Archdiocese of Białystok

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
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	Leo XIV
Archbishop	Józef Guzdek
Suffragans	Diocese of Drohiczyn, Diocese of Łomża
Auxiliary Bishops	Henryk Ciereszko
Website
Website of the Diocese

Edward Ozorowski, Archbishop of Białystok

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.

There are currently 431 priests in the Archdiocese. The most recent death of a priest was that of Fr. Józef Jaroma on 12 August at age 88. The most recent ordination took place on 24 May when two priests were ordained.

Ecclesiastical province

Its Suffragan sees are :

• Diocese of Drohiczyn
• Diocese of Łomża

Statistics

As of 2022, 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

• 1945 : Białystok became the effective see of the Archdiocese of Vilnius for the Soviet persecution
• 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

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), died 2023; previously Bishop of Kielce (Poland) (1981.03.27 – 1993.05.15)
• Wojciech Ziemba (2000.11.16 – 2006.05.30), died 2021; 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), died 2024; 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).
• 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

• List of Catholic dioceses in Poland
• Roman Catholicism in Poland

References

• Gulbinowicz, Piotr Nitecki (2000). Biskupi Kościoła w Polsce w latach 965 - 1999 : słownik biograficzny (Wyd. 2 popr. i uzup. ed.). Warszawa. ISBN 83-211-1311-7. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

Sources and external links

• GCatholic.org, with Google map & satellite photo - data for all sections
• Catholic Hierarchy ^{[self-published]}
• Diocese website (in Polish)