The building was constructed on the Rennweg in the vicinity of the Lower Belvedere between 1775 and 63 and originally served as a hospital church. The church, designed in Rococo style by Nicolas Pacassi, underwent several alterations and renovations over time, which gave it a contemporary appearance - a classical, early Josephine appearance. On 1 November 1763, it was consecrated in honour of the Holy Cross.

The Polish Resurrectionist Order, after a successful application in 1897, received the church and began its activities for the Polish community in the Austrian capital. Today, the church is of significant importance to the Polish community. In Vienna, it is also known as the Gardekirche, or Guard Church, because Emperor Joseph II gave it and the hospital to the Galician Guard in 1782.

The building is characterised by its simple quadrilateral body. The interior is a single-nave space on an oval plan, topped by a dome with a lantern. The architectural details are in gold. A copy of the image of Our Lady of Czestochowa is displayed in the interior. To the right of the entrance is a monument to John Paul II, to the left a monument to the victims of the Katyn massacre and the Smolensk catastrophe.