in the silence of sanctuaries g i e t r z w a ¸ d...
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In 1243 the contemporary pope decided to found the Varmian diocese in the north-west part of theprovince, inhabited by the Prussian tribe of Varms. Catholicism has always been a historical and religioussymbol of the spiritual identity and collective memory of generations of the locals. In the Middle AgesCatholicism made travellers from Christian Europe stand out from the pagan Prussians; since the times ofreformation it survived in the Bishop’s Duchy, surrounded by the Protestant neighbours. It has alwaysbeen a foundation of the Varmians’ autonomy. Today there are nine Minor Basilicas (Braniewo, DobreMiasto, Frombork, Gietrzwa∏d, K´trzyn, Nowe Miasto Lubawskie, Olsztyn, Stoczek Klasztorny, Âw. Lipka),and 24 sanctuaries in the province. The inhabitants of Masuria, unlike the Varmians, were mostly Protestants. The reformation started theindividuality of the land - the faith has become the most significant determinant of the inhabitants ofPrussia. This long-lasting structure of two co-existing lands and religions came to an end after the Second WorldWar. Within the framework of “the Action Vistula“ several thousands of people of the Ukrainian origin andwhose religion was Greek Catholicism were displaced and forced to inhabit the north of Varmia andMasuria. Today the region is abundant in towns and villages whose Greek Catholic inhabitants cherishtheir culture, customs, language and religion. There are also many sacral buildings which throughoutserved religious purposes of different religious groups. Today the Greek Catholic Church in Varmia andMasuria includes three deaneries (Olsztyn, Elblàg and W´gorzewo) and thirty two parishes.
IN THE SILENCE OF SANCTUARIES
16 17
BRANIEWO
ELBLÑG
ZIELONKAPAS¸¢CKA
LUBAWA
NOWE MIASTOLUBAWSKIE
GÓROWO I¸AWECKIE
CHWAL¢CINKROSNO
STOCZEK KLASZTORNY
LIDZBARK WARMI¡SKI
GLOTOWO
OLSZTYN
BARTÑGGIETRZWA¸D
ÂWI¢TA LIPKA
K¢TRZYN
WOJNOWO
G I E T R Z W A ¸ DLocated 18 km away from Olsztyn, on the road to Ostróda, Gietrzwa∏d is the only religioussite in Poland where the revelation of the Virgin Mary has been officially confirmed bythe Catholic Church. The present chapel was built in the place of the Virgin Mary’sappearance. Every year over a million of pilgrims visit this shrine where the Virgin Maryis worshipped. They go along the Rosary Avenue to drink the healing water of the spring.Inside the church there is a miraculous picture of the Holy Mother with a Child.
S T O C Z E K K L A S Z T O R N YThe monastery in this small village situated 11 km east of Lidzbark Warmiƒski has becomefamous due to the cult of the Virgin Mary, which developed after the statue of the VirginMary had been discovered here. When removed to a different place, the statue wouldmiraculously come back to its previous site. In 1639-1641 the church of an unusual (as forVarmia) shape of a rotunda was built here. The church, modest from the outside, has abeautiful interior with its splendid altars, artistically designed wrought-iron pulpit andmagnificent works in gold. In the residence of the brothers of the Marian Order, aninteresting staircase with a giant grandfather clock from 1749 (apparently the oldest inVarmia) can be admired. The monastery also houses the Memorial to the Primus of Poland,Cardinal Stefan Wyszyƒski, who was placed under house arrest here from 1953 to1954.
 W I ¢ T A L I P K AÂwi´ta Lipka - situated at the meeting point of Varmia and Masuria, between Reszel andK´trzyn is a well-known sanctuary of the Virgin Mary and also one of the most valuableBaroque sacral monuments in Poland. The premises of the sanctuary are enteredthrough a beautiful 18 th-century gate constructed at a blacksmith’s workshop nearbyReszel. The three-naved interior is overwhelming with all its splendour. The greatestattraction is without doubt the Baroque pipe organ. As the organ plays, the figures makemovements - the angel in the middle tower plays the mandolin, whereas the cherubswith bugles twirl around. In the summertime concerts are held in the church.
G Ó R O W O I ¸ A W E C K I ESituated on the hills, the town, in spite of numerous storms, has managed to preserveits medieval arrangement. What is worth visiting is definitely the 14 th-century church- originally Catholic, then Evangelical, and at present Greek Catholic. The interior isdecorated with frescos and iconostas painted by Jerzy Nowosielski. The church alsoprides itself on its interesting Baroque ceiling polychromy from 1660, one of the mostbeautiful in the whole land of Varmia and Masuria. In 1947, within the framework of the„Action Vistula“ a large number of Ukrainian citizens were forced to move here. Payinga visit to the Gas Works Museum is also worthwhile.
W O J N O W OWojnowo is famous due to the Philipons, a group of the Russian old Orthodox Church,who did not agree to the reforms introduced in the 17 th century by the Patriarch Nikonin the Russian Orthodox Church. As they were persecuted, they fled Russia and settledin Masuria at the beginning of the 19 th century. On the southern side of the village, bythe lake DuÊ, the monastery complex was erected in the middle of th 19 th century.Behind, on the promontory, by the lake there is a small cemetery with valuable historicalcrosses. Out in the village one can also see a charming, painted white and blue, Orthodoxchurch with spiraled tops. The centre of the village is occupied by a church called“molenna“. It is worth seeing the iconastasis and colourful cushions on which one laystheir arms when bowing.
Sanktuarium Maryjne in Gietrzwałd
10-036 Gie trz wa∏d, ul. Klasztorna 1tel. +48 89 512 31 02, fax +48 89 512 34 [email protected]
Tourist information
10-036 Gie trz wa∏d, ul. KoÊcielna 1tel. +48 89 512 32 90, fax +48 89 512 31 [email protected]
The Monastery - Stoczek Klasztorny
11-106 Ki wi ty, Sto czek Klasz tor ny 30tel. +48 89 766 09 11
The Roman Catholic Parch of the Visitation
11-440 Re szel, Âwi´ ta Lip ka 29Dom Pielgrzyma, tel. +48 89 755 35 44, fax +48 89 755 35 66www.jezuici.pl/swlipka/ • [email protected]
Tourist information
11-220 Gó ro wo I∏a wec kie, ul. Ko Êciusz ki 26tel./fax +48 89 761 00 48
Klasztor Wojnowo
12-220 Ruciana Nida, Wojnowo 76tel. +48 87 425 70 30, 601 378 [email protected]
Tourist information
12-225 Ru cia ne-Ni da, ul. Dwor co wa 14tel. +48 87 423 19 [email protected]