Iwo Odrowąż was a medieval Polish humanist, statesman, and bishop. He studied in Bologna and Paris,[1] maintained contacts with a number of western-European intellectuals, and developed for himself a reputation as a "splendid representative of medieval Latin culture", though no writings of his survive.[2] He served as chancellor to Leszek I the White from 1206 to 1218, and as Bishop of Kraków from 1218 to 1229.[1][2]
He spent his youth in Paris, where he undertook learning. Designated by Pope Honorius III as archbishop of Gniezno, however he refused to accept this office.
In the years 1220-1224 as Bishop of Krakow, he built a church dedicated to Saint Nicholas in the village Końskie, establishing a parish in Końskie. Next in 1229 he funded a church in Daleszyce.
In 1223 thanks to his endeavours, the monastic Dominican Order moved from Bologna to Poland, with the first Polish (Dominican) monk Jacek Odrowąż, who in the year of 1594 was recognised as a Saint. In 1220 he brought the monastic Order of Duchacy (Ordo Fratrum Canonicorum Regularium Sancti Spiritus de Saxia) to Prądnik and entrusted them with the care of the hospital. He is thought to be the likely founder of the church in Wysocice at the beginning of 13th century. In 1222 in Kacice near Słomnik he established the Cistercian monastery, which later moved to Mogiła near Krakow.