Historical outline

The name of the town derives from the tradition of grape cultivation in the area. Vinnitsa is located 10 km from the centre of Lviv. It is close, but thanks to the undulating terrain it has not merged with the agglomeration of the big centre. It was granted city status in 1603, and in 1738 Marianna Tarlova (née Potocka) founded a church there to house the miraculous painting of Our Lady of Czestochowa, a copy of the famous image known here as the "Virgin of Vinnytsia". Construction began. Shortly afterwards, the village was purchased by Bishop Samuel Glowinski. In 1756 Vinnitsa became part of the resources of the Lviv College of the Piarist Fathers, who were later to take care of the local parish. Ten years later the construction of the church was completed. A parish was established, erected by the Archbishop of Lwów, Wacław Hieronim Sierakowski.

In 1784, Poland was already after the First Partition, and Winniki came under the Austrian partition. At that time, the authorities cancelled the Piarist college, so the parish was automatically taken over by the diocese, and the monastic facilities were lost to the state treasury. Only the church remained, looked after by regular priests. A tobacco manufactory was established in the castle, which was expanded into a factory and in this form it still operates today. But at the time, this did not involve the complete devastation of everything, as might have been the case, for example, in the era of later Soviet domination. The factory workers financed a large part of the church's furnishings. The fact that the building was ready as early as 1766 did not mean that it could be used. Finishing works continued until the end of the century.

In the times of the Second Polish Republic, Vinnytsia belonged to the district and voivodeship of Lviv. In terms of citizens, the city had a population of 3,300 Poles, 2,150 Ukrainians, 350 Jews and 200 Germans.

After the end of the Second World War, the parish tried to function regularly. However, it was closed in 1946 and the church was turned into a warehouse. When Ukraine regained its independence, the building was returned to the re-established community and has been functioning since 1992.

Architecture

In the context of looking at the architecture of the church, one cannot but first mention the unusual location. The natural terrain must have favoured the choice of location. The church was set on the terrace of a vast hill rising above the town. Stylistically, we can speak of late Baroque, but it is worth noting the elements added at the end of the 19th century, which somewhat disrupt the original proportions. We are talking about a rather large vestibule.

The building does not have a separate chancel. The church is a three-bay hall building with a gabled roof from which rises a slender bell. Adjoining the main body are two vestries and a porch on the other side. The façade is decorated with pilasters and moulded cornices. In the porch on the main portal we can see the foundress's family crests. The vaulted ceiling is canopied. Both the walls and the vaults are covered with 18th century paintings, which were partially restored after 1992.

According to Piotr Krasny, the author of the project was Bernard Meretyn, one of the most important Polish architects of the 18th century, active in Lviv and Red Ruthenia. It is likely that the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vinnitsa dates from his early period. This is indicated by certain design features that can be considered conservative. The examples of religious buildings located in Navaria or Hodovica can be an excellent exemplification of Meretin's unfolding of his artistic wings. Nevertheless, the building in Vinniki attracts attention not only for its location, but also for its intrinsic value.

The original furnishings of the church have not survived. The image of the Virgin of Vinnitsa is in the local church, and a copy of it is in the church's main altar. A screened bell tower stands next to the church.