Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec
Medals available for purchase in the shop next to the church!
The Abbey, situated on a limestone hill above the Vistula River, was most likely founded by Casimir I the Restorer in 1044. This occurred after the crisis of the young state caused by a pagan rebellion and Czech invasion. The Benedictines were to support the rebuilding of the state and Church. The first abbot was Aaron.
In the second half of the 11th century, a complex of Romanesque buildings was constructed – a three-nave basilica and monastery buildings. In the 14th century, the abbey was significantly damaged by attacks from Czechs and Tatars. Over the following centuries, the entire complex underwent several reconstructions, first in Gothic style in the 15th century, then in Baroque and Rococo. The abbey was destroyed during wars in the 17th century but was soon rebuilt and expanded (including a library). Further destruction came when the monastery buildings were converted into a fortress by the Bar Confederation.
Abbot Florian Amand Janowski oversaw the reconstruction. In 1816, the abbey was dissolved. From 1821-1826, the church served as the seat of the Tyniec Diocese with Bishop Grzegorz Tomasz Ziegler at its head. Monks returned to Tyniec in 1939 thanks to the initiative of Belgian Benedictine Karol van Oost, and from 1947 they began rebuilding the damaged complex. In 1968, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul became an abbey again.
From 1821-1826, the church functioned as the cathedral of the Tyniec Diocese.
On May 8, 1991, Father Włodzimierz Zatorski founded TYNIEC Benedictine Publishing House at the abbey. On January 14, 2006, a decree by Abbot Bernard Sawicki established BENEDICITE, the Economic Unit of Tyniec Abbey. This marked the beginning of the final stage of the abbey’s reconstruction. The unit deals with, among other things, the sale of products under the Benedictine Products brand. In July 2008, the so-called Great Ruin was rebuilt, and the Benedictine Institute of Culture was established to protect Goodness.
The Benedictines returned to the ruins of their former abbey on the eve of World War II in July 1939. After the war ended, reconstruction of the monastery began in 1947. The difficult post-war conditions meant that work was not completed until the early 21st century.
In addition to restoration, the monks undertook numerous other initiatives. In Tyniec, the post-Vatican II Roman Missal and other liturgical books were developed under the leadership of Father Franciszek Małaczyński. Simultaneously, a translation from original languages and editing of the so-called Millennium Bible was completed – the work of Father Augustyn Jankowski. Research on the history of Tyniec and Polish Benedictines, as well as liturgical history, was conducted for many years by Father Paweł Sczaniecki.
