Basilica of the Holy Spirit in Przeworsk

The Basilica of the Holy Spirit in Przeworsk (say "PSHEH-vorsk") is a 15th-century Gothic church in southeastern Poland that was run for over four centuries by the Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulchre, an order founded in Jerusalem. Its treasure is a Baroque chapel with a replica of Christ's tomb — since 2012 the Shrine of the Holy Sepulchre. With a 1693 high altar and a bronze font from around 1400, it is the main sight of this small town on the road between Kraków and the Ukrainian border.

Where it is and how to get there

Przeworsk lies about 40 km (25 miles) east of Rzeszów and its airport, and roughly 200 km east of Kraków, on the A4 motorway and the Kraków–Przemyśl railway line. The basilica stands at ul. Kościelna 7, a few minutes' walk from the Market Square.

History

The Canons of the Holy Sepulchre were founded in Jerusalem in 1114 and came to Poland in 1163. Przeworsk parish was established on April 28, 1393 and handed to the order a year later. The Gothic church was built in 1430–1473; a 40 m (130 ft) tower followed in the 17th century, and the Holy Sepulchre chapel in 1718–1727. The monastery was dissolved in 1819. Pope John Paul II made the church a minor basilica on December 29, 1982.

What to see

• The Holy Sepulchre chapel, with frescoes from around 1720 and a replica of the Jerusalem tomb, restored in 2007 to its 18th-century appearance.
• A bronze baptismal font from around 1400, the oldest object in the church.
• The high altar of 1693, the pulpit of 1713 and Baroque choir stalls from 1751.
• The Gothic brick chancel and the old monastery buildings linked by an arcaded gallery.

The Holy Sepulchre chapel

Added on the north side in 1718 and consecrated in 1727, the chapel holds a copy of Christ's tomb modeled on the Jerusalem shrine as it looked after its renovation in 1555. A Holy Sepulchre confraternity has existed here since 1659. The dome frescoes from around 1720 were conserved in 2005. A thorough restoration of the church in 1999–2012 left the gilded altars in excellent condition. Look out, too, for the tower cap of around 1785 and the Neo-Gothic porches of 1908–1910.

Visiting tips

This is a very active church: Monday to Saturday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm there is perpetual Eucharistic adoration, so keep quiet. Sunday Masses run from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm; weekday Masses are early morning and evening. Entry is free. Guided tours can be booked through the Kordegarda tourist information center (+48 575 93 95 93); ask in advance whether an English-speaking guide is available. Allow 45–60 minutes (as of October 2026).

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you are traveling between Kraków and Przemyśl or Lviv: it is a rare chance to see how a Jerusalem-based order shaped a small Polish town. Combine it with the Lubomirski palace and park in Przeworsk and the famous Łańcut Castle, about 20 km west.