50 14th century skulls found in Gdansk

St Brigid's, Gdansk

The remains were found by a church employee, who was removing rubble from the premises of the Repentant Sinners Chapel, the oldest part of St. Brigid’s Church, dating from the mid-14th century.

The skulls were found in an area where ‘fallen women’ came to pray, say experts.

“The crypt, one of the biggest in the church, has not been opened for a long time, “ says priest Ludwik Kowalski.

“When we lit up the place and inserted a camera inside using a broomstick, we were awed to see about fifty human skeletons and skulls.”

When the body of St. Brigid was transported from Rome to Sweden in the 14th century, the funeral procession made a stop-over in Gdansk.

The coffin with the saint’s body remained in the chapel for two weeks. The church priest would like to display St. Brigid’s relics in this place now. (kk)