The Church of St Francis of Assisi and St Clare, also known as ‘Little Assisi’, is a unique church and monastery complex in Tychy that draws on medieval architecture and Franciscan symbolism. Designed by the renowned architect Stanislaw Niemczyk, this church, which has been under construction for more than 20 years, is distinguished by its unique concept and rich symbolism alluding to the life and spirituality of St Francis of Assisi. The temple was planned on the plan of a Franciscan cross, which emphasises its deep links with tradition.
The history of the church dates back to May 1999, when Archbishop Damian Zimoń gave permission for the temple to be built on a plot of land donated by Grzegorz Czardybon. Just one month later, during his pilgrimage to Poland, Pope John Paul II consecrated the cornerstone. In October 1999, Bishop Stefan Cichy consecrated the building site, and work began in May 2000 under the supervision of Fr Wawrzyniec Jaworski. Over the years, the church has become the site of many initiatives, such as the annual organisation of a live nativity scene at Christmas.
Durski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In August 2002, during his visit to Kraków’s Blonie Park, Pope John Paul II also consecrated the cornerstone of the Divine Mercy Chapel, which was incorporated into the temple. Soon the relics of St Pio and St Clare were brought to the chapel, giving the place a special spiritual dimension.
The Church of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare impresses not only with its architecture, but also with the details that refer to the life and work of St. Francis. Constructed of light-coloured dolomite from Libyan and brown-coloured concrete, it refers to Umbrian architecture – the region from which St Francis came.
The building comprises an upper and lower church. The upper part contains the chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows, whose wooden ceiling and altar refer to the Assisi skyline. There is an additional octagonal turret on the altar, and opposite is a free-standing baptismal font, over which is placed a copy of the tomb of St Francis. The lower church houses two chapels inspired by Assisi – the Portiuncula and the chapel of the tomb of St Francis. It also houses the Chapel of the Divine Mercy and the Crypt of the Sacrament of Penance.
Symbolism is integral to the whole complex. The area on which Little Assisi was built was triangular in shape, and the former boundary of the site was marked by a statue of Our Lady and Child, founded in 1893. Five towers were planned for the church, referring to the wounds of Christ and the stigmata of St Francis: four 40-metre-high towers, symbolising the nails, and a fifth, made of steel, resembling a flame – to symbolise the heart of Jesus. Ultimately, this tower will reach a height of 70 metres.
From the beginning, the church and friary have been a space for meeting and prayer, uniting the local community around Franciscan values. Due to a lack of space for the cemetery, a columbarium for around 600 urns was created in 2010, responding to the needs of the faithful. With its expressive architecture and inspirational references to Assisi, Tychy’s Little Assisi has become a unique place of worship, pilgrimage and reflection for visitors.
Source: nowinytyskie.pl, tychy.naszemiasto.pl
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