Almost as soon as the places for the individual stations of the Cross were nominated, the pilgrims started to flock and take part in the New "
After the death of Mikolaj Zebrzydowski in 1620, further building work was carried out by his son Jan Zebrzydowski. It was then that the church of the Sacred Cross was extended and the beautiful church of the Tomb of our Lady was built. A special procession service along the paths in honour of our Lady was instigated for which a further 9 new chapels were built. The placing of a picture of our Lady, thereafter called our Lady of Kalwaria, in the church by the monastery served to rekindle marian devotion. This picture was ceremoniously crowned in 1887.
Apart from the procession devotions by the various pilgrimages even during the life of Mikolaj Zebrzydowski services were arranged on good friday and the Assumption of our Lady. In time word about the services spread, and today they form the main celebration on good friday of Christ’s Passion, and the Burial and Triumph of our Lady.
The growing number of pilgrims and their spiritual needs resulted in the extension of the monastery in 1655/1656 and the monastery church in 1692/1720. The main church was also extended by building new chapels of the Immaculate Conception and Saint Anthony. The church itself was also enlarged. Obviously such a big complex requires repair and refurbishment and this is undertaken regularly to the present day.
Pilgrims from all over
Today the Kalwaria monastery also houses a higher seminary.
Za wstawiennictwem Maryi Niepokalanej i Św. Józefa proszę Pana Jezusa o zdrowie, szczęśliwą podróż, ochronę od zła i błogosławieństwo we wszystkich sprawach dla Nataszy, Michała, Martyny, Ireny, Teresy, Amelii, Asi, Filipa i Jana.
