Did the angels really carry it? I’m talking about the Loreto House, the legendary home of Mary, mother of Jesus. Here in Warsaw, at the Virgo Lauretana, we have a fascinating echo of that legend. The Virgo Lauretana isn’t a grand cathedral. It’s a small chapel, a replica of the Santa Casa, the Holy House believed to have been miraculously transported from Nazareth to Loreto, Italy. Virgo Lauretana, nestled in the Praga district, is Warsaw’s oldest monument. Originally part of a larger Bernardine monastery and church complex, the Virgo Lauretana stands as a testament to time and resilience. King Władysław IV Vasa and Queen Cecilia Renata financed the chapel’s construction between 1640 and 1642. The royal architect, Constantino Tencalla, modeled it after the Basilica della Santa Casa in Loreto. He cleverly adapted the original Renaissance design to Baroque style. Inside, a statue of the Virgin Mary of Loreto, brought from Italy, once graced the interior. Queen Cecilia Renata even gifted golden crowns for the statue in 1641. The chapel, sadly, faced destruction during the Deluge by Swedish and Brandenburgian forces. It was later rebuilt. It was damaged again during the Kościuszko Uprising. In the 19th century, a Gothic cedar statue of the Madonna and Child from the demolished Skaryszew Church found a new home at the Virgo Lauretana. This statue eventually replaced the original Loreto Virgin statue on the main altar. The Virgo Lauretana miraculously survived the demolition of the Bernardine monastery around 1811. It was heavily damaged in the Warsaw Uprising. It was painstakingly reconstructed in 1953. Today, the Virgo Lauretana stands as a symbol of faith. It’s a quiet reminder of the enduring power of belief amidst the bustling city.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to