Church of Mary Magdalene in Rabka, Wooden church in Rabka-Zdrój, Poland
The Church of Mary Magdalene is a wooden log building in Rabka-Zdrój featuring a polygonal presbytery, rectangular nave, and a square tower with an onion-shaped cupola. It now houses the Władysław Orkan Museum, which contains more than 5000 objects including regional crafts, tools, and traditional clothing.
The structure was built between 1600 and 1606 to replace an earlier building from 1565, and was consecrated by Bishop Tomasz Oborski in 1634. This reconstruction shows how the local community needed a new place of worship as it grew.
The building is named after Mary Magdalene and displays wood construction typical of the region. Visitors can observe traditional craftsmanship and objects that shaped local life over centuries.
The museum is easily accessible and displays its collection within the spaces of the wooden building, where visitors can still recognize the original layout of the place of worship. The best time to visit is during warmer months when the town roads are accessible and the layout becomes clearer.
Human teeth were inserted between the wooden frames in the west wall of the nave, reflecting a historical practice of seeking protection from Saint Apollonia against toothaches. This unusual custom represented a belief in supernatural healing through direct contact with sacred symbols.
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