Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Source: Repozytorium Instytutu Polonika
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Unveiling of a plaque commemorating Poles at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Source: Repozytorium Instytutu Polonika
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Source: Repozytorium Instytutu Polonika
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Unveiling of a plaque commemorating Poles at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Source: Repozytorium Instytutu Polonika
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Unveiling of a plaque commemorating Poles at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Source: Repozytorium Instytutu Polonika
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Villa Jola in Heluan (Egypt), interiors, photo 1932
License: public domain, Source: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe, sygnatura 3/1/0/2/129/15, License terms and conditions
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Pension Jola in Heluan (Egypt), photo 1932
License: public domain, Source: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe, License terms and conditions
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Pension Jola in Heluan (Egypt), photo 1932
License: public domain, Source: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe , sygnatura 3/1/0/17/2844/1, License terms and conditions
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Wanda Guesthouse in Heluan (Egypt), photo przed 1930
License: public domain, Source: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe , sygnatura 1-E-2842, License terms and conditions
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Wanda Guesthouse in Heluan (Egypt), photo przed 1930
License: public domain, Source: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe, License terms and conditions
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Villa Jola in Heluan (Egypt), interiors, photo 1932
License: public domain, Source: Narodowe Archiwum Cyfrowe, sygnatura 3/1/0/2/129, License terms and conditions
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Source: Ambasada Polska w Kairze
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Source: Ambasada Polska w Kairze
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Source: Ambasada Polska w Kairze
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Source: Ambasada Polska w Kairze
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Source: Ambasada Polska w Kairze
Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)
 Submit additional information
ID: POL-001732-P/150071

Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)

ID: POL-001732-P/150071

Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt)

Heluan in Egypt is a town situated about 20 kilometres from Cairo. In the first half of the 20th century, as a fashionable place for spa treatments, it was the centre of Polish life in Egypt.

On 22 November 2022, a commemorative plaque dedicated to the memory of Poles resting in the local cemetery was unveiled in Heluana, Egypt. The memorial plaque, installed on the wall of the cemetery chapel, contains the names of the deceased, faithfully reproduced from records in the parish books.

Prominent among those commemorated is the figure of Wanda Bilińska, owner of Villa "Wanda", which was one of the most important Polish boarding houses in the town. Wanda, together with her husband Juliusz and daughter Zofia, came to Heluan in 1898 to improve the health of Juliusz, who was struggling with kidney problems. After her husband's death in 1901. Wanda Bilinska decided to stay in Heluan and open a boarding house, which quickly gained notoriety thanks to, among other things, intensive publicity and high standards. By 1909, the facility had grown to 60 rooms, becoming one of the largest and most prestigious spas in the city. Unfortunately, the outbreak of the First World War interrupted this period of prosperity. The boarding house survived, but only occupied a small part of the former complex, and was only leased by Bilińska.

It is worth noting that in 1932 Heluan was visited by Marshal Józef Piłsudski, who stayed at the fashionable guesthouse "Jola", founded by Bogdan Richter and surrounded by a beautiful garden with a variety of plants, both local and imported from Poland.

Heluan as a convalescent centre and has witnessed many difficult lives. An example of this is the story of Zofia Rosa Babinska, who died at the age of 26 and was buried in the local cemetery. As the 'Sunday Visitor' reported, her memorial consists of an old altar, donated by the parish church in Heluana, and a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. A distinctive feature is a symbolic oil painting and a marble slab with an inscription in French dedicated to Sophie Rosa Bobinska: Angel of hospitals / Victim of mercy / rests / in the peace of God and prays for us / Zofia Róża Bobińska / of Polish nationality //. Her spirituality and self-sacrificing attitude made her tombstone a pilgrimage destination in the interwar period.

During the Second World War, Heluan became a temporary shelter for soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces in the West and for civilian refugees. However, after the Egyptian Revolution in 1952, the town lost its resort character and industrial buildings were built on the site of the former guesthouses.

The Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluana, established in 1887, became the eternal resting place of some 30 Poles. Due to increasing devastation, the remains of the deceased were moved to the ossuary and mass graves. The cemetery currently houses a plaque to Konstanty Żmigród (died 1903) and a plaque in memory of Zofia Bobińska. The cemetery is under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family. Holy Family Roman Catholic Church.

The initiative to commemorate Poles in Heluana was realised thanks to the cooperation of the Polonica Institute and the Polish Embassy in Cairo.

The ceremony of unveiling the plaque was attended by Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Jarosław Sellin, Polish Ambassador to Egypt Michał Łabenda, Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage Abroad and Places of Remembrance at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Jolanta Miśkowiec, Deputy Director of the Department of International Relations at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage Agnieszka Grunwald, art historian prof. Jan Sienkiewicz, Head of the Analysis and Strategy Department of the National Institute of Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad "Polonika" Michał Michalski, Father Sobhi of the Holy Family Parish in Heluan, a representative of the local authorities of Heluan Sobhi Shafik Khalil, President of the Polish Association in Egypt Ewa Świerczyńska, Polish Ambassador to Egypt Michał Łabenda, and representatives of cultural institutions and local authorities of Heluan.

Time of construction:

2022

Publication:

24.01.2024

Last updated:

22.04.2025

Author:

Bartłomiej Gutowski
see more Text translated automatically
Commemorative plaque for Poles buried at the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Helwan, Egypt. It lists names in Polish, English, and Arabic, topped with a cross symbol. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Two men unveil a commemorative plaque dedicated to Poles buried at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Helwan, Egypt. The plaque includes names in Polish, English, and Arabic. Flowers are placed below. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Unveiling of a plaque commemorating Poles at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Commemorative plaque in Helwan, Egypt, with names of Poles buried at the local cemetery, including Wanda Bilińska and Zofia Bobińska. Inscription: Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Cairo, Polonika Institute, Helwan, 2022. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Commemorative plaque for Poles buried at the Roman Catholic Cemetery in Helwan, Egypt. The plaque lists names in Polish, English, and Arabic, adorned with a red ribbon. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Unveiling of a plaque commemorating Poles at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Four men stand in front of a memorial plaque dedicated to Poles at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Helwan, Egypt. The plaque is surrounded by flowers and a cross is visible at the top. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Unveiling of a plaque commemorating Poles at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Interior of a room with floral-patterned sofas and a round wooden table on a patterned carpet. Walls are decorated with small framed pictures. A lace curtain covers a window or door. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Villa Jola in Heluan (Egypt), interiors, photo 1932
A guard stands at the entrance of Pension Jola in Helwan, Egypt. The building features ornate arches and a sign with the name 'Pension Jola'. A tree and palm are visible in the courtyard. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Pension Jola in Heluan (Egypt), photo 1932
Historic photograph of Pension Jola in Helwan, Egypt, showing a large building with a decorative fence and trees in the foreground. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Pension Jola in Heluan (Egypt), photo 1932
Historic building in Helwan, Egypt, featuring a facade with decorative columns and a fence. Trees and vegetation surround the structure. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Wanda Guesthouse in Heluan (Egypt), photo przed 1930
Historic photograph of a building in Helwan, Egypt, with ornate architecture and a gated entrance, surrounded by trees. The word 'Pension' is visible on the building. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Wanda Guesthouse in Heluan (Egypt), photo przed 1930
Interior view of a room with an open door leading to another room. The walls are decorated with floral wallpaper. A chair and a small table are visible in the background. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Villa Jola in Heluan (Egypt), interiors, photo 1932
Facade of a chapel at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Helwan, Egypt, with four columns and a cross on top, surrounded by trees. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Plaque commemorating Poles at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Helwan, Egypt. The plaque features a cross and an image of the Virgin Mary with inscriptions of Polish names. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Memorial plaque at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Helwan, Egypt, featuring an image of the Virgin Mary and Child. Names of Poles, including Bilinski and Bobinski, are inscribed below. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Marble plaque with engraved text 'Bobinska Sophia 1926' commemorating Sophia Bobinska at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Helwan, Egypt. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved
Memorial plaque for Konstanty ze Lmigrodu Hr. Stadnicki at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Helwan, Egypt. Inscription includes his name, age, and date of death in 1903. Photo showing Plaque commemorating Poles in the Roman Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt) Gallery of the object +15
Catholic cemetery in Heluan (Egypt), photo 2022, all rights reserved

Related projects

1
  • Katalog poloników Show