Święta Góra situated near Gostyń in the Wielkopolska Region has been famous for the cult of the Virgin Mary for centuries. The origins of the Marian cult go back to the beginning of the 15th century when the founder of the town Piotr Borek Gostyński built a chapel there in 1468. The constantly increasing amount of pilgrims visiting the place made the next owner of the town apply to the Bishop of Poznań - Jan Lubrański - for the permission to build a church there and to examine the truthfulness of the supernatural events taking place there. In 1512 the special commission appointed by the Bishop issued a decree certifying the genuity of the supernatural healings and allowing the local authorities to build a bigger church there. However, the Reformation stopped the process of the religious life development for a while as during the period of the Reformation the miraculous portrait of the Mother of Christ was destroyed. But two other worshipped images survived, i.e. the wooden statue of the Mother of Sorrow, resembling Pieta, and the wooden crucifix. In 1540 a copy of the destroyed portrait of the Mother of Christ was repainted proving the great respect it held at the time. This very portrait has been the heart of the Marian cult in Święta Góra Sanctuary up to the present. The portrait painted on the wooden board by an anonymous artist depicts the Mother of Christ with the Child, type Hodigitria. In the background one can see the old church situated in the local landscape and the view of Gostyń. It seems to prove that the portrait was ordered by a local inhabitant. Numerous foundations and gifts made since then such as the altars, liturgical vessels, and silver votive badges appearing since 17th century seem to prove the increasing importance of the sanctuary. A turning point in the history of the place was the miraculous healing of a nobleman Adam Konarzewski in 1647. In order to thank God for the gift of life Adam Konarzewski vowed to the Mother of Christ to found a new church and the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri which would take care of the Sanctuary. Due to his initiative the Congregation of Fathers Oratorians was founded. Five years later they started building the new church. As it was designed by Baltazar Longhen, the architect of the Santa Maria della Salute in Venice, the new church resembles it a lot. The construction of both the church and the monastery is a very good example of the baroque sacred architecture. The object is composed of two basic parts: the major one designed on the octagonal plan, covered with a ribbed dome and surrounded by a wreath of chapels, and the presbytery on the eastern side of the building. The presbytery is also covered by a dome, supported by the big arcades rising up from the four pillars. The dome is flanked by two chambers in front of the High Altar. The church was designed and constructed by two famous Italian architects working in the Wielkopolska Region at the time - Jan and Jerzy Catenacci & Pompeo Ferrari. Inside the church one can see nine baroque altars constructed in the first part of the 18th century. The three of them in the Presbytery were made by the famous Wrocław artists - Provisore & J. Siegwitz.

On the High Altar one can admire the Tabernacle, a magnificent example of goldsmithery art made in the workshop of a very talented Wrocław craftsman - T. Plackwitz. The magnificent ambo constructed in 1756 by an unknown artist and a grand suit of armour exemplify the influence of the rococo art. The major dome is covered with extremely valuable frescos made by a Silesian artist J.W. Neumhertz in 1746. Both the minor dome and the walls of the Presbytery are decorated with the frescos of the Munich Painters M. Beur & J. Frank (1864-1868). In the sanctuary well-preserved rococo furniture form 18th century can be admired. The vault [treasure house] houses magnificent exhibits of the artisanship, e.g. sacred vessels, reliquaries, candlesticks, monstrances - two of which were made between 1759-1763 by the Augsburg goldsmiths. In the sacristy wardrobes one can see extremely rich collection of liturgical gowns illustrating the changing trends & styles. The new monastery built in the years 1732-1748 was designed by Pompeo Ferrari. The two - storeyed monastery is built on the quadrilateral plan with the atrium in the middle. The facade resembles a palace with its entrance and dominating clock tower. One can find here typical monastery chambers, i.e. a library, a lectorium, a scriptorium, an archive, a gate, a refectory, a dormitory and a kitchen. The interior design exemplifies the magnificent works of art - paintings, sculptures and artisanship.

What is especially worth mentioning is a unique collection of the 17th century portraits of the Polish nobility and a valuable collection of coffin portraits. The archive houses a rich collection of parchment documents, the oldest dating from the 15th century. The chronicles of church, guilds, numerous manuscripts containing household and medical records are a valuable source of information for scientific research.

The Sanctuary in Święta Góra is not only an important centre of the Marian cult but also a magnificent place for the development of spiritual and religious life.

Not only do pilgrims coming to the Sanctuary search for aesthetical impressions but they want to experience the sacrum which can only be found here, in the peace and quiet of this unique monastery.