Description of the attraction
Church of St. Anthony of Padua is a baroque church built in the 17th century, located in Warsaw.
The construction of the first church for the reformist order on this site began in 1635 by order of King Sigismund III. The decision to build a church was associated with gratitude for the capture of Smolensk on June 13, 1611. The patron saint of the future church, Anthony of Padua, was also chosen by date.
In 1657, the wooden church was destroyed by the Swedes, after which the construction of a stone church began. In 1679, the church, designed by the architect Joseph Belotti, was consecrated by the bishop from Poznan, Stefan Wierzbowski. The sculptures that adorn the church were created by the Polish sculptor John George Plesh.
The church was often visited by Jan III of Saxony, and in 1735 a small prayer house was built for August III and his wife.
In 1866 the parish was founded. In 1895, the Sagrada Familia chapel was built with an altar by Vincent Bogacek. 12 years later, the chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus appeared in the church.
The church was partially destroyed in 1944 during the hostilities. The side altar, organ and stucco were badly damaged. The church was rebuilt in 1950-1956 according to the project of Charz Shimansky. The main altar was consecrated by Cardinal Stefan Vyshinsky on January 18, 1969.
Today, the original elements of the decoration that have survived to this day deserve special attention in the church: the Sagrada Familia chapel, internal galleries, in which there are tombstones of some artists.
