Parafia Opatrzności Bożej w Warszawie-Wesołej

In 1933, a determined group of residents in Wesoła, Warsaw, formed a committee. Their goal was simple: build a chapel. Little did they know, their humble ambition would blossom into the magnificent Parafia Opatrzności Bożej. The Parafia Opatrzności Bożej, established in 1950 by Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, stands as a testament to faith and artistic vision. Land for this sacred space was generously donated by Prince Emanuel Bułhak, a local landowner and art patron. He envisioned a church inspired by early Christian basilicas of the Mediterranean. The Italian architect Luigi Malgherini brought this vision to life, designing a church reminiscent of Romanesque sacred sites. Construction began in 1935. By 1939, the red-brick structure stood complete, though it wouldn’t be consecrated until after World War II. The Parafia Opatrzności Bożej’s story doesn’t end with its construction. In the 1950s, a trapezoidal choir supported by pillars was added. A sacristy and stairs leading to the main entrance followed. A bell tower rose beside the church. In 1966, an altar designed by Krzysztof Henisz graced the presbytery. The church’s interior underwent a transformation in the late 1970s. Professor Jerzy Nowosielski, from the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków, adorned the nave and presbytery with Byzantine-style polychromes and Stations of the Cross. Above the altar, a praying Mary watches over a procession of saints. Her outstretched arms embrace the altar cross. This blend of Romanesque architecture and Byzantine art gives the Parafia Opatrzności Bożej a unique character. This artistic endeavor caused a stir among some parishioners, but Nowosielski’s work eventually earned recognition. In 2004, the church’s decor was listed in the register of movable monuments. The church itself, along with its grounds and cemetery, joined the register of immovable monuments in 2019.