He was born on August 5, 1882 in a small village of Karolina, near Pułtusk. He graduated from the Catholic Seminary in Warsaw with theology and philosophy as his fields of expertise. Roman Archutowski was ordained in the Warsaw’s St. John the Baptizer metropolitan cathedral in 1904. He continued his theological studies at the Imperial Roman Catholic Theological Academy in Saint Petersburg the following year. After his return to Warsaw, he was appointed both the prefect of Gymnasium Realne and the catechist in the elite private Saint Stanislaus Kostka Junior High School. Władysław Bartoszewski - a former Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Witold Gombrowicz – one of the most notable Polish writers of the 20th century, as well as Ryszard Białołus – the commander of Battalion Zośka – the legendary scouts’ unit of the Home Army, were all among the school’s graduates.

Rev. Archutowski quickly gained renown among both his students and their parents. His exceptional personality introduced the aura of kindness and family atmosphere into the school under his authority. The priest would embrace all the people in need, offering his advice and spiritual support. He led a modest life and he spent his savings on providing financial aid for the poor. In 1925 Roman Archutowski was promoted and took position of the school’s principal.

In their testimonies, graduates recall that although the priest was beaming with kindness, he lacked didactic skills and was not an outstanding speaker either.

One of his former student recalled:

“Roman Archutowski was not a particularly talented educator. He was rather a scientist, who combined his work with great dedication and devotion.”

In his scientific research he focused on the history of the Catholic Church. Before World War II, one of his works was a very popular course book concerning this subject. Furthermore, he composed over 200 entries in the Concise Catholic Encyclopaedia, and published numerous dissertations appearing in theological journals. For many years he held the chairman’s position in the Polish Prefect Association. He also worked in the Warsaw’s metropolitan curia and was a capitulary in the cathedral chapter. For his service to the Church, Archutowski was decorated with “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” [Eng: For Church and Pope] – one of the most honorific orders awarded by the Holy See.

In the spring of 1940, in recognition of his personal qualities and his experience in education, Roman Archutowski became the rector of Warsaw Metropolitan Seminary. For two years,
he fulfilled his duties with diligence and devotion, but the activity was brought to a sharp end. In September 1942, Roman Archutowski was charged with giving shelter to the Jews hiding in the seminary, arrested, and incarcerated at Gestapo Pawiak prison. After a month of investigation and brutal interrogations, he was released. He did not enjoy his freedom for long, however, as the Germans arrested him again on the night between November 10-11, 1942.

During the four months of his detention, Roman Archutowski faced the hard time of his trial. As a priest, he would stand out among other inmates – his cassock infuriated the Wachmeisters [Pawiak prison guards] who frequently abused and harassed him. Despite the excessive violence of the prison staff, Archutowski refused to trade his robe for any regular clothes. In March 1943, he was deported to Majdanek, where he was kept in barracks nos.9 and 21 within Field III of the camp. Just like other inmates deported from the Pawiak prison he was at first assigned to Gartnerei – a labour group responsible for gardening chores. Later, however, after the epidemic of typhus broke out in the camp, Archutowski was forced to transport the corpses of the deceased to the crematorium building.

Soon, he fell ill as well and was moved to the camp infirmary. He continued his service as a priest there, hearing confessions of other imprisoned patients. The time he spent in the infirmary proved to be the priest’s final Lenten Retreat. Exhausted with his incarceration and the devastating living conditions of the camp, Roman Archutowski died on April 18, 1943. He endured the beatings, suffering and abuse with patience and humbleness. Until his final moments he continued to hear confessions, comfort and care for other prisoners. Another priest incarcerated at Majdanek, Edward Dolecki, recalled him in the following way:

“We began to become acquainted with each other. I talked to professor Archutowski. He told me that he had been kept in Pawiak. He looked very bad. I later found out that unfortunately he would not survive the camp. He died of exhaustion. I will never forget the moment I asked him to hear my confession. We were both sitting on a bunk bed. I confessed my sins and then he asked me to hear his. That mutual confession was my first and final conversation with Roman Archutowski. The following day, he was taken to the infirmary, where he eventually passed away”.

Roman Archutowski was among the 108 World War II martyrs, who were declared blessed during the John Paul II pilgrimage to Poland on June 13, 1999.

Władysław Bartoszewki gave his comments in an interview:

“I am deeply moved. My school boss – was a saint and I had no idea back then. I was just a silly kid, a teenager who only tried not to step on his toes. I did not realize what a great person he was. I did not understand that. Even today, to think that I was taught the history of the church by a man who turned out to be a martyr, relentlessly and ceaselessly faithful to his country and his calling”.

Blessed Rev. Roman Archutowski is the patron of the Catholic High School in Warsaw.

Anna Wójtowicz