Our Goals

The Association's main goal is to renovate, develop, and operate the training and recreation center in Białowieża. The center's activities support youth development and social and civic initiatives.
We want to continue the mission of the Orthodox Youth Brotherhood in Poland, in particular:

integrate the community

develop and support the activities of parishes, organizations, and community leaders

invest in and support the development of youth leaders

History of the center

The Center is located on the southwestern edge of the Białowieża Glade, next to the open-air museum, on the road leading from Białowieża to the village of Pogorzelce (Zastawa Street 70). It has been operating since 1989.
The initiative to build a building serving Orthodox youth as a tourist and training base arose in the mid-1980s, after the return of a delegation from the Orthodox Theological Circle from Finland.
The choice of the Center's location was not accidental. Białowieża itself is a special place, appreciated by scientists and tourists from around the world. Furthermore, the area surrounding the Center is rich in attractions. The "Bison's Ribs" hiking trail begins nearby. Next to the Center is an open-air museum featuring monuments of Podlasie architecture – windmills, cottages, and a temporary residence. Another attraction is the Narewka River, which flows along the Center\'s border.

The Beginnings

The organization's then-leaders, Eugeniusz Czykwin and Mirosław Matreńczyk, sacrificed their vacation time and free time to reconstruct an old 19th-century house they had purchased in the village of Spiczki. The shingled building now houses two living rooms, a conference room, and a fully equipped kitchen. The funds for purchasing the plot, the house, the materials, and the carpenter's labor came from profits generated from organizing New Year's Eve parties and donations from people who supported the project. The house was reconstructed, taking care to preserve its architecture.
A granary was also moved from the village of Zbucz and converted into a sauna at the Center. A pond was dug nearby.
In the fall of 1993, construction began on a new building designed by architect Jan Wołkowycki. It consists of three units. The first contains a conference room, the other two contain four double rooms. Each unit has a bathroom. The building is currently used as a shelter, as well as a meeting and entertainment venue.
The land and buildings were initially owned by a private individual. They were transferred to the Brotherhood through a donation agreement in mid-1992, after it acquired legal personality. A power line was connected to the building, and a water line was installed the following year. In 1993, the base received its official name. That same year, three camps and one international seminar were organized, focusing on national, ethnic, and religious minorities.

Previous Activities

At the center, the Brotherhood of Pavoslav Youth organized summer camps for children and youth, including international and ecumenical ones (relaxation, work, prayer, iconography, and language). Various meetings and screenings were held here. For example, in 1997, a screening of the film "The Gentle Tail" took place, and a meeting devoted to the Iwerska Montreal Icon of the Mother of God was also held. From September 20-30, 1998, the "Wandering Cooperation" association from Warsaw organized an artists' meeting entitled "Miodowy Las" (Honey Forest). An exhibition of the works created during this time took place in April 1999 at the Wschodnia Gallery in Łódź. From August 30 to September 2, 2007, the center hosted the Orthodoxiada, a sports competition of the Brotherhood. Five-person teams participated, competing in tournaments of table games, volleyball, badminton, shooting, and bicycle races.
It is also worth mentioning the Polish-Belarusian youth camp that took place at the center from July 3-14, 2006. The camp, organized as part of the "World and Creator Around Us" project, was implemented by the Białowieża parish under the patronage of the Białowieża Forest Euroregion and with support from the European Union. One of the results of the Polish-Belarusian youth exchange is the bicycle and hiking trail developed and marked by Agata Skiepko and Anna Waszkiewicz. This trail is called "In the Footsteps of Białowieża Religions" and leads to all places of worship located in the Białowieża commune.
From July 28-30, 2000, celebrations were held in Białowieża to mark the 20th anniversary of the Orthodox Youth Brotherhood. Youth from Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Finland participated. Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland concelebrated the liturgy. Several papers were presented, and discussions were held on the problems of the contemporary Orthodox Church, the situation of women, and the activities of Orthodox organizations. There was also a slide show and an exhibition of works by participants in icon painting and photography competitions. Concerts were performed by Orthodox choirs, the ensembles "Czeremszyna," "Russkaja Troika," and "Horyna," as well as bards Doroteusz Fionik, Vasil Zhdankin, and Ales Kamocki.
On June 3 and 4, 2002, a meeting of Syndesmos representatives from Central and Eastern European countries took place in Białowieża. The meeting aimed to renew cooperation between Orthodox youth organizations and theological schools from Lithuania, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland. The meeting was attended by Rebecca Hookway, Secretary General of Syndesmos in Athens.

Current Status

In 2022, at the initiative of youth coordinator Aleksander Wasyluk and with the blessing of Metropolitan Sawa, the Białowieża Center Association was established, composed of former chairpersons and activists associated with the brotherhood and the Orthodox community. The Association signed a lease agreement with the Orthodox Youth Brotherhood to assume responsibility for the renovation, development, and operation of the center, which will continue to serve primarily as a training center for youth and activists associated with the Orthodox Church.



Support renovations

We are committed to ensuring the center's development is as collaborative as possible. We look forward to welcoming you to the center, receiving your ideas and financial support!

Thank You!

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