Church of John of God, Warsaw

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Church of John of God, Warsaw

The Church of John of God is a Roman Catholic church in Warsaw, run by the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God (the Bonifratrzy). It is at 12 Bonifraterska Street in Warsaw and, from 1976 to 2013, was the seat of the parish of St. John of God.

History
- In 1650 Bogusław Leszczyński founded a church and monastery of the Brothers in his village Leszno near Warsaw. The first prior was Father Modest Genoino.
- The Morsztyn brothers helped move the community closer to the city center.
- The new church and convent were completed in 1673.
- In 1713 Augustus II the Strong bought the nearby palace and expanded the area, including the monastery and church. Work began on a new church at the current site in 1728.
- A hospital was built with the church, starting with eight beds.
- In 1760 a larger hospital was added. Architect Jakub Fontana left 74,000 złoty for maintenance and to help the sick in his will of 1773; this was approved in 1775.
- Over time the brothers shifted focus to medical care.

Later events
- During periods of foreign rule, the Brothers Hospitallers were punished for helping Polish insurgents in 1831 and 1863.
- In the Warsaw Uprising, the church, hospital and monastery were important defense points and were defended until August 25, 1944. They were badly damaged.
- The church was rebuilt after the war, but the hospital was not.

Interior
- Inside the church there are few monuments: a 17th-century image of St. Andrew near the altar and a Virgin Mary statue. There are also memorials honoring the Home Army and Father Serafin Kloc, who helped restore the church.