Historical outline

Located in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, the village of Gwoździec lies approximately 19 km north-east of Kolomyia and 58 km north-east of Ivano-Frankivsk. The place was first mentioned as early as 1373 and 1375, and originally belonged to the Buchacki family, later to the Potocki and Puzyn families. The parish dates back to the 15th century, although it was originally located in neighbouring Ostapkowice. The exact date when the parish was moved directly to Gwoździec is not known. However, in the early 18th century Prince Michał Puzyna brought the Bernardines to Gwoździec. They built a modest wooden church, which must have sufficed for a start. According to general arrangements, they were also to provide priestly services before a centre could be built for diocesan priests.

In 1730, the construction of a brick temple together with a monastery began. It was completed in 1740, but already 33 years later the renovation began according to a design by Franciszek Ksawery Kulczycki. The church was consecrated in 1775, and in 1888 a massive fire destroyed the church furnishings and roofs. After extensive renovation, the building was consecrated again in 1896. The First World War brought damage, which was repaired between 1920 and 1922. The monastery was abandoned with the displacement of the Polish population in 1945, and the church was turned into a grain and cement warehouse. After

Ukraine's independence, it was re-consecrated (1992). It is currently in poor condition. The monastery was originally used as a hospital. It now houses a music school and library.

Architecture

The church is located to the north of the market square. It was built of brick with stone added. The building is plastered. The presbytery faces east. The mass of the building consists of a single nave, a shallow transept and a square-shaped presbytery closed with a straight wall. Adjacent to the chancel (north side) is the adjoining rectangular treasury, and to the south are the sacristy and vestibule of the monastery.

The monastery, like the church, was built of brick with added stone and plastered. It adjoins the church to the south. The single-storey building consists of three wings. The corridor is located on the side of the vestibule. On the first floor are the cells (in all wings). In the east wing there is a lounge and a granary. The windows of the buildings are rectangular in shape and closed with a segmental arch. The complex of buildings was surrounded by a brick plastered wall.

The most important elements associated with the decoration, furnishings and surroundings of the church include:

- Bell Tower (first construction 1776-1778, reconstruction 1899 - 1902),

- The main altar, whose focal point is the symbol of the empty cross,

- The altar of St Francis with the image of the saint in the painting in the central point,

- Side altars in the transept,

- Sculptures of St Francis, St Anthony, Our Lady of the Immaculate.