Since ancient times there has been a monastery in Turkowice near Chelm (in the district of Hrubieszow) which has been the focal point of the Ukrainian Orthodox population. Believers worship an image of the Virgin Mary, which, according to legend, originated in the Middle Ages.

According to written sources a Uniate monastery existed in Turkowice till 1749, when it was closed. It was re-opened in 1903 as a branch of the convent in Radecznica. Worship here was interrupted by World War I, when the magnificent image was transported deep into Russia from where it never returned.

In 1999 came the breakthrough in the revival of traditional worship in Turkowice, when for the first time since the Forties of the last century an Orthodox mass was celebrated on the feast day of the holy icon. A commemorative cross was erected and blessed on the site of the former monastery. The building re-opened and was modified according to the needs of the church. A copy of the beautiful and oldest image of Our Lady found in Poland was installed here but in 1914 was taken by the departing nuns of the convent. It found its way to the Women’s Convent inhabited by nuns from Holy Mount Grabarka.

Women’s Convent – Turkowice (woj. Lubelskie)

www.lublin.cerkiew.pl