apathy and had a press run of 750,000 copies a month. In 1930 father Kolbe founded a similar community in Nagasaki, Japan.During the Second World War, the monastery provided shelter to approximately 3,000 Polish and Jewish refugees from western Poland. Father Kolbe was arrested by Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
and he died in Auschwitz concentration camp
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
in 1941. Because media evangelisation was forbidden, the friars in Niepokalanów tried to keep up common prayers and help for the prisoners and refugees. The courses of secret teaching were also held and Polish Red Cross circle functioned.
Nowadays
After the war the printing house in Niepokalanów was reopened and The Knight of the Immaculate was issued again. In 1948-1954 there was built a new churchBasilica of Omni-mediatress of All Glories
The church in Niepokalanów, devoted to the BVM the Immaculate, the Omni-mediatress of All Glories, was designed by the architect from Cracow - Zygmunt Gawlik. It was built between 1948-1954, in difficult times for Poland. In June 1950 it become a parish church for a new parish in...
(since April 1980 called basilica minor). In June 1950, according to the decree of Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, a new parish in Niepokalanów was established. The church was visited by Pope John Paul II during his 2nd Pastoral Visit in Poland, on the 18th of June 1983. The visit of the Pope made Niepokalanów famous not only in Poland, but also abroad.
Many pilgrims wanted to visit the place, sacred by activity of St. Maximilian. They came to Niepokalanów to pray in the local basilica, to see old chapel (one of the first buildings here, constructed in 1927) and to visit the Museum of St. Maximilian (called There was a Man). The monastery became also a place where the religious services and meeting are held.
See also
- Basilica of Omni-mediatress of All GloriesBasilica of Omni-mediatress of All GloriesThe church in Niepokalanów, devoted to the BVM the Immaculate, the Omni-mediatress of All Glories, was designed by the architect from Cracow - Zygmunt Gawlik. It was built between 1948-1954, in difficult times for Poland. In June 1950 it become a parish church for a new parish in...
- history and architecture of basilica minor in Niepokalanów