Hi there my Hivean friends and followers!
After some time, I am happy to come up with another episode of my photography series dedicated to interesting architectural pieces that I have got to see during my travels. This time around, I will take you to a very special place, a mysterious Camaldolese monastery that is located on the top of Srebrna Gora (meaning the Silver Mountain in English) in Krakow, Poland.
I guess I should start out by explaining what Camaldolese actually means as it might be the first time you are coming across this word, just like I was. In fact, Camaldolese is an ancient, very rare monastic order founded by St. Romuald in the early 11th century. These days, there are only some 60 Camaldolese monks who live in just 9 monasteries found in various parts of the world. Italy, the country where the order originated, is home to 3 monasteries, there are 2 in Poland (one them being this one) while Spain, USA, Colombia and Venezuela all house 1 monastery.
The Camaldolese order is extremely strict. The monks live in their hermitages, they only meet for the masses and prayers and they can only talk to each other on certain days of the week. They are vegetarian and they can only eat what they grow in the fields and gardens that are a part of the monastery complex. No modern technologies are allowed in there and the monks cannot leave the monastery unless absolutely necessary (for example when they need to see a doctor). Men from outside of the monastery can only visit the place at certain times of the day and women can only go inside on just 12 special days during the year (for example on the Easter Sunday, on the Pentecost Monday or on the Assumption of Mary).
We already visited the monastery twice - a couple of months ago for the first time and then last week again - but we didn´t get inside the complex on neither of these two occasions, we could only admire this very interesting landmark from the outside. That´s also where I took all these photos from. The first picture was taken during our second visit last week, the other ones were taken in May earlier this year (that´s why the trees were still leafless, it was a very cold spring here in Europe this year).
As I already mentioned, the monastery is located on a hill on the outskirts of Krakow and the remote location is not a coincidence at all. When the monks first settled there in the early 17th century, it was just a hill surrounded by dense woods. The city of Krakow was much smaller and far away back then. The monks were looking for a remote place where they wouldn´t be disturbed in their simple but very strict, ascetic lives so they decided to build the monastery right there on the top of the hill. There is also this old walled driveway leading to the monastery.
I don´t know why but when I was first walking up there, without even knowing about the existence of this mysterious order or the purpose of the monastery, I had a very strange feeling that this place is really special. It definitely has a very unique, somewhat spiritual atmosphere and vibes. It´s literally just a few old stone walls that separate you from people living there in absolute solitude, silence, contemplation and asceticism for centuries...
Apart from the monastery itself, the walled complex also includes the hermitages for the monks and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There also must be some gardens and fields in there where the monks grow their crops while adjacent to it, there are the renowned Srebrna Gora Vineyards (I haven´t found out whether the monks work in the vineyards too so I cannot tell).
To find out more about this very special, spiritual place, you can check out this article where you can also find an aerial shot of the whole complex that will give you a much better idea of the size and magnificence of this unique site.
Thanks for your attention everyone, have a nice day and enjoy the weekend :)
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Surprising, the life of a moje must be hard, I have had the opportunity to visit several monasteries, I did not know that there was one left here in Venezuela; What I have visited if they allow women to visit, you use it to make spiritual retreats, greetings, I like reading.
Yes, there is one in your country too. It´s known as "Yermo Camaldulense Santa Maria de Los Angeles". Maybe you will get to visit it one day :) Thanks for stopping by!
Photography Lovers won again ;)
We are happy to host you in our lovely community at least once a week.
This time we also learned about your spiritual side :)
Thanks for the community support Andy, much appreciated. Well, I haven´t really contributed to the community every week lately but I will try to do so from now on ;)
Hiya, @choogirl here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1262.
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Wohoo, thank you very much @choogirl and the whole Pinmapple gang! :)
I had no idea! I totally missed out on this order. It is very interesting to me to read about orders that are so strict and yet, people willingly subject themselves to their rules, even driven to them. I understand the feeling that you are talking about, it is like having a spiritual moment, it moves through you.
The architecture is stunning, it has such a grand presence. They just don't build them like that anymore.
Thank you for sharing it.
Thanks for stopping by Denise, it was a first time coming across this order for me too. Definitely one of the smallest and rarest orders out there but very interesting. There has always been something mysterious/fascinating about the monastic lifestyle and it´s exciting to learn about the specific rules and habits of different orders. I am going to watch a few movies on this theme, already started with "The Name of the Rose" with Sean Connery, very interesting one...
Interesting post, I wonder what it's like and how it feels to live like a monk even for just a week.
Actually some monasteries allow visitors and offer retreat. For example, you can spend a week but you have to work with other monks for your stay and follow their rules, you won't become a monk, you won't be let in into many places, but it's major goal is to meditate or pray, experience of monk's life is a bonus
Interesting, I didn´t know that. But you are not talking about this particular monastery, right?
Yes, but I don't know. You would have to ask if they accept visitors for retreat
I don´t think they would do that. Maybe some other orders but not the Camaldolese, these guys are very strict about their rules.
Let's ask @hallmann what he thinks about it
I think @romualdd was there for few days. BTW, @phortun, are you going to visit @krolestwo?
Exactly my thoughts after I found out what the building was and who and how live in there :) It actually even inpsired to look for some movies about monks. Already saw one yesterday - The Name of the Rose with Shean Connery. Very interesting.
Působivé místo a opět kvalitní fotografie :-)
!BEER
za použití #aroundtheworld
Díky díky :) Jsem si jist, že senzibilní jedinci jako ty, by na tom místě cítili zajímavé věci :)
:-).
Každé místo má svou "paměť". Určitě by se tam dalo "zachytit" nějaké zajímavosti :-)
To rozhodně. Zvlášť, když tam už po staletí žijí lidé tak zvláštní životy...
:-)
Good day. Very beautiful church architecture. The quality of your photograph is especially impressive. Thank you.
Thanks for checking out the photos, I am glad you enjoyed them :)
Thank you so much for responding to my comment. It's really polite. Many thanks. Good day to you.
you have got very nice post can you follow me, thanks
Thanks man :) I can see you are a member of the famous Bulgarian community here on Hive, that´s cool. I keep an eye on some of your fellows´ blogs and I will stop by yours too sometimes for sure ;) Cheers from a Czech currently living in Poland.
Nice to you, Poland and Czechia ara best frends at bulgarian sea, black sea gold
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Another stunning piece of architectural structure you can certainly pick them and the spiritual side, I can dig that a bit of meditation can do us all good.