Holy Groves-From Antiquity To Modern Times

What Is A Holy Grove?• In Estonian folk tradition a natural holy place, where with help of

rituals and sacrificing people aspired to the favour of higher forces (spirits,deities, forefathers).As maintainers of place memory,as places of intact nature,where modern people can relax and find peace in their souls, they are still important for many people today.

Isles of Untouched Nature First it was probably used for

funerals. It was tabu and holy- any desecration was forbidden (treading,breaking branches,cutting trees). The grove used to be a broad-leaved wood near the village on a hill, a valley, beside a dell or source, where people sacrificed for dead ancestors. Later they offered up for underground creatures and fairies living in the grove or in the grove trees.They also offered up to holy trees and stones.

Christening started destroying holy groves.

• The catholic church erected its crosses and chapels on the groves. The lutherian church tried to root out all traditional customs. So they cut down old respectable trees in many places.Despite of that funerals in groves took place in 17th – 18th centuries. Honouring groves and holy trees ended in the beginning of the 19th century. But people remembered old holy places and trees until the beginning of the 20th century.

Altered World and Mind• The majority of natural holy places are in bad condition

today.Their look has mainly been formed by our violent political past and repressing our ancient cultural traditions

• Since the occupation of Estonia in the 13th century foreign authorities have seeked for,damaged and destroyed natural holy places.

• In addition, the foreign authorities destroyed the holy places for economical reasons

KuremägiThe hill Kuremägi near Illuka

is also an ancient holy grove.Here is the holy oak and holy source where people offered up. After the legend the hill was erected by the epic heroe Kalevipoeg; he also planted the oak-tree.

Today the most part of this grove is a place of the newer and later ideology.

From the Holy Grove to the Russian Orthodox Nonnery

The special spirit of Kuremäe has probably also been felt by foreigners.The orthodox nonnery was established here in tsarist times and Russification.A chapel stands now by the holy oak-tree.

But some things stay the same: the holy source of Pre-Christian times is also honoured by Christians of today.They bathe there,they drink of it… and offer up, throwing coins in it.

The Holy Place Remains Holy

Own people versus Own People?

• Today our own pragmatical and greedy for profit manner of thought and inconsiderateness is destroying our sprituality and our historical and cultural memory.Today our own people protect the holy groves from our own people. Hopefully with good results.

The Highway Slides Nearer

Loved – for Centuries