St. Florian's Cathedral

Warsaw, Poland

St. Florian's Cathedral with its 75-meter towers dominates eastern Warsaw's Praga district and highlight the cathedral’s role as a form of protest against the erstwhile Russian domination of Poland.

There has been a Catholic church presence in or around the site of the future church since 1583, but the impetus for creating a lasting and substantial church did not arrive until the late 19th century. The map of Europe was redrawn during the Congress of Vienna and the resulting territorial maneuvers placed the Duchy of Warsaw under the control of the Russian Empire, transforming it into the Congress Poland. Among other intrusions, over twenty Russian Orthodox churches were built in Poland. To protest against the perceived imposition of a foreign church, and in direct reaction to the monumental Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene built down the street, St Florian’s was built with two commanding 75-meter towers between 1897-1904. The church is named after St. Florian, the patron saint of professions associated with fire, such as firefighters, steelworkers, chimney sweeps, potters and bakers.

During and after the Siege of Warsaw, churches were used as a hiding place for Jews, the Warsaw Army and as a general refuge for civilians. St. Florian's was destroyed by the Germans as they withdrew from Poland in 1944 after the Warsaw Uprising. The church remained in ruins for several years, but by the 1950s a reconstruction effort slowly began with support from Praga residents. The rebuilt church was reopened in 1972.

St Florian's is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Warszawa-Praga and by order of the Holy See was raised to the rank of minor basilica in 1992. Over four hundred priests form the ministry in this diocese covering 1,274 square miles, divided into 160 parishes and serving approximately one million Polish Catholics.

St Florian's is built in a Gothic Revival style distinguished by two twenty-story towers facing Al. Solidarności, capped with bronze spires. Most of its exterior is made of red brick. Over the entrances are mosaic depictions of Jesus Christ and the emblem of the first bishop of Warsaw-Praga, Kazimierz Romaniuk, while the interior is decorated in red or white plaster and brick.

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Founded: 1897
Category: Religious sites in Poland

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Nicola Chessa (2 years ago)
From outside the cathedral is outstanding. It's definetely impressive how this church take the scene in the street and how it is visible from the other side of the river. The colours are nice matched for this style and it is beautiful during the day and the night too. I like to walk close to it because of its height, it feels like there's a huge view from there, I hope I'll be able to go up one day. For now I just try to catch some good shot from the ground. During the night the place is frequented by homeless which generally spend time in those benches to drink, they're not dangerous but it's better to keep attention.
Dursun Demir (2 years ago)
Looks fascinating from outside. Inside doors was closed. Close to Praski park and zoo.
Paweł (3 years ago)
This Cathedral was built in the beginning of 20th century in Neo-Gothic style during time when Poland was not on the map after partitions between the Russian, Prussian and Austro-Hungarian Empires. Warsaw was incorporated within the Russian Empire and that time it was almost impossible to get a permission to build a Catholic church. As a example not far from here there was already the Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene, the tallest building in Praga which was seen as a symbol of domination by the Russians. Church is beautiful, especially at night.
Priyadarshani Silva (3 years ago)
St. Florian’s Cathedral is a Catholic church and historical place which located in eastern warszawa. There architecture style is Gothic Revival and completed construction at 1904. The church has two tall towers and third lower one. Very attractive and one of beautiful church located in Poland ??.
Ashu Sharma (3 years ago)
The Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula (French: Cathédrale des Saints Michel et Gudule, Dutch: Kathedraal van Sint-Michiel en Sint-Goedele[2]) is a medieval Roman Catholic church in central Brussels, Belgium. It is dedicated to St. Michael and St. Gudula, the patron saints of the City of Brussels, and is considered to be one of the finest examples of Brabantine Gothic architecture.
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