SLOJKI, GM. SZELKÓW, POW. MAKOWSKI
A stone with the footprint of St. Rosalia of Palermo (c. 1130-1170), who is said to have stopped here during a joint trek with St. Roch along the Narew River. Until the end of World War II, it was located in front of the main altar in the 18th-century church (dating from around 1709) of St. Rosalia, in the St. Rosalia charm.
The stone was considered miraculous - according to informants, it had healing properties. The faithful knelt before it, kissed it, rubbed their heads and sick places against it. It was supposed to be famous for numerous healings. In 1944 the shrine was devastated and completely destroyed by Red Army soldiers. The miraculous image of St. Rosalia, located above the altar, was saved and moved to a new chapel after the war.
According to local accounts, the stone was then moved to a chapel built in 1946, while before 1952 it was taken and transported to an unknown location by local communist activists. Between 1991 and 1995 a new temple was built in its present form. It features a well erected on a "miraculous spring," whose water is also said to have healing properties. The charming village and the church are the center of local worship and pilgrimages. Every year on September 3-4, indulgence celebrations are held here.
The stone is missing - according to local informant Jadwiga Slowikowska (75), before 1952 it was taken from in front of the altar at night and taken to an unknown location by local communist activists.
Sources of information: Herz 2012, 194; field queries
Geographic coordinates: 52.81452, 21.27755
