Pilgrimage to Poland – Day 2 – Archcathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

In the heart of Old Town, Warsaw, stands the Archcathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.

St John’s is one of three major cathedrals in the city, but it is the only church that also possesses the title of an archcathedral. It is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Warsaw and one of Poland’s national pantheons. Along with the old town, the church has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Archcathedral is a Gothic-style church that was almost completely destroyed during World War II and has since been restored. The cathedral is one of the oldest churches in Warsaw, dating back to the 14th century. 

All translations were performed using Google Translate.

This plaque translates to “Archcathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist”.

This image shows a detail of the bronze door of St. John’s Archcathedral in Warsaw

Stefan Wyszyński was the unquestionable spiritual leader of the Polish nation, credited with the survival of Polish Christianity in the face of repression and persecution during the 1945–1989 Communist regime. He himself was imprisoned for three years, and is considered by many to be one of Poland’s national heroes.

Beautiful stained glass windows.

Note the PW Anchor in the lower left corner of this window. This symbol, known as the Kotwica, in Poland, especially in Warsaw. This was the emblem of the Polish Underground State during World War II. It is a powerful symbol of Polish national resistance, sacrifice, and the struggle for independence against the Nazi German occupation. 

This sculpture is titled “The Lamb of God.” Here we see St. John the Baptist, who is shown holding a cross and pointing towards the Lamb of God. 

The main Altar in St. John the Baptist Archcathedral, Warsaw.

The translation tells it all. “1525 – Baryczkowski Crucifix – 2025, Jubilee Cross in the Archdiocese of Warsaw”. No wonder they keep it behind a locked screen.

Statue of Jesus. The text on the banner mentions a plenary indulgence, a remission of temporal punishment for sin, for the souls in purgatory. 

The last Mazovian Dukes, Stanislaw and Janusz, buried in the vault under the presbytery. In 1519, fulfilling their duties as Polish vassals, Stanisław and Janusz III intervened in the Polish-Teutonic War, sending auxiliary troops to the Polish King, and in the winter of 1519-1520 they personally captured several towns in Masuria. At the same time, Stanisław secretly entered into talks with the Teutonic Knights for a ceasefire, which finally took place in December 1520, a few months before a peace treaty ended the war between Poland and the Teutonic Order. [Reference]

This is a memorial plaque is dedicated to Polish soldiers who fought against communism and were buried in unmarked graves. The text on the plaque includes the years “1944” and “1963,” which likely mark the period of struggle.

We have covered so much during our first full day (Day 2 of the pilgrimage) and its still not even mid-afternoon. Next we will visit the St. Maximillian Kolbe Museum and the Shrine to Our Mary Immaculate.

Thanks for following along,

Mark