The shape of the church is a valuable example of architecture of the Baroque period of the southern Mazovia.

History

The monastery in Opactwo was established by the Benedictines who were brought here from Provence, from St Giles monastery by a cup-bearer Sieciechowicz (a son of the famous Sieciech - palatine of Władysław I Herman) around 1122. It is believed that the first monastery was made of wood, while the church was built of brick. The last fragments of medieval structures include the remains of walls in the foundations of the existing church. Over centuries, the monastery was damaged multiple times. The current monastery buildings date back to 1733. A refectory was erected in 1780, while the abbey palace - in 1800. The church was constructed in the years 1739-1770 under the supervision of abbots Józef Kurdwanowski and Wawrzyniec Bułharewicz. Finishing works were conducted by Abbot Leonard Prokopowicz, owing to whom the interior was decorated with wall paintings in the years 1769-1779.

In 1819 the convent was disbanded and its property, except for the buildings, was taken over by the Russian government. Owing to the efforts of the parishioners, the temple was reconstructed in the years 1879-1884 and brought back to worship, however, as a parish church. It was probably at that time that the southern part of the monastery was demolished, leaving only a stone wall linking the former eastern wing with the priory intact. In the late 19th century a bell tower and a western fence with four chapels were erected.

During World War I the church and the monastery were highly damaged. During the 1920s only the church and selected post-monastery buildings were renovated. The destroyed south-western wing and a part of the south-eastern wing, remaining as a permanent ruin until now, have not been brought back to life. A part of the church area along with the abbey palace, which performs school and educational functions, was relinquished to the state. After the damages of the last World War, the church was restored in the years 1943-1946.

Description

This is the oldest monument of architecture in the Kozienice poviat. The monastery complex consists of: the parish church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a bell tower, a priory (currently a rectory), an abbey palace (currently the special school and education centre), a fence with chapels and fragments of the monastery, some of which have a permanent ruin status. If we face the front of the church, the former abbey palace, to which a direct cloister used to lead from the church, is positioned on the left. On the right, there is a priory (a current rectory) and a currently non-existent southern wing of the monastery, which included monks’ cells, a library, a refectory and utility rooms. Kitchens were located in the eastern wing, whose ruined fragments have been preserved. The church composition provides for a view corridor with a yard in front the front façade of the church, along with greenery; the entire complex was surrounded by a wall that includes chapels.

The current church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an example of Late Baroque sacred architecture. The architect and builder of the temple remains unknown. The building was erected on a Greek cross plan with shorter transept arms. Façades are wavy; a tripartite front façade with a tall plinth, partitioned by pilasters, crowned with a cast iron balcony. Particular attention should be drawn to the feature’s interior, adorned with illusionist wall paintings by Szymon Mańkowski, found on the walls and the vault. The main, painted altar with the figures of St Benedict and St Scholastica, was enriched by a wooden crucifix from the late 18th century and a scene of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the crest. The cupola presents a scene of Adoration of the Holy Trinity by St Benedict. Additionally, the medallions over box openings include portraits of, among other, Bolesław III Wrymouth and Sieciech, as well as images of abbots. Moreover, the historic equipment includes ornamental choir stalls in the presbytery, an organ from 1885 and a gold plated cabinet baptismal font. The church crypts include tombstones of nearly 280 monks.

The Benedictine centre in Opactwo was an important religious and cultural site, particularly as regards musical culture. The Academy of Cracow took care of the school located in the monastery. The teachers included, among others, Jan Sylwiusz of Czarnolas - the later-to-become professor of philosophy of the Academy of Cracow, and a poet Sebastian Klonowic. Jan Kochanowski also obtained elementary education here. The monastery had one of the largest libraries in the country.

The feature is open to the public.

Compiled by Bartłomiej Modrzewski, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Warsaw, 30-09-2014.

Bibliography

• Katalog zabytków sztuki w Polsce, t. III: województwo kieleckie, red. J. Z. Łoziński, B. Wolff, z. 6: powiat kozienicki, inwent. M. Kwiczala, K. Szczepkowska, Warszawa 1958.
• OPACTWO - Parafia pw. Wniebowzięcia NMP, serwis internetowy diecezji radomskiej, http://www.diecezja.radom.pl/parafia?&view=parafias&cid%5B%5D=14, dostęp: 30.09.2014.
• Piękno powiatu kozienickiego w fotografii, red. L. Domańska-Stankiewicz, D. Delekta, K. Zając, Kozienice 2011.
• J. Studziński, Zespół klasztorny oo. Benedyktynów, karta ewidencyjna tzw. biała, 1990.
• ks. W. Zdon, Opactwo Sieciechów. Kościół parafialny p.w. Wniebowzięcia N. M. P., folder informacyjny, b. m i r.
• Zespół kościelno-klasztorny benedyktynów, Mazowiecki System Informacji Bibliotecznej, http://www.msib.pl/Bazy_Tematyczne_MSIB/zabytki/dane.aspx?ID=12, dostęp: 30.09.2014.