Songs, dances, gospel, and shared prayer. They presented the culture and music of the Carpathians [PHOTOS, VIDEO]

Intercultural integration through learning and getting to know dances, rituals and songs from different countries; propagating folk culture from various regions of Poland and invited countries; cultural promotion of the festival regions; participation in services and ecumenical meetings – these are the main goals of this colorful event located in Kalwaria Pacławska and nearby Arłamów.

A commemorative photo of participants and organizers. The photo includes the festival's initiator, Lucyna Rudawska, and the festival director, curator of the Kalwaria Sanctuary, Father Marian Gołąb.

The festival began on Friday evening, July 4, with an ecumenical service at the Sanctuary of the Passion of the Lord and Our Lady in Kalwaria Pacławska, with the participation of pastors of four Christian churches: Archbishop Adam Szal (Roman Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Przemyśl), Father Dean Andrzej Żuraw (Greek Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Przemyśl-Warsaw); Bishop Wojciech Pracki (Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, Katowice Diocese), and Father Abbot Methodius Gocko (Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Przemyśl-Gorlice Diocese). The clergy delivered short sermons and, together with the faithful, offered prayers to the Almighty. These prayers were recited in four languages. The unique Eucharist concluded with a standing ovation of one of the oldest hymns to the Mother of God. After the blessing of the clergy, the walls of the temple were filled with gospel music.

The festival is a testimony of faith

On the next day of the festival, July 5th, a gala concert took place in Arłamów, featuring the Bodrog Folkdance Ensemble (Hungary), Folklorna Subor Makovica (Slovakia), the "Suszanie" Song and Dance Ensemble (Czech Republic), Zorekvit Bend Soniashnyk (Ukraine), and the "Przemyśl" Song and Dance Ensemble (Poland). The finale included a folk dance. On Sunday, July 6th, the festival moved again to the Minor Basilica in Kalwaria Pacławska, where at 11:00 a.m., Mass was celebrated in the gallery, led by the Provincial Minister of the Franciscans, Father Mariusz Kozioł from Krakow. Afterward, participants and visitors to Kalwaria could watch folk groups perform in the church square. Folk groups also performed their repertoire in Fredropol, Medyka, and Krasiczyn.

The event was organized by the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, the Sanctuary of the Passion of the Lord and Our Lady in Kalwaria Pacławska, the Arłamów Hotel, the Przemyśl Cultural Center, the Podkarpackie Gospel Association in Przemyśl, and the Przemyśl Region Folklore Association in Przemyśl. As summarized by the festival director and curator of the Kalwaria Sanctuary, Father Marian Gołąb, it was a testimony to faith in Jesus Christ, which constitutes an important dimension of Carpathian culture, but also an opportunity to offer a collective prayer to God for the Church, for every person, for nations, for states, and for unity and peace in the region and worldwide.

The festival was conceived by Lucyna Rudawska, and held under the honorary patronage of Władysław Ortyl, Marshal of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. The entire event was initiated by Minister Marek Kuchciński.