We had already been to the mosque, in Bohoniki, now it’s time to visit another sacred place of a foreign religion. On the way was the heart of the Orthodox Church in Poland. The most important place for Orthodox Christians Christians Christians – Holy Mountain Grabarka. It is located near Siemiatycze city.
In this place every year, on August 19, takes place the most important festival – the feast of the Transfiguration. That day, Grabarka is visited by thousands of pilgrims who come here on foot from distant areas and even by government officials. We were there two days before the feast, so the area was not crowded yet. However we saw preparations to this event. Along the way we passed a pilgrimage group – they had about 40 km left to the end.
The largest pilgrimage that comes here starts its route in Białystok. This year, it was organized for the thirtieth time, and 250 people took part in it.
At the top of the mountain there is a sanctuary and below we can find a chapel with a wonderful spring. According to the faithful, the spring’s flowing water is a source of healing power. People use handkerchiefs to wash their faces and sick areas of their bodies. The tissues are then kept as a symbol of illness leaving the body.
At the top of the mountain we found a small wooden church. There is a belief that people that they can clear their souls of bad and illness by walking in a circle around the church on their knees. In this way they ask for grace, or want to thank God for something. We saw few of them there. Inside the temple people were praying. The altar is generously decorated, and the dominant color there is gold.
The slopes of the mountain are covered with thousands of crosses. A whole bunch of Orthodox crosses. People started leaving crosses here in 1710. They believe that leaving the cross is equal to leave there their disease.
This place is the equivalent of Czestochowa for Catholics. It is worth seeing this unique place. If you want to avoid the crowds, select a date other than August 19.