Wayside chapels of Zielonka Nowa
Zielonka Nowa rates among lately founded villages of the Zwolen region. It was formatted due to a progressive disintegration of the once extensive land property called Zielanka, originally owned by the Zielenski (Zieleński) family. On the land of the primordial village Zielanka in XVI – XIX centuries emerged following modern settlements: Zielonka Stara, Mierziaczka (Mierziączka), Atalin. From the very beginning it was territory of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross parish in Zwolen. Future Zielonka Nowa was located within the manor (folwark) Zielonka owed by Dionizy Podczaski. In 1871 he sold is property to his neighbour from Strykowice, Rajmund Swiezyński (Swiezynski). Swiezynski in turn after two years sold Zielonka to two peasants from Janow – Stanislaw Borzecki (Stanisław Borzęcki) and Jan Piechota. The new owners sold it away to a number of peasants who came from surrounding villages. Next 20 years strengthen this new community. As an external manifestation of the process the village community founded wayside chapels. Nowadays there are six such objects in Zielonka Nowa – four are standing by the ways and two on private yards.
In 1907 the dwellers of Zielonka Nowa founded two chapels. The first one is is located by the track Zwolen – Janowiec, in the direct proximity to a crossroad with a way to Wolka Szelezna (Wólka Szelężna) and Laguszow (Łaguszów). Probably earlier a simple wooden cross stood there (its remains were visible till the 80s of XX c.). According to the local story in that place dead not baptized infants were buried. Here also funeral processions stopped to allow the dead to say farewell to the village and the fields. Both customs are common in Polish folk culture. The second chapel was located in the center of the village, in the vicinity of the firemen depot (remiza – no longer existing; the volunteer fire guard in Zielonka was founded in 1917). Both chapels are dedicated to Holy Mother and this is certified by an inscription POD TWOJĄ OBRONĘ UCIEKAMY SIĘ (Beneath Thy protection). Under the prayer the founders put a more elaborated texts.
The first one bears a following information: POMNIK TEN / WYSTAWILI / WŁOŚCIJANIE / WSI / ZIELONKA NOWA / 1907 (This memorial was founded by the community of the Zielonka Nowa village 1907). The inscription of the second chapel was mutilated and is partially illegible, but some words could be deciphered ([.]a [-] / p[anu] Bogu [–] / [K]rzy[.] [w]ystawili / Włoś[cia]nie wsi / [Nowa] Zielonka / [r(oku).] 1907)) and the restorated inscription is as follows: Na cześć i chwałę / Panu Bogu ten / Krzyż wystawili / włościanie wsi / Nowa Zielonka / r(oku). 1907 (To the glory and honour of our God this cross was founded by the dwellers of Zielonka Nowa 1907).
Next two crosses are private foundations. The first one was located in 1908 by the Krzesniak (Krześniak) brothers – Franciszek, Józef and Jan – on their grounds by the country road from Zwolen to Grabow (Grabów) where it joined a path to Atalin and Strykowice. The Krzesniak familly donation is commemorated by the inscription: Pomnik ten / postawili / Franciszek / Józef i Jan / Ksześniaki / 1908 (This memorial is founded by Franciszek, Józef, Jan Krześniak 1908). Similar monument in 1909 on their yard, but directly by the road Zielonka – Grabow, founded spouses Bronislawa (Bronisława) and Jan Pyrka. Their cross is devoted to the Holy Mother: POD TWOJĄ OBRONE UCIEKAMY SIĘ, beneath 1909, and on the southwestern wall an inscription mentions the founders: Na cześć i / chwałe Panu Bogu / ten Kszysz wysta / wili Jan i Bronisła / wa Pyrkowie (To honour and glory of our God Jan and Bronisława Pyrka founded this cross). This cross was set up in a definite aim: the couple wanted to have children.
The last two belong to the 20th c. A figurine of Our Lady of Fatima stands in the Brzozowski family yard and a figurine (from 2012) of Our Lady Help of Christians, sculpted by father Tadeusz Furdyna, that can be seen on the estate of the Jargot family.
