The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands on Kościelna Street in Białystok. Dean Wilhelm Szwarc commissioned Józef Pius Dziekoński to design it, with designs dated January 1, 1896. Tsarist authorities initially allowed only an expansion of the existing Renaissance church, so the project was enlarged accordingly. Construction began on April 19, 1900, and it was built from 1902 to 1905. It was consecrated on September 17, 1905.
The style is Neo-Gothic, based on the Vistula-Baltic Gothic style. It is a three-nave, four-bay basilica about 90 meters long, with two towers reaching 72.5 meters. It holds 9,500 worshipers.
The Germans' retreat in July 1944 spared the church from major damage. Pope John Paul II gave it basilica status in 1985.
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