Saint Hyacinth Basilica is one of the most well-known churches in Chicago Illinois. It was formally known as the Basilica of Saint Hyacinth and he is the perfect example of the Polish cathedral design style. This particular design is known for its decadence and grandeur in scale.
This is but one of many well-known Polish churches that is visible from the vantage point of the Kennedy Expressway. It is also known to be as popular as many religious buildings in the U.S. and beyond.
Would you like to learn more about this particular church? You came to the right place. We will try to give you some more pertinent details about this particular place of worship and give you an idea as to what you can expect once you go inside the building itself.
History and Architecture
The Saint Hyacinth Basilica was founded in 1894 by Resurrectionists whose roots hail from Chicago. This has become the seat of the city’s first Polish parish, Saint Stanislaus Kostka. It has also served as a refuge for Polish immigrants in Chicago especially during the polish migration that happened during Solidarity and afterward in the 1980s.
As for the architecture, the billing itself was designed by the architectural firm known as Worthmann and Steinbach. This particular firm has been the one responsible for building a lot of great cathedrals in Chicago.
Its influences hail from the Baroque era as well as the Revival style of design. It has ornate interiors as well as a brick red outer wall. The groundbreaking for the church was held in 1917 along with the laying of the cornerstone
Variations from American Designs
What makes it stand out among other similar buildings, particularly the American-based church designs is that it boasts an elongated three-pronged design for the towers. This particular blueprint is mainly Polish in origin. Inside, people will get to see various statues namely images of Saint Peter and St. Paul as well as the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Mother Mary.
At the dome ceiling light is a mural covering at least 3000 square feet of about 150 well-known religious figures such as saints, as well as the clergy and laymen.
Conclusion
This is why you should definitely give it a visit if you ever get the chance to travel to Illinois sooner rather than later. You will surely not regret your decision to do so. In fact, you might even feel more inclined to pray because of the marvelous designs in this particular religious building.