Dominican Church, Lviv

 

When I first read about Lviv (or Lvov) and made a mental note that it was full of Baroque, I had no idea that it would be a place of refuge at the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in spring 2022. As I write now its security is being compromised and I fear for its people and monuments.

The Dominicans first came to Lviv in the 13th century and several churches were built, damaged and replaced. By 1745 it was clear that a new church was required. With major funding from Nicolaj Potocki, a local nobleman, it was begun and consecrated in 1764.   In that time it was planned by an amateur architect, John de Witte. He was a Polish  army captain who later became a general.  The building works were directed by the local builder Martin Urbanik. Since then a neo Baroque bell tower was added in 1865, as there were no west towers on the facade. There was a big renovation of the facade and interior 1885-1914. It was used as a warehouse during World war 2 and as a Museum of religion and Atheism during Soviet rule. After Ukraine became independent in 1991 it was given to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Formerly the Church of Corpus Christi it is now dedicated to the Holy Eucharist. 

John de Witte seems to have produced a plan founded on the Italian Baroque with whiffs of South German influence. The influence of the Karlskirche in Vienna is also obvious : a good influence in my opinion! An oval shaped nave is surrounded by 8 piers with 8 pairs of columns to support a drum containing larger than life statues of monks from various monastic orders and rising to a huge  oval shaped dome.  Four arms of a cross come from the nave with the entrance vestibule and extended sanctuary on the main axis and two chapels on the minor axis. In addition there are 4 more chapels on the diagonals between the arms of the cross. On the exterior the dome is decorated with ionic columns and rococo vases.

This is obviously a monumental and impressive building which  I may never see. The little video belkow gives a good flavour : except for the music which reminds me of the Benny Hill Show....