St Anthony's Chapel in Milówka

When the Austrian authorities requisitioned church bells for the war effort in 1916, the people of Milówka stole the large bell of St Anthony's Chapel back from the municipal office and buried it. After the war it returned to its place – and it is still in the chapel today. The brick chapel in the centre of Milówka, built from 1876 with money from parishioners, has more such stories than many a large church.

History: from legend to brick chapel

According to local legend, three monks once walked across the square where the chapel now stands, and one of them carved a small cross into a tree with the inscription "Anthony, Stanislaus, Casimir". A few months later King John III Sobieski is said to have passed the same way, ordered a cross to be made from the tree and promised to build a wooden chapel to St Anthony. The present chapel stands on the site of a 17th-century wooden one.

The foundation stone of the brick chapel was blessed on 1 September 1876. After a few years work stopped for lack of money; local Jews wanted to buy the unfinished building as a synagogue, but the parishioners refused and construction resumed in 1881. A vault, a cement floor, windows with coloured glass and a tin-clad turret were added – the farmer Michał Kąkol did most to make it happen. By a decree of 12 December 1887, Bishop Albin Dunajewski allowed Mass to be said on St Anthony's day (13 June) and on Sundays and feast days.

What to look out for

• The altar with statues of St Stanislaus and St Casimir – according to the municipal chronicle, it was made by sculptors from Zakopane; a larger painting of St Anthony was supposedly ordered from Jan Matejko, and the small one moved to a pillar. This is local tradition, not a confirmed attribution.
• The wall paintings from 1911 by the painter Kaizer of Żywiec, and the pulpit by Jarząbek of Kęty.
• The small bell, known as the "cloud chaser" – in 1916 a woman from Nieledwia hid it at home and returned it to the chapel after the war.
• The Gothic-style shrine with the Virgin Mary, carved in 1925 by headmaster Józef Szczotka and his pupils.
• Two iron windows in the south wall – a reminder of spring 1945, when the Germans blew up the bridges over the Soła and chunks of concrete fell on the chapel roof.

Tripto tip

The chapel stands on the main road through Milówka (ul. Jana Kazimierza) and is an active place of worship, so access to the interior depends on the service schedule of the Assumption parish. 15–20 minutes is enough to see the outside and take a short look inside. The easiest time to get in is during Mass, especially on St Anthony's day, 13 June. Combine your visit with the parish church and a walk along the Soła.