Pojana Mikuli (Romanian: Poiana Micului) is a small village located in the Bukovina region of Romania. Poles began to settle in the area after 1775, when Bukovina came under Habsburg rule. Settlers, mainly from the Lesser Poland and Podkarpacie regions, came here in search of better living conditions, escaping poverty and overcrowding in their homeland. The first Poles appeared in Pojana Mikula in the 1830s, making this village one of the most important centres of Polish settlement in Bukovina.

The local Poles were mainly engaged in agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry work. The difficult natural conditions did not discourage them, and through determination they were able to adapt to the local realities. The Catholic Church played an important role in the life of the community, which was not only a religious centre but also a place where national and linguistic identity was maintained. Chapels and churches were established in nearby villages, such as Novy Solovec and Kaczyk, to serve Poles from the entire region. Polish schools were also in operation, enabling the language and traditions to be preserved among the younger generation.

The tragic events of the Second World War and its aftermath also affected the inhabitants of Pojana Mikula. Poles from this village, as from other villages in Bukovina, were subjected to repression, and many of them were displaced to Poland as part of repatriation campaigns between 1944 and 1946. After the war, most of them settled in Lower Silesia and other regions of western Poland. Although many left Bukovina, the Polish identity in Pojana Mikula survived.

To this day, the Polish presence in this village is still visible thanks to the activities of the Union of Poles in Romania, which cares for the memory of the Polish heritage in Bukovina. Polish churches, cemeteries and other places testifying to Polish heritage have been preserved in the region. Cultural events are also organised to nurture Polish traditions. Thanks to Polish-Romanian cooperation, support from the Polish government and NGOs, activities are being carried out to preserve this unique heritage.

In 2024, a documentation of the shrines erected by the Polish community in the area was carried out by the Głogowska Kres Foundation Association.

1. roadside cross near the house of Maksymilian Balak
Location: latitude: 47.66977 longitude: 25.76706
Wood (cross), concrete (plinth)
245 x 60 x 60
The cross was moved just after the Second World War by Jan Balak (grandfather of the current owner of the property) from another part of the village, where it had been overturned (a chapel with a new cross has now been erected in its original place by Orthodox villagers). The history of the cross and its function in social life and local culture was told by Maria Balak née Ballak (born 1951 in Pojana Mikula) - daughter-in-law of Jan Balak - and his granddaughters (the owner's sisters) Terasa and Apolonia. On a concrete plinth, a wooden cross with a wooden figure. Plinth painted brown (oil paint). Wooden figure painted with oil paint, headband in blue, body in white, crown of thorns, beard and hair black, wound under heart, on hands and feet in orange (faded).

2. wooden cross near the house of Anna and Jerzy Szwancar
. Creation time: before WWII
Location: Width: 47.66696 Length: 25.77046
Concrete
267 x 47 x 43
Szwancar Anna (born 1958) and Gieorgie.Concrete base, above which is a tin stand decorated with spirals, probably for a candle or candles. Cross made of tin, resting on a metal tube behind it. Sculpture of Jesus in wood, body cream-coloured, headband blue, crown of thorns black, hair and beard brown, wound under the heart, on the hands and on the feet red.

3. roadside shrine
Creation time: before WWII
Location: Width: 47.66587 Length: 25.77052
Wood, sheet metal
290 x 160 x 214
The chapel is located on the property of Ludwik Juraszek and is a unique witness to the history of Poiana Mikula. It survived the fire that consumed the village during World War II, although the house standing next to it burned down. At the time, the chapel was on the property of a Polish woman who married a German. The couple left for Germany during the war, leaving the chapel to survive the turbulent events of those years. The white chapel opens with a wooden door, covered in white oil paint. In the centre at the very top at the junction of the two roof slopes is a small tin cross. The lintel of the door decorated with natural flowers (at the time of this description the flowers are dry), replaced periodically. Opposite the entrance is an altar table.

4th Cross by the house of Agnes Markulak
. Creation time: before World War II
Location: Width: 47.66537 Length: 25.77045
Wood, sheet metal
293 x 18 x 18
Wooden cross erected by the house of Agnes Markulak, used on Good Friday as one of the Stations of the Cross. On a concrete foundation an oak cross set on a metal anchor. Refurbished in 2021 (new cross funded and statue painted). Cross varnished (according to the owner, early on it was painted with oil paint and dug directly into the ground). The statue (in the local language "Passion of Jesus") painted with oil paint (headband in blue, cream-coloured body, brown crown, wounds on hands, feet and under the heart marked in red). Christ figure shielded by a tin semicircular canopy, finished with decorative incisions and a small cross on top. Cross planted with garden flowers.

5th Cross by the Church of St. John Paul II
. Creation time: before WWII
Location: latitude: 47.65873 longitude: 25.76732
Wood (cross), concrete (plinth), sheet metal
Cross: 400-450 x 16 x 15
Plinth: 62 x 68
Cross on a concrete plinth clad in tiles. The cross is made of wood, there is a flower stand on it made of wood. The statue of Jesus hanging on the cross is made of wood. The body is cream-coloured, the headband is blue (faded), the wounds under the heart, on the hands and on the feet are red, the crown of thorns is black, and the beard and the hair are brown. A metal plate is attached to the back of the cross. The decoration is made of natural and artificial flowers. The canopy is made of sheet metal and there is serration on it, which is decorative.
The statue is older than the cross, while the cross itself is from the period when the Church of St. John Paul II in Pojana Mikula was built (the cross was replaced when the building was moved).

6th Cross on the wall of the house
Creation time: ca. 1970
Location: Width: 47.65774 Length: 25.76868
Wood
Creator: Kazimierz Polaczek
280 x 16 x 3
Agnieszka Polaczek (born 1940 in Nový Sołonec), came to Pojana Mikula after her husband Maks Polaczek in 1960. She placed a cross on the wall of the house with her husband and father-in-law. Kazimierz Polaczek, father-in-law, made figures of the Passion of Christ (Jesus crucified) out of wood for other villagers and the surrounding area. The wooden cross is painted with brown paint. The statue of Christ is made of wood, the body is painted cream-coloured, the headband is blue, the wounds under the heart, on the feet and on the hands are red, nails made of wood in black are driven into the hands and feet where the wounds are. The crown of thorns, hair and beard are black.

7th Chapel on the wall of the house of Helena and Łukasz Lechocki
. Creation time: before World War II
Location: Width: 47.65595 Length: 25.76942
Sheet metal, ceramic
95 x 50 x 31
A box chapel topped with a semicircular roof - the entire box made of sheet metal painted with silver. Inside the shrine a ceramic figure of the Virgin Mary and artificial flowers. The chapel is lockable, the door with glass pane fitting the shape of the chapel. The object was probably created on the initiative of the grandparents of the present owner, Maria and Michal Lechocki.

8th Cross by the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
. Creation time: before WWII
Location: Width: 47.67583 Length: 25.75877
Concrete, wood, sheet metal
380 x 60 x 60
On a concrete plinth painted white decorated with a wreath of artificial flowers. Cross by the church with the cemetery. Wooden figure, painted with oil paint. The body is cream-coloured, the headband is blue, the wounds under the heart, on the hands and feet are red, the crown of thorns, beard and hair are brown, black nails made of wood are driven into the wounds on the feet and hands. The tin canopy is serrated, with a cut-out tin cross at the focal point at the top of the junction of the two plates.

9th Roadside shrine
. Creation time: before WWII
Location: Width: 47.64499 Length: 25.77606
Metal, wood
330 x 185 x 281
The chapel survived the Pojana Mikula fire, which took place during the Second World War. There is an image of Our Lady of Czestochowa Kača inside. The chapel is painted white and opened with a double door. It has a black pitched roof with a decorative metal cross in the centre. There are windows on both sides of the chapel, one on each side. The chapel is fitted with a gutter.
Inside, in the centre, there is an image of Mary with the infant Jesus. On either side of the image, figures of the Virgin Mary (two, in white and blue robes, brown hair, cream body). Ornaments of artificial and natural flowers under the image is a small statue of Our Lady. Wooden cabinet in which the main image hangs. Candle decoration. Under the main image is a small picture of Our Lady with Jesus.

10. wayside cross
. Creation time: ca. mid 20th century
Location: Width: 47.64281 Length: 25.77906
Wood (cross), concrete (plinth), sheet metal (canopy)
278 x 15.5 x 13
Cross founded by Szymon Polaczek - grandfather of Anna Juraszek - current owner of the property. The cross is used during processions through the village on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. Originally on the cross hung not a carved statue, but an appropriately cut sheet with the figure of Christ painted on it. Wooden cross painted with brown paint. Concrete foundation. Hanging from the cross is a wooden figure of Christ painted cream (body), headband in blue, hair and beard in brown, crown of thorns in black. The figure is sheltered by a tin canopy with a decorative border (floral ornament in cut-out tin).

11. cross on the wall of the house
Location: Width: 47.64567 Length: 25.7745
Wood (cross), sheet metal (statue of Jesus)
250 x 14 x 12
Cross on the wall of the house of Rozalia Kozminczuk (born 1934). Wooden cross painted brown. Tin Jesus Christ painted with oil paint. Body in cream colour, headband in blue, crown of thorns in black, hair and beard in brown. Decoration of artificial flowers.

12. roadside cross
Location: latitude: 47.64654 longitude: 25.77364
Wood (cross, statue), concrete (plinth),
260 x 17 x 14.5
Wooden cross painted brown, set on a concrete plinth. Wooden figure of Christ painted cream, with blue headband, hair painted black. Crown entwined with barbed wire. Mounted on the cross are two candle/lamp holders (one holder is a large screw with a hook fashioned into it, the other holder made from a bent piece of galvanised sheet metal). A chain of Christmas tree lights suspended from the cross. Cross covered with a canopy of galvanised sheet metal, decoratively cut out. Cross erected at the site of a sudden death in a stream. There is a rumour in the village that a man was deliberately thrown into the overflowing stream because of land ownership disputes (after the 1989 revolution).

13th Roadside cross
. Creation time: 20th century
Location: latitude: 47.64688 longitude: 25.77256
Wood (cross), concrete (plinth), sheet metal (plaque)
282 x 14 x 14
Wooden cross erected by villagers at the site of the sudden death of a young man (carried away by a frightened horse). Wooden cross on concrete plinth (tin reinforcement in place of setting). Painted. Christ figure wooden, painted cream colour, headband white. Traces of red paint in place of wounds under heart, on hands and feet. Crown of wood, painted black - as is the hair. Cross covered with a triangular tin canopy, with decorative incisions on the edges.
Under the statue hangs a small solar battery and a battery-operated candle-lamp. The cross is decorated with Christmas tree lights. Above the figure a tin plaque with the inscription I. N. R. I. painted in the same colour as the figure. Inscription painted in black paint, visible auxiliary lines leveling the inscription. Cross surrounded by metal mesh fence with decorative protective bars. Flowers planted inside: Japanese goldenseal, phlox, asparagus, autumn aster. Cross erected at the site of a sudden death (death of a young man carried away by a frightened horse).

14th Cross by the house
Location: latitude: 47.65577 longitude: 25.76956
Wood (cross), concrete (plinth), aluminium (statue)
300 x 50 x 34
Cross by the house of Maria Magdalena Lechocka.
Wooden cross, sits on a concrete plinth. Aluminium statue of Jesus. Decoration with artificial flowers.

15th Cross on the house
Location: latitude: 47.65244 longitude: 25.77071
Wood (cross), concrete (plinth), metal (statue of Jesus), plaster (statue of angel)
Creator: Lukasz Balak
280 x 11 x 6
Jerzy Szwancar (born 1987) to whom the property on which the cross is located belongs. Łukasz Balak is his grandfather who built this cross. People used to stop at this cross during Corpus Christi, it was one of the Stations of the Cross. Jerzy Szwancar used to pray under this cross with his grandparents when he was young. A wooden cross by the wall of the house, painted with brown paint. It is decorated with artificial flowers above the statue. Metal statue of Jesus attached to the wooden cross with screws. Decorated with a candle, it is placed on a concrete plinth. Plaster figure of a factory-made angel located in the centre of the cross, below the metal figure of Jesus, it is attached to the cross with plastic zip ties. The decoration is also decorated with seasonally replaced flowers, these are above the angel figure.

16th Roadside shrine
Location: latitude: 47.67665 longitude: 25.75743
Clay, shingle, concrete, wood, eternit
300 x 144 x 154
Chapel with clay finish inside, painted white. Externally shingled walls, painted white. Door frame and posts on the edges of the chapel painted cherry. The chapel sits on a concrete foundation. The gable is boarded, with a cross cut out in the centre, on the gable on the roof a wooden cross at the junction of the two roof slopes. Etherite roof. Decorative jambs on the supporting beams. And a bench by the chapel.
INTERIOR: altar table in the centre. On the central wall is an icon of Saint Paraskeva. On the table is an old ceramic statue of the Mother of God. On the side walls are Roman Catholic paintings, on the right a painting of the holy family and on the left the teaching of Jesus in the boat. Two candlesticks and a bowl for placing votive candles. The chapel closes with a door with a handle. Window with curtain in the door.
The chapel is used during the Corpus Christi procession. One of the inhabitants - Ludwik Jurasik - claims that it is one of the four chapels still present in the village space, dating from the period of the German-Polish history of Pojana Mikula.

17. chapel by the road
Location: Width: 47.67806 Length: 25.75524
Concrete (base, external walls), wood (roof), eternit (roof), metal (cross)
315 x 245 x 350
Mironovich Giorgie arrived in 1956 from Frumos, the chapel was then dilapidated, without a roof. In 1962, having earned 3 million lei, he and his parents decided to renovate the chapel "for God". The oldest icons on the altar table are from Frumos. The chapel is dedicated to the victims of World War II - the German inhabitants of Pojana Mikula. Every April, a joint Polish-Romanian service is held at the chapel dedicated to the war victims.
The base and outer walls are made of concrete. The entrance door is made of wood, has 3 windows and a curtain. There are icons hanging on the outer walls (two in front and one each on the side walls). The roof is made of wood and eternit. On the central wall under the canopy is Jesus on a wooden cross, and on the roof in the central part is a metal cross. Inside, the walls are clad in wood panelling, the floor in contemporary tiles. The interior of the chapel is filled with Catholic and Orthodox paintings and old Romanian prayer books.