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The Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Polish Bazylika Narodzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny) is a church and monastery complex in Chelm, Poland. The Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded c. 1260 by Daniel Galitsky and existed until the first half of the 18th century. The current building was built by Uniate bishops in 1735-56 according to the project of Paolo Fontana. At different times the church belonged to the Orthodox Church of Constantinople (c. 1260-1596), the Greek Catholic Church (1596-1875), the Russian Orthodox Church (1875-1919), the Ukrainian Autocephalous Church Orthodox (1940-1944) and Roman Catholic (1919-1940, from 1944) churches. Until the 20th century, its main shrine was the Kholm Icon of the Mother of God. Currently, the basilica has a list with this icon.