Lviv has preserved few examples of sacred architecture with elements of Art Nouveau. Many of these buildings have been irretrievably lost due to wars, Soviet redevelopment, or negligence, and those that survived often bear little resemblance to their original form. Yet even the remaining examples are largely unknown and overlooked, even by the city’s residents.
In this article, we aim to draw attention to this little-studied chapter of the city’s history by exploring the sacred architecture of Art Nouveau, its roots, distinctive features, and impact on Lviv’s architectural landscape.
Jesuit Monastery “Domus Recollectum”
The Church of Saint Joseph the Betrothed on Zaliznyaka Street in Lviv, located in the cozy Novyi Svit neighborhood, once served as a Jesuit retreat house. The idea for its construction belonged to Father Stanisław Sopruha, who sought to create a space for spiritual renewal not only for clergy but also for workers and craftsmen. With the support of the Jesuit Foundation, a plot of land was purchased in 1906, and construction was completed within two years. Later, between 1914 and 1916, the Church of Saint Joseph and Blessed Andrzej Bobola was built as part of the retreat house, based on a design by architect Stanisław Dydak. It became an important center of spiritual life for the Jesuits.
The church suffered damage during World War II from shelling, and after the war, Soviet authorities repurposed part of the building for school use, altering its structure. Only in 1991 was the building returned to the Greek Catholic community, and in 1993 the church was consecrated in honor of Saint Joseph the Betrothed.
The main building stands out with its architecture in the Viennese Secession style: three stories with an attic, a high plinth, and flat ceilings. The façade is adorned with elegant arches over the main entrance, crowned by a large semicircular window. At one time, this window was complemented by a relief image of the Virgin Mary, harmonizing with nearby sculptures of Saint Stanisław Kostka and Blessed Andrzej Bobola. These refined statues, created in 1911 by talented sculptor Stanisław Piątkowicz, were notable for their deep symbolism and craftsmanship. The church interior features striking interplay between light and shadow, created by tall paired windows that emphasize the ribbed vaults. The central nave is divided into three sections by granite columns supporting arcades. The rear part of the church ends in an apse, smoothly transitioning into square sacristies and a treasury. Profiled cornices and the concave pediment of the central nave, crowned by an arch, add to the building’s elegance and harmony.
Original murals from 1923, unfortunately, have not survived. However, in 2003, the church was adorned with Neo-Byzantine murals by Sviatoslav Vladyka and Danylo Turetsky.
Chapel of Jesus the Merciful and Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The Metropolitan Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Latin Cathedral, is located in the heart of Lviv at 1 Cathedral Square. It impresses not only with its interior decor but also with its wealth of holy relics and valuable historical artifacts.
One of the cathedral’s standout features is its altars, nine of which remain intact.
Upon entering, visitors are greeted by the Chapel of Jesus the Merciful and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Built by Piotr Milewski in the first half of the 18th century, the chapel is situated in the cathedral’s southwestern corner. It carries a dual name due to its two iconic images: Jesus the Merciful and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The latter image was added later and is accompanied by the symbol IHS, signifying “Jesus, the Savior of Humankind.”
The chapel’s décor is executed in the Art Nouveau style. The altar, crafted from brown marble, features a cross at its base and statues of the Virgin Mary and Saint John the Evangelist. Marble reliefs adorn the walls, depicting scenes such as “The Entry into Jerusalem” and “The Fall of Jesus Under the Cross.” Paintings illustrate the healing of a blind boy, the Resurrection of Christ, and Eucharistic symbols. A statue of Saint Joseph holding the Child is placed in the altar niche.
The chapel also houses a silver reliquary with the relics of Saint Zygmunt Gorazdowski, the patron of Lviv’s poor, canonized in 2005. Commemorative plaques honor 20th-century Lviv bishops, including Bolesław Twardowski, Marian Rechowicz, Jan Nowicki, Eugeniusz Baziak, and Marian Jaworski.
At the chapel entrance are epitaphs of canon Piotr Milewski and his father, relocated from the dismantled Milewski Chapel in 1762. As the nearest chapel to the cathedral entrance, it traditionally hosts a nativity scene during Christmas and the Holy Sepulchre during Lent.
Pre-Funeral Chapel “Beit Tahara” (1911–1914)
The pre-funeral chapel “Beit Tahara” was built at Lviv’s New Jewish Cemetery between 1911 and 1914. The design was created by architects Roman Feliński and Jerzy Grottowski, and construction was carried out by the architectural and construction firm of Michał Ulam. The chapel’s unique architectural concept combined various styles and elements: neoclassicism, Art Nouveau, and features of traditional Jewish architecture.
The interior was adorned with frescoes and stained-glass windows by artist Feliks Wygrzywalski. The unconventional interpretation of a pre-funeral structure sparked long debates among architects and engineers, as its blend of styles and innovative design made “Beit Tahara” stand out among Lviv’s other sacred buildings.
The monumental structure, featuring a copper dome, central composition, and porticos on all four sides, became a true jewel of the New Jewish Cemetery. Unfortunately, the chapel was destroyed by the Nazis in 1942, sharing the fate of many Jewish ritual structures in Lviv. The New Jewish Cemetery was later annexed to the Yaniv Cemetery, and it no longer exists today.
Sacred architecture in Lviv’s Art Nouveau style harmoniously combines early 20th-century European trends with local traditions. Regrettably, many monuments like the “Beit Tahara” chapel were lost. However, those that remain form a vital part of the city’s architectural heritage. Delicate and lesser-known, they reflect the multifaceted history of Lviv and require greater popularization and research to preserve their cultural significance.
Photo and materials: Vitaly Luchechko
Literature:
Interactive Lviv. St. Zaliznyaka, 11 – Church of St. Joseph the Bridegroom (https://lia.lvivcenter.org/uk/objects/zalizniaka-11-church/)
Interactive map of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (https://map.ugcc.ua/view/302-hram-svyatogo-yosyfa-ss-svyatogo-vinkentiya-lviv)
your city What every Lviv resident should see. Church of Saint Joseph the Betrothed (https://tvoemisto.tv/exclusive/shcho_maie_pobachyty_kozhen_lvivyanyn_tserkva_svyatogo_yosyfa_obruchnyka_116563.html)
Lviv. Church of Saint Joseph (https://ukrainaincognita.com/lvivska-oblast/lviv/lviv-tserkva-svyatogo-iosyfa)
Metropolitan Basilica. Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lviv (https://lwowskabazylika.org.ua/uk/kostel/arkhitektura/)
Ancestral glory. Beth Tahara chapel, interior fragments
(https://www.pslava.info/LvivM_ShevchenkaVul_JanivskyjCvynt128_041-2,224842.html)
The work of Biryulov Yu. “Art of the Lviv Secession”
Interactive Lviv. The territory of the Yaniv cemetery – the pre-burial chapel “Beit Tahara” (https://lia.lvivcenter.org/uk/objects/beit-tahora/)
Wikipedia: Yaniv Cemetery
