Bohoniki

Bohoniki [bɔxɔˈniki] is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Sokółka, within Sokółka County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland, close to the border with Belarus.[1] It lies approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) east of Sokółka and 42 km (26 mi) north-east of the regional capital Białystok. The village has a population of 100.

Bohoniki
Village
Mosque in Bohoniki
Bohoniki
Coordinates: 53°23′N 23°36′E
Country Poland
VoivodeshipPodlaskie
CountySokółka
GminaSokółka
Population
 • Total100
Inside the mosque at Bohoniki

It was primarily a Lipka Tatar settlement. Today still a few families in the village are Tatar and Muslim. The village used to have more than 3000 residents. Most of the present residents are older generation. Young residents have moved to big cities or other countries for better financial resources. Although residents don't speak their original Lipka Tatar origin language (i.e. Ruthenian language often written in Latin, Cyrillic and often Arabic alphabet), they have very close Lipka Tatar traditions.[2]

Sites of interest in the village include a wooden mosque and a Muslim cemetery.

The village was named one of Poland's official national Historic Monuments (Pomnik historii), as designated November 20, 2012. Its listing is maintained by the National Heritage Board of Poland.

Muslim cemetery
  • Entrance
  • Muslim Lipka Tatar cemetery sign
  • Damaged tombstone
  • Ruthenian language Arabic script of a tombstone

References
  1. "Central Statistical Office (GUS) - TERYT (National Register of Territorial Land Apportionment Journal)" (in Polish). 2008-06-01.
  2. Leonard Drożdżewicz, Biographical Dictionary of Polish Tatars of the Twentieth Century, „Znad Wilii”, nr 4 (68) z 2016 r., p. 77-82, http://www.znadwiliiwilno.lt/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Znad-Wilii-68.pdf
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