Pilgrimage to The Holy Mount of Grabarka       The route of this year XVIII Orthodox Pilgrimage from Bialystok 14-18.08.2002 were the following: Białystok /Dojlidy/ - Zabludov - Trescianka - Klejniki - Czyze - Orla - Saki - Dasze - Milejczyce - Holy Mount Grabarka (at mentioned places, the pilgrims was stopped for prayers, short relaxation and meal, and night's lodgings was foresee at underline places). The route has 5 stages: 28, 28, 25, 24, 18 km (and 4 night's lodgings). The pilgrimage was began at 10⁰⁰ on Wednesday, August 14, (with a prayer at 9⁰⁰ o'clock), and was finished on Sunday, August 18, about 10 a.m. After Liturgy, to be festive setting of the cross at Holy Mount Grabarka. About 2 thousand people took part in the Bialystok's pilgrimage this year (over 5 thousand people all together participated in all walker pilgrimages).
    Fellowship of Orthodox Youth organized this pilgrimage with a blessing of His Excellence Most Reverend Jakub, Orthodox Bishop of Bialystok and Gdansk.
    The pilgrimage from Bialystok to the Holy Mount of Grabarka is not the only one. There are also pilgrimages from other places (such as Bielsk Podlaski, Hajnowka, Sokolka, Siemiatycze). However the pilgrimage from Bialystok is the biggest one.
    This pilgrimage is associated with all-church Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, celebrated by Polish Orthodox Church on days 18-19 of August at Holy Mount of Grabarka.
    The Holy Mount of Grabarka, with the church of the Tranfiguration and female monastery of St. Marta and Maria, is the greatest and the most important orthodox sanctuary in Poland. It is sometime reffered to as "a hill of the crosses", because the faithful who take part in the pilgrimages bring the crosses with them and place them at the Holy Mount as a sacrifice to God. There are both little crosses brought individually as well as big crosses brought collectively during each pilgrimage.
    On Monday 19.08.2002 at the Holy Mount of Grabarka the main religious ceremonies of the Feast of Transfiguration were held. On 3 days, almost 100 thousand orthodox people from state and abroad participated in the celebrations. His Eminence Beatitude Sawa, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland, the Head of the Polish Authocephalous Orthodox Church, accompanied by hierarchs from state and abroad presided over the liturgy.