Long ago in 1405 Falenica existed. It was a small settlement near the Vistula River. The Parafia Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa in Warsaw-Falenica has a rich history tied to this land.
This parish wasn’t always here. Falenica itself changed location. The arrival of the Vistula railway altered its course. In 1939 a fierce battle raged here. The 13th Borderland Rifle Division and the 5th Lublin Horse Artillery Regiment fought bravely against the invading Germans. Half the buildings were destroyed. Eighty-four Polish soldiers died. One hundred and twenty-one were wounded. Seventeen hundred were taken prisoner.
Despite this devastation the spirit of Falenica endured. In 1927 Karol Hanneman a local landowner donated land for a church. A small wooden church was built in 1928. It was a simple structure. Its style resembled Gothic architecture. It stood on a hill a kilometer from the Falenica station.
Father Mieczysław Krolak the parish priest from Józefów near Otwock held Sunday masses there. A stone building an organist’s house followed. Then in 1933 Father Jan Rozbiewski arrived in Józefów. He was tasked with establishing a new parish in Falenica. Land for a cemetery was bought in Aleksandrów in 1934. The Parafia Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa was officially erected on December 8 1934.
The current church a three-aisled structure is quite different. Designed by Stefan Czarnecki in the neo-Romanesque style it was built between 1951 and 1959. Its classic harmony is striking. The main aisle has a coffered ceiling. The side aisles have cross vaults. Six massive columns support the structure. Their capitals bear intertwined Greek letters X for Christ and P for Savior. Two identical half-columns are embedded in the rear wall near the inner side doors.
Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński consecrated the church on August 31 1974. The interior boasts Zbigniew Loskot’s artwork. His frescoes and stained-glass windows are magnificent. The church’s facade displays a traditional Venetian glass mosaic depicting Jesus. It was created by local artist Paweł Przyrowski in 2001.
The Parafia Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa stands as a testament. It represents the resilience of the people of Falenica. It’s a place of peace and faith a vibrant community center. It’s a symbol of hope rising from the ashes of war. It’s a place of quiet contemplation and unwavering faith. A true hidden gem.