Painting of Our Lady of Piekary

The most valuable item in the shrine in Domaszowice is a copy of the 15th-century painting of Our Lady of Piekary, depicting Madonna with Child. The original painting is kept in the sanctuary in Piekary Śląskie; the copy was painted in the second half of the 19th century. Virgin Mary’s dress on the painting is rich and ornamental, adorned with golden stars and laces; underneath, you can see a second cream-coloured dress with stars, while the dress of Jesus is decorated with beads and trimmings. Both the Virgin Mary and the Child have ornamental metal crowns on their heads.

It is difficult to pinpoint the beginning of the cult of Our Lady of Piekary, but we know that it was associated with a priest named Jakub Roczkowski who spread the word with such zeal that his Church superiors chastised him for overstepping his bounds. However, the Marian cult grew in strength and remains very popular in Silesia to this day; the images of Our Lady of Piekary can be found in many places there. The original painting, which dates back to the 15th century, was originally displayed in the church in Piekary Śląskie, but it was moved to Opole in 1702. Today, you can see it the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, where it is referred to as the painting of Our Lady of Opole.