On June 27, 1877, as the Angelus bells rang over this small Warmian village, thirteen-year-old Justyna Szafryńska saw a brilliant light appear above a maple tree near the parish church. Within the light sat a beautiful lady on a throne, surrounded by angels, holding the Child Jesus in her arms. When the girl asked who she was, the lady replied in Polish: "Jestem Najświętsza Maryja Panna Niepokalanie Poczęta"—"I am the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculately Conceived." Asked what she desired, Our Lady responded simply: "I wish you to pray the Rosary every day."
For nearly three months, the Blessed Virgin appeared repeatedly to Justyna and to twelve-year-old Barbara Samulowska, speaking to them in Polish at a time when the language had been banned in schools throughout Prussian-controlled Warmia. These remain the only Marian apparitions in Poland to receive official Church approval, making Gietrzwałd one of the most spiritually significant pilgrimage destinations in Central Europe.
The sanctuary draws approximately one million pilgrims annually who come to venerate the sixteenth-century miraculous painting of Our Lady of Gietrzwałd, pray at the Chapel of the Apparitions, walk the Rosary path lined with fifteen chapels, and draw water from the spring blessed by the Blessed Virgin during the apparitions.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Gietrzwałd was founded in 1352 within the dominions of the Teutonic Order and received its parish dedication to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on March 31, 1500. Marian devotion flourished here long before the apparitions—a pietà dated to 1425 remains the oldest witness to Marian veneration in the village, and a miraculous image of the Madonna with Child, painted in the second half of the sixteenth century, drew pilgrims from across Warmia.
The summer of 1877 transformed this quiet parish into one of the world's great Marian sanctuaries. The day after Justyna's first vision, Barbara Samulowska also witnessed the apparition while praying the Rosary at the foot of the same tree. Word spread rapidly, and pilgrims began streaming to Gietrzwałd. The local bishop, Filip Krementz, initiated an investigation. Three physicians examined the visionaries during the apparitions, documenting physiological changes—slowed pulse, cooled extremities, fixed gaze—that could not be explained naturally.
That the Blessed Virgin spoke Polish carried profound significance. The language had been suppressed throughout the region, and Catholics faced considerable pressure to abandon their faith and heritage. Mary's choice to speak in the vernacular of her "Polish children" strengthened national and religious identity during a time of persecution.
The apparitions reached their climax during the three-day celebration of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary from September 7-9, 1877, when approximately 50,000 pilgrims gathered in this small village. On September 8, Our Lady blessed a nearby spring, and pilgrims have attributed healing properties to its waters ever since. The final apparition occurred on September 16, when the Blessed Virgin blessed a statue of herself in the new chapel and departed with the words: "Pray the Rosary zealously!"
Following the apparitions, Father Augustyn Weichsel promoted the devotion despite numerous court trials and fines under Prussian law. The church was significantly enlarged between 1878 and 1884 under architect Arnold Güldenpfennig. On September 10, 1967, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński crowned the miraculous image with papal crowns granted by Pope Paul VI. On February 2, 1970, Pope Paul VI elevated the church to the dignity of a Minor Basilica.
The centennial celebrations of September 1977 marked a watershed moment. Bishop Józef Drzazga of Warmia formally recognized the apparitions as worthy of belief and in compliance with Christian faith and morality. Cardinal Karol Wojtyła—soon to become Pope John Paul II—presided over the celebrations. Since 1945, the Canons Regular of the Lateran have served as guardians of the sanctuary.
One of the visionaries, Barbara Samulowska, entered the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul and served as a missionary in Guatemala for over fifty years until her death in 1950. Her cause for beatification was opened in 2005, and she now bears the title Servant of God.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Gietrzwałd
The sanctuary complex sits on a gentle hill in the center of the village, enclosed by a stone wall. The grounds encompass the basilica, the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Rosary path with fifteen chapels, the miraculous spring, the Stations of the Cross, the Chapel of Saint Joseph, and the Pilgrim House.
Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Bazylika Narodzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny
The first wooden chapel was erected shortly after the village's founding in 1352. A brick and stone Gothic church was built before 1500 and consecrated on March 31 of that year. The church was significantly expanded between 1878 and 1884 following the apparitions, when architect Arnold Güldenpfennig designed a neo-Gothic addition that seamlessly connected with the medieval structure. The soaring red-brick tower dominates the Warmian landscape.
The basilica houses the miraculous image of Our Lady of Gietrzwałd in the main altar—a sixteenth-century painting of the Hodegetria type depicting Mary holding the Child Jesus, surrounded by angels. This image, mentioned as early as 1583 by Bishop Marcin Kromer, was first crowned in 1717 and received papal crowns in 1967. The interior is adorned with polychromes, frescoes, and Marian-themed paintings.
Chapel of the Apparitions
Kaplica Objawień
The original maple tree upon which the Blessed Virgin appeared was destroyed by lightning. In its place stands a small chapel housing a statue of the Immaculate Conception, built in accordance with Our Lady's request during the apparitions. The chapel has been rebuilt several times over the years.
Pilgrims traditionally begin their visit here, at the very spot where heaven touched earth in 1877. Many kneel to recite the Rosary before processing to the basilica and spring.
The Miraculous Spring
Cudowne Źródło
On September 8, 1877, during the apparition that coincided with the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady blessed this spring. The source is located approximately 300 meters behind the basilica, reached by a hornbeam alley lined with fifteen Rosary chapels sculpted by Julian Kasprzycki from Myślenice.
Pilgrims have attributed healing properties to the spring's waters since 1877. A covered well with a pump allows visitors to draw water. The spring is accessible 24 hours a day, year-round.
Stations of the Cross
Droga Krzyżowa
The outdoor Stations of the Cross are located in forested grounds near the sanctuary. The wooded setting provides a peaceful atmosphere for meditating on Christ's Passion. The stations complement the Marian focus of the sanctuary, recalling that Mary stood beneath the Cross.
Chapel of Saint Joseph
Kaplica św. Józefa
This votive chapel was built in 1877, immediately after the apparitions, as an act of thanksgiving. It stands near the rectory on the western side of the sanctuary grounds and provides a quieter space for prayer and reflection.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary — September 8
The principal feast of the sanctuary commemorates the day when 50,000 pilgrims gathered during the 1877 apparitions and Our Lady blessed the spring. Masses are celebrated throughout the day, and pilgrims process from the Chapel of the Apparitions to the basilica and spring.
Anniversary of the First Apparition — June 27
Pilgrims gather to commemorate the beginning of the apparitions, when Justyna Szafryńska first saw the Blessed Virgin above the maple tree as the Angelus bells rang.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary — August 15
Summer pilgrimage with outdoor Masses and traditional Marian devotions.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception — December 8
Special celebrations honoring Mary under the title by which she identified herself during the apparitions: "I am the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculately Conceived."
🛏️ Where to Stay
Dom Pielgrzyma im. Jana Pawła II (pilgrim accommodation) — The official pilgrim house of the sanctuary offers 120 beds in rooms of various standards. Located adjacent to the basilica. Conference facilities and parking available. Website
DOMUS MARIAE Gietrzwałd (guesthouse) — Modern guesthouse with garden, free private parking, restaurant, and barbecue facilities. Reserve this hotel
PILGRIM domek gościnny (guesthouse) — Charming guest house in Gietrzwałd offering comfortable accommodations for pilgrims and visitors. Reserve this hotel
Apartamenty Gietrzwałd (apartment) — Self-catering apartments with garden and free private parking, ideal for families or small groups. Reserve this hotel
Hotels in Olsztyn — The regional capital (18 km northeast) offers a wider range of hotels. Regular bus service connects the two locations.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: The nearest international airport is Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW), approximately 220 km south. From Warsaw, take the S7/E77 expressway north toward Olsztyn (approximately 2.5–3 hours by car). Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN) is approximately 180 km northwest.
By Train: The nearest railway station is in Biesal, approximately 5 km from Gietrzwałd. Trains run from Olsztyn and other major cities. From the station, taxis or buses can transport pilgrims to the sanctuary.
By Bus: Regular bus service connects Gietrzwałd with Olsztyn and Ostróda. Buses depart from Olsztyn Bus Station and take approximately 30–40 minutes.
By Car: From Warsaw, take the S7/E77 north toward Olsztyn, then follow National Road 16 west toward Ostróda. Gietrzwałd is signposted from the main road. From Gdańsk, take the S7 south toward Elbląg, then continue toward Olsztyn. Ample parking is available at the sanctuary.
Local Transport: The sanctuary complex is compact and easily walkable. The path from the basilica to the miraculous spring is approximately 300 meters through the Rosary alley.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Norman Davies, God's Playground: A History of Poland — Essential historical context for understanding Poland's Catholic heritage and the significance of the 1877 apparitions.
Wincenty Łaszewski, Gietrzwałd: Warmińskie Objawienia Maryjne — Comprehensive Polish-language account of the apparitions and their spiritual significance.
Online Resources:
Our Lady of Gietrzwałd: Poland's only approved Marian appearance — Aleteia's overview of the apparitions.
University of Dayton: Gietrzwałd Apparitions — Marian Library entry on the apparitions.
🎥 Recommended Videos
Sanktuarium Maryjne w Gietrzwałdzie — Official YouTube channel with live-streamed Masses and devotions.
Gietrzwałd - Polskie Lourdes — Documentaries and pilgrim testimonies.
🔗 Useful Links
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Gietrzwałd — Official website with Mass times, event calendar, and pilgrim information.
Archdiocese of Warmia — Diocesan information.
Gietrzwałd Municipality — Local government website with tourist information.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Święta Lipka (55 km northeast) — Magnificent Baroque sanctuary with miraculous image and famous moving organ, the "Pearl of Masuria."
Studzieniczna (120 km east) — Forest sanctuary with miraculous spring, visited by Pope John Paul II in 1999.
Olsztyn (18 km) — The regional capital features the medieval Castle of the Warmian Bishops and the Gothic Cathedral of Saint James.
Stoczek Klasztorny (40 km east) — Sanctuary of Our Lady of Springborn, where Cardinal Wyszyński was imprisoned from 1953–1954.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"I wish you to pray the Rosary every day!" — Words of Our Lady at Gietrzwałd, approved by Bishop Józef Drzazga, 1977
