The Archdiocese of Białystok (Latin: Bialostocen(sis); Belarusian: Беластоцкая архідыяцэзія, romanized: Biełastockaja archidyjacezia) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Podlaskie Voivodeship, Northeastern Poland. It is a metropolitan see with two suffragan dioceses.
Archdiocese of Białystok Archidioecesis Bialostocensis Archidiecezja Białostocka | |
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![]() Cathedral of the Assumption | |
Location | |
Country | Poland |
Metropolitan | Białystok |
Statistics | |
Area | 6,263 km2 (2,418 sq mi) |
Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2022) 437,790 352,330 (80.5%) |
Parishes | 116 |
Information | |
Denomination | Catholic Church |
Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
Rite | Roman Rite |
Established | 5 June 1991 |
Cathedral | Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Archbishop | Józef Guzdek |
Suffragans | Diocese of Drohiczyn, Diocese of Łomża |
Auxiliary Bishops | Henryk Ciereszko |
Vicar General | Henryk Ciereszko |
Bishops emeritus | Edward Ozorowski |
Website | |
Website of the Diocese |
Its cathedral archiepiscopal see is Bazylika Archikatedralna Wniebowzięcia NMP, a minor basilica in the episcopal see of Białystok. It also has a second minor basilica : Bazylika Ofiarowania Najświętszej Marii Panny, dedicated to the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Różanystok.
Ecclesiastical province
editIts Suffragan sees are :
Statistics
editAs of 2022[update], it pastorally served 352,330 Catholics (80.5% of 437,790 total; however only 43,2% are active members) on 5,550 km2 in 116 parishes and 25 missions with 390 priests (360 diocesan, 30 religious), 190 lay religious (34 brothers, 156 sisters) and 60 seminarians.
History
edit- Established June 5, 1991 as Diocese of Białystok on Polish territory split off from the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Vilnius in Lithuania
- Enjoyed a Papal visit from the Pope John Paul II in June 1991.
- Promoted on March 25, 1992, by the same as Archdiocese of Białystok
Episcopal ordinaries
edit- Bishops of Białystok
- Edward Kisiel (1991.06.05 – retired 1992.03.25), died 1993; previously Titular Bishop of Limata (1976.05.03 – 1991.06.05) as Apostolic Administrator of Białystok (1976.05.03 – 1991.06.05)
- Metropolitan Archbishops of Białystok
- Stanisław Szymecki (1993.05.15 – retired 2000.11.16), previously Bishop of Kielce (Poland) (1981.03.27 – 1993.05.15)
- Wojciech Ziemba (2000.11.16 – retired 2006.05.30); next Metropolitan Archbishop of Warmia (Poland) (2006.05.30 – 2016.10.15); previously Titular Bishop of Falerone (1982.06.19 – 1992.03.25) as Auxiliary Bishop of Warmia (Poland) (1982.06.19 – 1992.03.25), Bishop of Ełk (Poland) (1992.03.25 – 2000.11.16)
- Edward Ozorowski (2006.10.20 – retired 2017.04.12); previously Titular Bishop of Bitetto (1979.01.31 – 2006.10.20), first as Auxiliary Bishop of Vilnius (Lithuania) (1979.01.31 – 1991.06.05), then as Auxiliary Bishop of Białystok (1991.06.05 – succession 2006.10.20)
- Tadeusz Wojda, (S.A.C.) (2017.06.10 – 2021.03.02); next Metropolitan Archbishop of Gdańsk (Poland) (since 2021.03.25); previously Undersecretary of the Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (2012.07.24 – 2017.04.12).[1][2]
- Józef Guzdek (3 September 2021 – present); previously Titular Bishop of Treba (2004.09.15 – 2010.12.04) as Auxiliary Bishop of the Kraków, Bishop of Military Ordinariate of Poland (Poland) (2010.12.19 – 2021.07.14)
See also
editReferences
edit- Gulbinowicz, Piotr Nitecki (2000). Biskupi Kościoła w Polsce w latach 965 - 1999 : słownik biograficzny (Wyd. 2 popr. i uzup. ed.). Warszawa: "Pax". ISBN 83-211-1311-7.
- ^ Honorable Archbishop Dr. Tadeusz Wojda, Archbishop of Białystok website
- ^ VATICAN - Tadeusz Wojda, Under-secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, appointed Archbishop of Bialystok, Agenzia Fides, 19 April 2017
Sources and external links
edit- GCatholic.org, with Google map & satellite photo - data for all sections
- Catholic Hierarchy [self-published]
- Diocese website (in Polish)
53°7′59.23″N 23°9′51.08″E / 53.1331194°N 23.1641889°E