In the autumn of 1668, a Franciscan friar named Krystyn Szczepkowski stood on a wooded hilltop in the far southeast of Poland, near the border with Ruthenian lands, and saw in the landscape an echo of Jerusalem. The hills, he believed, corresponded to Calvary; the stream below suggested Kidron; the topography itself seemed designed for a sacred landscape. Within decades, his vision had materialized into Kalwaria Pacławska—a Calvary complex of over forty chapels and stations, centered on a Franciscan monastery and a miraculous image of the Sorrowful Mother.
This is Poland's "Jerusalem of the East," located in the Przemyśl region where Latin and Byzantine Christianity meet, where Polish, Ukrainian, and Ruthenian cultures have intermingled for centuries. The shrine's character reflects this borderland identity: the Franciscans who serve it have ministered to diverse populations; the Calvary devotions blend Western and Eastern sensibilities; and the faithful who come include descendants of Catholics, Uniates, and Orthodox who found common ground at Mary's feet.
The August pilgrimage to Kalwaria Pacławska draws hundreds of thousands, making it one of Poland's largest religious gatherings. Pilgrims walk the Calvary paths, participate in mystery plays reenacting Christ's Passion, and venerate the miraculous image of Our Lady of Kalwaria—an icon-style painting whose sorrowful expression has moved the faithful for over three centuries.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The Franciscans arrived in Pacław (as the village was then known) in 1667, invited by the local landowner, Andrzej Maksymilian Fredro. Father Krystyn Szczepkowski conceived the idea of creating a Calvary complex modeled on Jerusalem's holy places—a concept that had flourished in Counter-Reformation Poland, with similar complexes at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and elsewhere.
Construction began in 1668. Over the following decades, chapels rose on the surrounding hills: the Chapel of the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Praetorium, the Via Dolorosa stations, and the Holy Sepulchre. The landscape was transformed into a three-dimensional meditation on Christ's Passion, where pilgrims could walk the same paths Jesus walked (in replica) without traveling to the Holy Land.
The miraculous image of Our Lady of Kalwaria arrived in the late seventeenth century. The painting—showing Mary with seven swords piercing her heart—became associated with answered prayers and healings. Pilgrimage increased steadily, eventually eclipsing the Calvary devotions in popular importance, though both aspects remain central to the shrine's identity.
Kalwaria Pacławska's location in Poland's southeastern borderlands shaped its history. The region experienced the devastation of the Khmelnytsky Uprising (1648-1657), Turkish invasions, and the complex religious politics of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's eastern marches. The shrine served populations of various rites and ethnicities, becoming a rare point of unity in a fractured landscape.
The twentieth century brought new challenges. World War II saw the region's Jewish population annihilated and its Ukrainian population subjected to forced displacement during Operation Vistula (1947). The shrine survived, though the surrounding communities were transformed. Communist authorities restricted pilgrimages but could not suppress them entirely.
Pope John Paul II, who visited in 1991, spoke of Kalwaria Pacławska's role in preserving faith in the borderlands. The shrine continues to serve a region marked by historical trauma, offering spiritual healing alongside the traditional devotions.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Kalwaria Pacławska
Franciscan Sanctuary and Basilica
Sanktuarium Franciszkańskie i Bazylika
The Franciscan church, elevated to minor basilica status, serves as the spiritual center of the complex. The baroque interior focuses on the miraculous image of Our Lady of Kalwaria Pacławska, displayed above the high altar. The painting depicts the Sorrowful Mother with seven swords—representing the Seven Sorrows—piercing her heart.
The church contains notable baroque artwork, including side altars dedicated to Franciscan saints and scenes from Christ's Passion. The adjacent monastery houses the Franciscan community and provides facilities for pilgrim retreats.
Calvary Paths and Chapels
The hillsides surrounding the monastery contain over forty chapels and stations representing scenes from Christ's Passion. The complete circuit covers several kilometers and takes 3-4 hours to walk devoutly. Key stations include:
- Chapel of the Last Supper — Baroque structure with life-size sculptural group
- Garden of Gethsemane — Natural setting with Christ in Agony sculpture
- Praetorium — Chapel representing Pilate's judgment hall
- Via Dolorosa Stations — Fourteen stations ascending the hill
- Chapel of the Crucifixion — Hilltop site with Calvary tableau
- Holy Sepulchre — Chapel replicating Christ's tomb
Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels
Kaplica Matki Bożej Anielskiej
This chapel, located near the monastery, holds special devotions to Mary under her title as Queen of Angels. The intimate space serves for private prayer and smaller liturgies.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Assumption of Mary — August 15
The main pilgrimage draws hundreds of thousands over several days. Celebrations begin with a vigil on August 14 and continue through the octave. The faithful walk the Calvary paths, attend outdoor Masses, participate in mystery plays depicting Christ's Passion, and venerate the miraculous image. The atmosphere combines solemn devotion with the festivity of a major religious gathering.
Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows — September 15
The patronal feast of the shrine is celebrated with particular solemnity. The seven sorrows of Mary provide the focus for meditation and preaching.
Good Friday Mystery Play
The annual Passion play, performed during Holy Week, involves hundreds of participants reenacting Christ's Passion along the Calvary paths. The tradition dates to the shrine's founding and attracts pilgrims who witness the scenes from stations along the route.
Franciscan Feast Days
The shrine celebrates feasts of St. Francis (October 4), St. Anthony of Padua (June 13), and other Franciscan saints with special liturgies and devotions.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Dom Pielgrzyma Kalwaria Pacławska (pilgrim accommodation) — The Franciscan monastery operates a pilgrim house with simple rooms. Meals available; essential to book well in advance for August pilgrimage. Contact the monastery directly.
Przemyśl & Sanok Hotels — Regional hotels in nearby Przemyśl (35 km) and Sanok (40 km) offer more extensive accommodation options.
Agroturystyka Podkarpacie (farmstay) — The Subcarpathian region offers numerous agritourism farms within driving distance, providing authentic rural hospitality.
Przemyśl Hotels — The historic city of Przemyśl (35 km) offers varied accommodation and makes a good base for exploring the region.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: The nearest international airports are Rzeszów-Jasionka (RZE), approximately 80 km west, and Lviv (LWO) in Ukraine, approximately 100 km southeast (passport required).
By Train: The nearest railway station is Przemyśl (35 km), with connections to Kraków, Rzeszów, and Warsaw. From Przemyśl, local buses serve Kalwaria Pacławska.
By Bus: Buses connect Kalwaria Pacławska to Przemyśl, Sanok, and regional centers. Service increases dramatically during the August pilgrimage.
By Car: From Przemyśl, take Route 28 south toward Sanok, then local roads to Kalwaria Pacławska (approximately 35 km, 45 minutes). From Kraków, take Route 4 east (approximately 280 km, 4 hours). Parking is available but limited during major pilgrimages.
On Foot: Traditional pilgrimage routes connect Kalwaria Pacławska with parishes throughout the Przemyśl archdiocese. Many pilgrims walk the final kilometers as an act of devotion.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Stanisław Nabywaniec, Kalwaria Pacławska: Dzieje Sanktuarium — Comprehensive Polish-language history of the shrine.
Timothy Snyder, The Reconstruction of Nations: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus — Historical context for Poland's southeastern borderlands.
Online Resources:
Kalwaria Pacławska Sanctuary — Official shrine website
Franciscan Province of the Assumption — Franciscan province maintaining the shrine.
🎥 Recommended Videos
August Pilgrimage to Kalwaria Pacławska — Footage of the annual pilgrimage and Passion plays.
Kalwaria Pacławska: Jerusalem of the East — Documentaries on the shrine's history and devotions.
🔗 Useful Links
Kalwaria Pacławska Sanctuary — Mass schedules, pilgrimage information, and history.
Archdiocese of Przemyśl — Archdiocesan news and resources.
Subcarpathian Tourism — Regional tourism information.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Dukla (50 km) — Shrine of St. John of Dukla, Franciscan patron of Poland and Lithuania.
Krasnobród (90 km) — Marian sanctuary in the Roztocze region with Dominican traditions.
Leżajsk (70 km) — Bernardine sanctuary with the miraculous image of Our Lady of Consolation.
Przemyśl (35 km) — Historic cathedral city with Latin and Greek Catholic heritage.
Lviv (Ukraine) (100 km) — Major center of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; St. George's Cathedral (passport required).
🪶 Closing Reflection
"The pilgrimage to Kalwaria Pacławska teaches us to unite our sufferings with Christ's Passion and to find in Mary a Mother who understands every sorrow." — Pope St. John Paul II, Kalwaria Pacławska, June 2, 1991
