Description of the attraction
Dominican Church of St. Nicholas - one of the oldest churches in Gdansk, was created at the end of the 12th century. The first small church dedicated to St. Nicholas was built in 1185. It was created at the crossroads of two important trade routes: the ancient merchant route and the route leading from the royal castle to Pomerania. Both local residents and visiting merchants and sailors came to the church. In January 1227, the Pomor prince Svyatopolk handed over the church to the Dominican Order in the person of Jacek Odrovac. Soon the church was turned into a monastery. In 1260, Pope Alexander IV granted privileges to Gdansk; since then, pilgrims began to come to the city. In 1348, work began to expand the monastery. In 1487, the star vault appeared, the octagonal vault was completed.
During the Reformation, the monastery was plundered and partially destroyed in 1525 and 1576. The monks were expelled from the monastery, some were killed. After the intervention of King Sigismund Augustus in 1567, the Dominicans returned to the monastery.
In October 1587, King Sigismund III vowed his obligations towards the republic in a monastery. From that moment on, a period of prosperity began. Here not only the spiritual life flourished, but also funds appeared for the purchase of a new organ, reconstruction of the altar. At the end of the 17th century, a Gothic chapel was built in the northern part of the altar. In 1834, the Dominicans left the city, and the church became one of the 4 Catholic in Gdansk.
During the Second World War, the church was not destroyed. According to legend, the priest bribed the soldiers of the Red Army with good alcohol, so the soldiers did not plunder or burn down the church. In April 1945, after 111 years of absence, the Dominicans reappeared in Gdansk and in the church.
In the late 60s, the church became a gathering place for oppositionists. Father Louis Vishnevsky organized meetings attended by high school students and later by students and politicians.
