Saint Giles’ Church near Wawel Castle
Wersja polskaHeritage
The friars have taken pastoral care of this little church by the Wawel Hill since 1595. St. Giles church in Krakow was built in 1085 by prince Wladyslaw Herman in thanksgiving for the birth of his son Boleslaw Wrymouth. The current Gothic structure, one of the first brick buildings in town, dates from the early 1300’s. It underwent a thorough renovation in the years 1982-86.
Monuments
The altarpiece painting of St. Giles by an unknown author (early 1600’s). It used to be considered miraculous by the faithful who would donate vota (items commemorating miraculous healing through the saint’s intercession) until the beginning of the 20th century.
Choir stalls, originally from St. Hyacinth’s tomb chapel at Holy Trinity Basilica, moved to St. Giles in 1629. The Renaissance stalls are made of different kinds of marble, limestone, sandstone, and alabaster.
The late Renaissance high altar from the beginning of the 17th century, with the statues of saints. Two side altars and the wall mounted ambo date from the same period.
The crucifix is dated to 1520 and seats along with the statues of Our Lady and St. John (ca. 1470) on the Baroque three-leaf beam.
The image of the Madonna with the Child (on wood, 1500’s) and other smaller items dating from medieval to contemporary.
Services
Due to extensive renovations no services are held at St. Giles’ Church until further notice.
English Mass in Kraków
Masses in English, previously held at St. Giles’, are now celebrated at Our Lady of the Snows (Matki Bożej Śnieżnej), ul. Mikołajska 21. Learn more at https://krakow.dominikanie.pl/