The male monastery of St. Onufry in Jableczna (south of Terespol, close to the River Bug) is one of five such sites in Poland. Its formation dates back to the 15th century – built on a small picturesque hill, next to an oxbow lake and meadows. According to one legend it was built on this spot where an icon of St. Onufry, which was floating in the River Bug, came ashore.  Despite strong pressure, the monks from Jableczna did not join the Union of Brest in 1596 and continued with Orthodoxy. The period of expansion and growth of the monastery was in the 19th century when the eastern part of Poland found itself under Russian occupation. The monastery was seriously damaged during World War I and was abandoned by the monks. On their return the monastery, was quickly rebuilt, however again during World War II it suffered considerable damage again and was burnt down in 1942 along with is valuable library and archives. It gradually regained its importance and for many years was the only male orthodox monastery on Polish territory. The buildings making up the monastery complex are the Church of St. Onufry with the valuable icon of its patron, the Church of St. John the Theologian, two wooden chapels from the early 20th century and the Chapel of St. Anastasias of Brest. Monastery of St. Onufry – Jableczna (woj. Podlaskie) www.klasztorjableczna.pl