Molenna in Wodziłki, Old Believer wooden church in Wodziłki, Poland
This molenna is a wooden prayer house built by Old Believers in Wodziłki and sits in a valley surrounded by the protection of a national park. The structure displays traditional architectural features including grouped windows and simple wooden construction.
Wodziłki was founded in 1788 by Russians fleeing religious conflicts in their homeland related to church reforms. The settlement grew as a refuge for those seeking to maintain their traditional faith practices away from state control.
Local families who follow the Old Believer faith continue to gather here for prayer and maintain customs that have survived for centuries in this remote location. The way the building is used reflects a way of life quite different from the surrounding region.
The building is accessible by cycling along the Green Velo trail, which passes through the national park with good conditions for bike travel. Visitors who want to enter should arrange this in advance through local contacts in the area.
Next to the prayer house stands a traditional Russian wooden steam bath that can be recognized by its smoke vents and was used for ritual cleansing by members of the community. This type of structure was foreign to the local region before the Russians arrived.
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