Amazing crosses in Podlasie (EN)

For centuries, the symbol of the Christian cross has been inscribed in the Polish landscape. Once in every Polish village, you could come across this Christian sign - by the road, in a field, next to the house. Nowadays, when traveling on provincial roads, it is increasingly difficult to find a cross. However, there is a region where it occurs almost as often as in the old days - we are talking about Podlasie in the north-eastern part of Poland.

A characteristic feature of Podlasie is the deep faith of its inhabitants. This is one of the few regions of Poland where Christianity has practically not changed its character for centuries. While in other parts of Poland, the church was subject to civilization influences, which is most evident when we look at the appearance and surroundings of modern temples, in eastern Poland little has changed in this respect. One of the elements of the Christian faith are crosses that have been placed in different places for centuries - along roads, in fields, in places recognized as holy. While in many regions of Poland this custom has practically ceased, Podlasie is still alive.

In Podlasie, crosses are most often found on the outskirts of the village, in the fields and near sacred buildings. Crosses at the edges of the village mark a symbolic border between the inner village world and the outer and unknown. It is to protect the inhabitants of a given village from disasters, i.e. war or illness. Crosses standing in the fields are to provide its host with crops and protection against disasters, i.e. drought or pests. Crosses located next to Orthodox temples are usually called votive crosses. They were and are put by the faithful who want to thank God for the favors they have received or ask for them. Often on these crosses we can find a votive text, usually written in Cyrillic, from which it is intended. Most often votive offer healing from illness or thanks for good crops.

The inhabitants of Podlasie still continue the tradition of placing crosses. On some of them we can find dates from the 21st century. However, the most impressive are old, wooden, antique crosses. You can see the passage of time on them. Over the years, the seasons have furrows in the wood. Over time, the color of the wood becomes almost black. The part of the cross situated in the ground rots and therefore must be unearthed and removed from time to time and the cross re-buried. This gradually reduces its height. The oldest ones are already leaning on the ground. Some of them remember the turn of the 19th and 20th century, when most Podlasie crosses were created. It resulted from the growing resentment of the peasant population at the time of the tsarist authorities, and thus the increase in national and religious sentiment among them.

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Most roadside crosses can be found in the so-called The Land of Open Shutters - in the villages of Trzescianka, Puchły and Soce. Here you can come across single crosses standing e.g. in a field. However, the most impressive are groups of crosses, where next to the wooden ones stand objects wrought in iron or brick. We often come across such communities at the edges of the village.

I encourage everyone to visit Podlasie in Poland.

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