House of Modern Day Martyrs

Most people believe faith is about helping others even when there's great risk. That's how the priests and nuns of St. Kazimierz Church practiced their faith, and this house of worship is a reminder of the sacrifice these heroes ultimately made.

Located in the stylish New Town section of Warsaw, the church actually took a different route than most to becoming a sacred spot. The building was originally a grand palace, but Queen Maria Sobieska (yes, like the vodka, you heathen) purchased the residence to turn it into a Benedictine church in the late 17th century. In the centuries that followed, the former palace went through several redesigns that ultimately gave the church a Palladian style.

Then World War II came. Seeing the carnage around them, St. Kazimierz Church became a hospital during the Warsaw Uprising helping the many civilians that were injured in the crossfire. Eventually, the church defied Nazi orders and started helping the Polish insurgents, which they'd been severely warned against. When the Nazis discovered what the church was doing, they aimed their weapons at the altar. Monday marked the 59th anniversary of the worst attack, which left four priests, 35 nuns and thousands of civilians dead. They reduced the church to rumble.

Hoping to give these martyrs the respect they deserve, the church was meticulously rebuilt from 1947-53 with a pulpit, bell and organs that date from the early 1800s and crowned with a glorious dome. One can even call the dome the earthly representation of the crowns these martyrs hopefully received in heaven.