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Warsaw, August 28, 2003.
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Camedolite Monastery at Wigry
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There are some magic places, where I used to come back very often, and that is for sure, I will do it again, and again, and… Former Camedolite Hermitage is just such kind of a place.
If that Monastery would be located, like many other churches, rather among many buildings near some high traffic road, and not on the island (with artificially made hills) which later on was connected to the land by human made dyke – perhaps nobody would pay any attention to it. If Camedolite monks would still exist there (they have been expelled from this place more than 200 years ago) and they would like to keep their life style in top secret, perhaps no visitors would be allowed to enter this place.
So, why this place is so meaningful for such a lot of people? Why Victoras Vinikaitis sacrificed whole of his life, taking care of both, the monastery and the visitors? Perhaps, because of colorful and full of events history? – and wonderful localization between large lake and the largest and the oldest forests in Poland? – perhaps because of the last Camedolite monk? I do not know! – but as long as I can visit lovely place any time I wish, even just to admire beautiful “play of lights” during sunset – I do not have to search for the answer to this question.
On the contrary to the guide from Wigry, who is no longer among us, the Monastery and it’s founders has a lot of descriptions in literature and the Internet, so I am not going to duplicate widely known texts and immediately would like to go to presentation of the pictures. The only reason to take them, was my desire to preserve the beauty, and to be able to share it with my friends who are spread all over the world. This charming place is used for concerts also. Two years ago I had a pleasure to hear our famous violinist, Kaja Danczowska, with her interpretation of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
Because all of the Lithuanian borderland is full of small hills, and because the lake of Wigry has very irregular shape with plenty of small gulfs, there is no problem to find a variety of places to take one more picture, which is different from previous. That is why there are so many different pictures of the Monastery.
On the right – there is the series of pictures taken just from one hill. You can admire the beauty of Monastery which is behind small city of Stary Folwark (Old Grange). The same picture was taken several times, but the passing time, and sunset, caused each one to be different from the rest – because of the change of illumination and colors.
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The shape of the Monastery is wonderful regardless if it is observed from the land…
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…or rather from flowing boat or canoe.
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It is worth to find places around the lake of Wigry, which allow to observe warm colors of Monastery walls, when they appear to burn during sunset, with the background of pink clouds.
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The strongest impression Monastery makes during nighttime, long after the sunset. Electrical lights show his giant shape with the dark blue sky as a background.
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When the night is free from winds, electrically illuminated buildings are mirrored in the lake, performing the show of the colorful images. Unfortunately even weak wind forces these sights to disappear.
Sometimes it is possible to observe beautifully mirrored monastery even in the day time.
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Sunny weather is the best to walk between Monastery buildings and gardens. There is no problem to feel the ghost of bygone times, while resting between old buildings.
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On the place, where Camedolite monks used to work and meditate, there is a hotel for reach guests. I am just wondering, what monks would say abut such use of their Hermitage.
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It is worth to visit the temple, and admire wonderful views of Monastery, lake and forests. Visitors from Lithuania liked this view because it’s similarity to Troki – this was known to the last Camedolite monk, even he never was there.
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After long walk, perhaps it is good time for short meditation in the church. Even this is not as big as many others, and does not have organs – which usually makes such places even more romantic – it has his own unique atmosphere.
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After destructions caused by the World War II, it took long time for reconstructions before we were able to admire it’s beauty, again.
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The copies of original paintings seen in the middle of main altar have been painted by nobody else, just Victor Vinikajtis, the unforgotten guide from Wigry – but about him I would like to write in another letter.
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He never attempted to forbid us to take any photos of Hermitage (inside and outside), but while leading visitors down to catacombs, where the Camedolite monks are buried without coffin, just on the wooden board, he used to ask: “Please allow the bones of monks to rest in peace.” I respected his old wish this time, also. So, I do not have any pictures from catacombs. Everybody has to visit Monastery, to make o bow to old monks.
Greetings from Wigry, (south-east of Poland – near border with Lithuania)
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