Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Białystok

The Archdiocese of Białystok (Latin: Bialostocen(sis); Belarusian: Беластоцкая архідыяцэзія) 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	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

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.

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

• 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), 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).
• 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: "Pax". ISBN 83-211-1311-7.

Sources and external links

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