A SUNSET AT YASNA GORA

-text and photos Andrei Dorian Gheorghe
design Florin Alexandru Stancu-

I was happy to arrive on the Bright Hill,
the seat of the Yasna Gora Monastery
(nicknamed the “Ecclesiastic Capital of Poland”
and famous for its icon with “Black Madonna”,
made by even Saint Lucas after some sources,
or by Byzantine artists after other sources),
right during the sunset.

So that I slowly advanced to it,
alternating visions with the cathedral
and the lowering Sun.

This monastery was founded in 1382 by a group of Catholic-Paulin monks,
and its icon
(brought here from the Byzantine Empire through a Slavic channel)
helped 80 Polish heroes to stop the attack of 5000 Swedish invaders in 1655.

And thus, soon after, Saint Mary was chosen
the Protector of Poland...

In spite of the coming of the night,
the hill remained still bright thanks to
various representations of the Sun inside the monastery,
the large number of believers,
and two admirable sundials…

Finally, before leaving that sacred place,
I admired the colors of the dusk,
knowing that after me the hill will remain
always bright.

Many times we don’t listen to
Saint Mary’s words
Transmitted through astral rays.

But maybe there will be days
When Madonna will speak with us
Through radio ways.