During the Soviet era this was by and large the only house of worship that remained open. However, as the Russians had compelled most Polish Roman Catholics to resettle within the borders of the newly fashioned Poland, only a minority of the old congregration attended mass. That said, the Cathedral itself has managed to survive in rather magnificent shape. Originally raised in 1360, it has been a focus for the Roman Catholic community ever since. Polish King Jan Kazimierz crowned the Virgin Mary Queen of Poland in this very building in 1656 as war raged across the land.
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