In memory of Sebastian Zielonka (1985–2025)
The Moravian Brethren constituted the majority of the population in pre-war Gnadenberg, now Godnowo. They created from scratch a settlement that is currently administratively part of Kruszyn.
Who were the Moravian Brethren?
After years of persecution and forced resettlement, the Moravians had to flee their native Catholic Moravia. In 1721, they found a place to settle in the Saxon estates of Prince Nicholas Ludwig von Zizendorf.
The Brethren preached the need for moral integrity and deep piety, developed through profound spiritual work. This principle was close to the outlook of Prince Zizendorf, who supported them spiritually as their leader until the end of his life. He donated land to the newly arrived settlers for the settlement of Herrnhut, near Zgorzelec, founded in 1722.
A religious and economic community
In the town that arose there, the settlers formed a religious and economic community. Initially, the settlement was called the Brotherhood of Herrnhut. All its members, regardless of gender, age, nationality or social background, were equal and obliged to contribute through their work to increasing the common wealth; they could also use it to meet their basic needs. The community guaranteed its members assistance and care in the event of illness or disability, and education for children. Membership in the community was voluntary, and every member of the Brotherhood had the right to leave it. Moreover, the community reserved the right to expel people who did not follow its rules.
Extramarital sex and divorce were prohibited
Strict moral discipline applied in the settlements: divorce, extramarital sex and gambling, for example, were prohibited. The high number of residents in the settlements contributed to emigration and the establishment of new settlements.
Ernest Julius von Seidlitz, a friend of Zinzendorf who was deeply involved in the Pietist movement, invited the Moravian Brethren to Silesia. In 1743, two new settlements were established on his estates, in Piława Górna and Godnowo. In 1745, settlers from Herrnhut, mainly skilled weavers, settled in the town of Nowa Sól, creating a separate district in the southern part of the town.
The Great Hall and the cemetery—the most important places in the settlement
All Moravian Brethren settlements, both in Europe and overseas, were initially modeled on Herrnhut, not only in organizational terms but also in their spatial layout. Settlements were founded on a Latin or Greek cross plan. A church, also called the Great Hall, was located at the intersection of the arms of the cross, with residential buildings and facilities serving the entire community arranged around it, such as schools, hospitals and care homes for people with disabilities and the elderly.
An important element of every settlement was the cemetery, called “Gottesacker,” literally “God’s Acre,” usually located near the Great Hall. The cemetery took the form of a green meadow symbolizing eternal happiness. Men and women were buried in separate sections, in order of death, and all gravestones were identical: simple slabs laid flat on the grass, bearing the deceased person’s name, the dates and places of birth and death; a Bible verse or hymn quotation was often engraved as well. This was meant to symbolize the complete equality of all members of the community, both in life and after death.
Most residents were highly skilled craftsmen, which contributed to the settlement’s high standard of living and modern administrative and social solutions.
Sebastian Zielonka (1985–2025) was a local historian and a graduate of the University of Wrocław, specializing in archival studies and conservation documentation. He was interested in the history of the region and the social life of Europeans in the 20th century. Sebastian Zielonka was also the author of the books “Kruszyn: An Extraordinary Place” and “Żeliszów – Faithful to Its Roots.” He conceived and carried out many historical projects and workshops, including the “Family Archive of the Western Lands” project and the largest of them, launched in 2017, which led to the publication of the book “Solidary Longin Komołowski,” edited by him.
Close Culture Program – Co-financed by the funds of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage