Bielany Monastery on August 15, 2014 in Cracow Poland

In Poland on August 15 is the holiday called Feast of the Assumption of Mary. This is one of only a few days that women are allowed to enter the monastery of Bielany. Men are allowed in to the monastery 12 times during the year.

The monks in Bielany are of the Cameldule order. The order was founded in Italy in the mid 11th century and came to Cracow in the early 17th century. Currently the largest order in Poland is in Cracow. There is also a smaller group outside of Warsaw.

We took the city bus out to the monastery. As we approached the hill ascending up to the monastery, we saw grape vines. We are not sure to whom they belong. There was no sign. Poland is not known to produce its own wine, so we are stumped. Here are the grapes.

Above is the monastery from the vineyard.

As you walk up the hill toward the monastery, you pass forest trails on your right. This is the Wolski Forest (Las Wolski). As a side trip one can explore these forest paths.

There are two entrances you pass through on the way to the monastery. Here you see them both.

As you enter the last archway you see a painting of the Cameldule monks on the wall. They typically sport a long beard. Their life is one of silence, isolation and celibacy. They take a vow of silence. 

The outside of the monastery is quite impressive. On the holiday there were a lot of people that made the trek up the hill.

Here is the main altar.

The many side chapels are quite elaborately decorated. Here is one of them.

A fun room to visit is off to the side of the monastery. It is called the "acoustic room". When someone whispers softly into the corner of the room, the person in the opposite corner can hear what that person is saying loud and clearly. It is an acoustic phenomenon. 

If you ever have the chance to visit this monastery, I would highly recommend it. The opportunities to do so are not that often.