Cistercian Abbey in Krzeszów

European Centre of Art and Theological Thought

Andrzej Kozieł, Sławomir Stasiak, Rajmund Pietkiewicz, Rajmund Pietkiewicz, Piotr Burgoński

• Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9783647500881
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Theology

Was the Cistercian abbey in Krzeszów really a European center of art and theological thought? This study in eight chapters tries to answer this question. The first chapter shows how deep the foundations of the Krzeszów Abbey go. The next three chapters are devoted to various works, initiatives and architecture of the Baroque era. First, the unique painting of Our Lady of Mercy in the Mater Misericordiae type, which was created in 1624, was presented. Then, the sculptural foundations of Abbot Geyer in the area of the Krzeszów abbey and in its latifundia were discussed. Finally, the architecture of the baroque abbey church, unique on a European scale, was presented. Grace of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This proves what an extraordinary center Krzeszów was in terms of the art created there.In the next two chapters, the reader finds the answer to the question: Was Krzeszów also a significant theological center in Europe at that time? First in terms of Catholic dogmatic, and then in terms of biblical linguistics.The study ends with two chapters, the first of which focuses on the sacralization of the landscape by introducing modern forms of imitation of the Holy Land and the cult of saints. The second one presents the baroque iconography of the Cistercian monastery in Krzeszów from the end of the 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century, which shows the changes in its social function over the centuries.

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright
• Table of Contents
• List of abbreviations
• Table of transcription
• Andrzej Koziel, Slawomir Stasiak, Rajmund Pietkiewicz | Preface of the editors
• Ewa Łużyniecka (Wrocław University of Science and Technology) | Medieval architecture of Krzeszów Abbey against the background of later transformations
• Andrzej Koziel (University of Wroclaw / University of Ostrava) | Salve, Mater Misericordiae! About the picture of The Virgin of Mercy (1624) from the collection of the Archdiocesan Museum in Wroclaw
• Artur Kolbiarz (University of Silesia in Katowice) | Sculptural undertakings in the Krzeszów monastery under Abbot Dominic Geyer (with selected examples)
• Malgorzata Wyrzykowska (University of Wroclaw) | Architecture of the Abbey Church Graces of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krzeszów in the Context of Attribution Problems
• Bogdan Ferdek (Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wroclaw) | The “Gully of Grace” as locus theologicus. Charitological ideas governing the façade of the House of Grace of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Krzeszów
• Slawomir Stasiak (Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wroclaw) | Biblical motifs of Emmanuel and the nuptials in the decoration of the pediment and vestibule of the Abbey Church in Krzeszów. Explanation of biblical texts
• Grzegorz Grajewski (National Institute of Cultural Heritage) | Sacralization of the landscape on the example of Krzeszów Abbey
• Marek Kwaśny (University of Wrocław) | Sic transit gloria mundi? Iconography of the Baroque Cistercian monastery in Krzeszów rom the late seventeenth century to the twentieth century
• Afterword
• List of figures
• Index of biblical references
• Index of persons
• Index of places
• Notes on Contributors