The forest, hiding thousand years old walls, is fed by the river Zala. Once the church stood on an island. Originally it was 6 meters wide and 18 meters long, and maybe 7,5 meters high. The Turks did not spare even this building, local people left the building also, due to the frequent flooding of the River.
In his younger years Deák often came here accompanied by the priest Joseph Deak (a relative of Ferenc Deák). According to the priest, the island formerly called “Elek island,” then “Kustány island” and ultimately “Hermit island” – named after the hermit said to live here.
We do not know if it’s true or only a legend: the last of the two hermits – the sawed-off on a log in his foot-celled brown robe and from the far off he looked like a bear – was inadvertently shot by the son of a country gentlemen while hunting.
The other hermit had more luck, he was not shot – altough he was a former soldier – and even lived up to 90 years. Anna Hertelendy has helped him many times.
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Kehidakustány