Mnisi pustelnicy ze Srebrnej Góry
Anchorite monks of Srebrna Góra

Summary/Abstract: The efforts and foundation acts of Mikołaj Wolski, Great Marshal to the Crown, resulted in bringing monks of the Camaldolese Order from Italy in 1605. They settled on a hill known as the Silver Mountain at Bielany, near Cracow. The newly founded monastery appealed to local adherents of hermits’ life, who started to join the Order. In 163 lthe first Polish Prior, father Matthew (Zygmunt Brynner) was elected and the Poles, who then comprised the majority of monks made an unsuccesful attempt at overthrowing the supervision of the Monte Corona Congregation in favour of the Holy See. However, these were not only ambitions and plans of local monks - controlled nevertheless by strict monastic rule - but political events that shaped the history of the Bielany monastery. The Swedish wars, policy of the annexing powers, the Nazi occupation and activities of the communists left their mark on the life of monks on the Silver Mountain. Problems within the community itself were not necessarily in short supply either and they were the result of weaknesses and limitations of people who tried to implement Evangelical ideals in a radical way. An effort to overcome the difficulties was connected with this; and it has always been proof of a fight of St. Romuald’s sons to realize the charisma of the Order.

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