Krynoczka

Krynoczka, also known as Holy Krynoczka, is a spring located in the Białowieża Forest, 3 km from Hajnówka, considered miraculous by the faithful of the Orthodox Church. In the past, this place was called the Miednoje forest glade, after the name of a nearby stream. Krynoczka is the site of annual pilgrimages on the occasion of the Holy Trinity. Nearby stands a wooden church dedicated to the Holy Maccabean Brothers, built in 1846, which belongs to the Parish of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in Dubiny. Next to the well, now sheltered under a canopy, a small chapel was built in 1848 from the offerings of the faithful. According to local legends, the veneration of this holy spring was known as early as the 13th century, linked to the activities of monks fleeing Tatar invasions. Another legend tells of a miraculous appearance of the icon of the Mother of God on a nearby tree. The documented veneration of the spring from the 19th century was local in nature, and Holy Liturgies in the chapel were held mainly on the feast day of the Maccabean Brothers and on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Since 1894, the second day of the celebrations has been the day of the Holy Trinity. Krynoczka was also associated with the monks from the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Vilnius, who came here to pray. Pilgrims visiting Krynoczka traditionally wipe their ailing body parts with a handkerchief moistened with water from the spring, leaving it on the fence as a symbolic act of getting rid of the illness. Krynoczka is a place with a rich history, deep cultural and architectural significance, featuring preserved wooden structures that testify to the beliefs and practices of the local community.