The shrine for the village of Jaroty (currently a district of Olsztyn). When it was built, it belonged to the parish in Bartąg. At present the chapel is a part of the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.

 

History

Until the 19th century there was only a roadside cross in the village of Jaroty. The shrine, founded by Jan Czodrowski, was erected in 1883. It served the inhabitants of Jaroty till the end of the 70s of the 20th century. A new growing district, created after the village was absorbed into the city corporate limits of Olsztyn, brought about the need for erecting a larger shrine. State authorities were not willing to grant a permission to build a church. The corner stone was laid only in 1981. The new church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church was consecrated in 1984 by the primate Józef Glemp. The shrine of Our Lady of Scapular was incorporated into the new church and now is one of the church chapels. The chapel is covered with a wooden ceiling. Inside there is a Baroque, oil painting of the Virgin and Child with St. Anne from the turn of the 18th century. In this scene Mary is handing a basket with fruit to the Infant, held by St. Anne. The standing figures are St. Joseph and St. Joachim.

 

Architectural description

The shrine has a simple structure. Its rectangular body is covered with a single – ridge roof. From the East, in the gable, there is a niche with a bas -relief, depicting Mary with the Infant Jesus and a Latin inscription: Ora pro nobis. The eastern gable is crowned with a metal cross. The western facade with the entrance to the chapel is now consolidated into the new church of Jaroty. The shrine is a part of the lower church. The light in the chapel is provided through pointed arch windows of side walls.

 

Interesting facts

- founding of the shrine was an outcome of a dream vision, in which Czodrowski saw the Blessed Virgin Mary

- the shrine belonged to the parish of Bartąg. In 1945 the Red Army soldiers shot Otton Langkau, a parish priest from Bartąg.

- the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church was erected owning to a stratagem. The church authorities were granted a permission to build an annex to an existing shrine.

 

Practical info

- sightseeing ban during religious service

- sightseeing time (the shrine and the church) around 30 min.

- sightseeing is free, in order to see the church inside, you must visit a parish house

- no parking lot for coaches, coaches can be parked at a nearby bus terminus

 

Bibliography

Kopiczko A., Kościoły i kaplice w Olsztynie, Olsztyn 2000