The text presents the history of Lviv's Church of the Bernardine Fathers. According to the article, the intention to build this church was initiated by Jędrzej Odrowąż, Voivode of Podolia and Starosta of Lviv. The first church burned down four years after its construction, and again at the siege of Lviv. Reconstruction of the church began in 1600, and in the first half of the 18th century it was restored to its present state at the time of writing (Source: Tygodnik Illustrowany, Warsaw 1867, T:15, p. 112, after: University of Łódź Digital Library).

A modernised reading of the text

Church of the Fr. Bernardine Church in Lviv.

The magnificent frontispiece of the Bernardine Roman Catholic Church in Lviv strikes one from afar, when one walks from Halytska Street towards the Lychakivskyi suburb through the Bernardine Square. The Bernardine Fathers' Church and the extensive monastery buildings adjacent to it, surrounded by a high wall. The Bernardine Church is surrounded by a high wall. Bernardine Church surpasses all other churches in Lwow in the purity and beauty of its Italian architecture, except for the Archcathedral Church, which is characterised by the Gothic style of the Middle Ages which, as we know, was the golden age of Gothicism.

Jędrzej Odrowąż, the Podolski voivode and Lviv alderman, first conceived the idea of building the church in question in order to house two Observant monks of the Franciscan order who, having arrived in Krakow in 1450 with John of Capistrano and from there to Lviv, were staying at the court of the assisting voivode. In fulfilment of this intention, Odrowaz built a wooden church and monastery for the monks in 1460 and settled them there. The church and the monastery burnt down four years later, and again in 1509, during the siege of Lviv by Bohdan the Wallachian hospodar.

It was Jerzy Mniszech who rebuilt the church, no longer in wood but in stone, and in 1600 provided the building material from his estate. A magnificent church was built over the course of several decades, and its construction was supported by generous donations from other pious people; it was finally consecrated in 1630 by Jan Próchnicki, Archbishop of Lviv. However, a century later, in the first half of the 18th century, the church was renovated and decorated as it looks today.

The magnificent church of the Fr. The magnificent Bernardine Fathers' Church is, as I mentioned, characterised by the purity of the Italian style. Its front facade is decorated with statues representing God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin, St Paul and St John. Numerous statues of saints of the Lord and of the blessed of the Order are also set up along the giblets of the portal and around the church. Above the roof runs a tower with a clock and a gallery around it, which offers a beautiful view of the city and the surrounding area. The interior of the church matches its superficiality.

Seventeen richly carved altars adorn the church, and the cornices along the entire vaulting, the arches between the pillars and the altars, all exquisitely gilded, make a special impression when you enter the church and look around. The gilding cost 20,000 ducats. In addition, the ornate reliefs and frescoes covering the entire vaulting add to the grandeur and beauty of the church interior.

In the middle of the long presbytery rises the great altar, consisting of sixteen symmetrically placed columns, dividing the presbytery into two almost equal halves. The part beyond the high altar, known as the choir, is surrounded by beautifully carved stalls, where the monks hold their usual choral chants and prayers. Here in the altar there is a marble coffin in which once lay the body of Blessed John of Dukla, who died in the local church in 1483.

He was buried in the church cemetery and it was not until 30 years later that his body was transferred to the church and placed in the coffin. Carved on this marble coffin is a figure lying with his head resting on two books. The carving reveals a heavy chisel. At present, the remains of Blessed Duklan's body rest in the altar, in a silver coffin under a glass cover. Between the columns of the great altar are statues of many of the Lord's saints, with a statue of St John of Dukla rising to the top.

The vaulting is decorated with beautiful frescoes which have been preserved in all their freshness. They date from the first half of the 18th century, from the time of the last restorations of the church, completed in 1740, and were painted by Lviv residents Bartnicki, Mazurkiewicz and Sroczynski, as evidenced by Rastawiecki's 'Dictionary of Painters' and Sobieszczanski's 'Ilustracja sztuki w dawnej Polsce'. There are several ancient paintings in the church worth seeing, namely portraits of kings: Sigismund III, Ladislaus IV, August III, as well as portraits of the church founders: Jędrzej Odrowąż and Jerzy Mniszch.

There is also a copy of a painting by Rubens, depicting the crucifixion of Christ, by Lexicius. There is also a large painting in the choir behind the high altar, depicting the miracles that took place at the coffin of Blessed John of Dukla between 1485 and 1650. From an artistic point of view, the painting is of no value, but for archaeologists it is an interesting monument as it depicts, with historical accuracy, the attire of all the states of society of the various regions of that time. At the same time, the numerous inscriptions in the painting have preserved the names of many people with their dignities and titles, which can provide many interesting insights for the ancient and historical researcher.

There are two tombstones in the church. The first, on the left-hand external wall next to the main entrance door, is carved in stone and depicts a kneeling knight in armour, with a mace lying on the ground in front of him. This is the tombstone of Stanisław na Wyżyce Wyżycki, who died in 1600. The second tombstone is that of Ludwik Kaliński, who died in 1705. It is a simple black marble plaque with an inscription in verse. In front of the church is a statue of Blessed John of Dukla.

It is an obelisk on a decorative pedestal with Blessed John of Dukla kneeling on top of it, with his hands raised towards heaven and a halo radiating around his head. The local monks solemnly celebrate the commemoration of this saint on the day of Blessed John of Dukla and throughout the following week. During this celebration, they also illuminate the statue of the saint in front of the church and the well in the courtyard of the monastery, where the tomb of Blessed John of Dukla was originally located.

When his body was removed from there, water gushed forth from this spot, the beneficial effects of which, according to legend, were experienced in many illnesses, and even today the faith of the people is attached to this spring. Above the well, four stone pillars support a copper dome, on top of which is a gilded statue of the Blessed Duklan in a kneeling position. Inside, the dome is decorated with frescoes depicting angels carrying the coffin containing the Saint's body, while inscriptions running all around describe his life and miracles in verse.