Wierszalin

The village (also called a hamlet, a colony, or a town) was founded in a forest near Stara Grzybowszczyzna by Eliasz Klimowicz, a Polish-Belarusian Orthodox cult leader. He wanted Wierszalin to be the "New Jerusalem" and a capital of the whole world.^[2] The village's name, Wierszalin, originated from the Slavonic word sovershilos ("it is accomplished").^[3]

Klimowicz's followers: Ilja Iwaniuk, Józef Miron and Michał Miniuk, started raising wooden houses and a shed for pilgrims. By the mid-1930s, tens of people decided to settle in Wierszalin.^[4] Eventually, the village's population would reach a number of a couple hundred.^[5]

Paweł Wołoszyn attempted to construct a wind farm that would supply the village with electricity. His plans failed due to a lack of wind near Wierszalin. An attempt to produce hydroelectricity also failed. Klimowicz planned to build a church, a hospital, a flower shop, a school, and monasteries at every edge of Wierszalin. The Polish government did not allow the construction of a church.^[4]

People started leaving Wierszalin after Klimowicz was arrested by the Soviets in October 1939.^[3] During the Second World War, the Germans demolished two houses in Wierszalin and rebuilt them in Ostrów Południowy and Leszczany.^[6]

Up to the 1960s, at the crossroads near Wierszalin stood a cross with a Cyrillic transcription.^[4] The last person living in the village was Borys Wołoszyn, a son of Paweł.^[7][8] Reportedly, he was also Klimowicz's last believer.^[2] A few buildings remain in Wierszalin. People interested in Klimowicz pay visits to the depopulated village.^[6] Its territory belongs to the Krynki Forest District.^[5] A historical theme park was created there.^[9] Memorabilia from Wierszalin are stored in the Museum of Icons in Supraśl.^[3]