Lichens of the Holy Hill orthodox sanctuary in Grabarka (NE Poland)

Anna Matwiejuk

doi:10.5586/am.2008.013

Abstract

The Holy Hill Grabarka is one of the most important orthodox sanctuaries in Poland. The sanctuary is situated in Podlasie region between Bug and Narew rivers. It grew in the shade of well developing (in the first centuries of the second millennium) towns Mielnik and Drohiczyn. The most striking thing is that the church is surrounded by a forest of thousands of crosses brought by pilgrims. The study present 64 species of epiphytic, epixylic, epilythic and epigeic lichens. Among 64 lichen species 11 are considered to be threatened in Poland.

Highlights

The Holy Hill Grabarka is the most significant Orthodox sanctuary in Poland
Of the 64 lichen species identified in the Holy Hill orthodox sanctuary in Grabarka and its environs, 11 species have been put on the Red List of extinct and vulnerable lichens of Poland (Cieśliński et al 2003), including 3 species in the endangered category – EN (Bryoria crispa, Flavoparmelia caperata, Pleurosticta acetabulum), 6 species in the vulnerable category – VU
Several species of lichens from the forests surrounding the Hill have been described by Cieśliński (2003a)

Summary

Introduction

The Holy Hill Grabarka is the most significant Orthodox sanctuary in Poland. The sacred place is situated 12 km away from Siemiatycze, 0,5 km from the Grabarka village in Podlaskie province, Siemiatyckie district, commune Nurzec-Stacja. The Holy Hill is found on Wysoczyzna Drohicka High Plain, in the south part of Nizina Północnopodlaska Lowland (Kondracki 1994). In the close neighborhood there is the river Moszczona, which falls into the river Bug, 7 km further to the south. The surrounding woods had been formerly included in the Mielnicka Forest, which is known as the Lasy Nurzeckie Forests.

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