Archdiocese of Białystok
The Archdiocese of Białystok 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.
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 :Statistics
, it pastorally served 352,330 Catholics on 5,550 km2 in 116 parishes and 25 missions with 390 priests, 190 lay religious 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
- Edward Kisiel, died 1993; previously Titular Bishop of Limata as Apostolic Administrator of Białystok
- Stanisław Szymecki, died 2023; previously Bishop of Kielce
- Wojciech Ziemba, died 2021; next Metropolitan Archbishop of Warmia ; previously Titular Bishop of Falerone as Auxiliary Bishop of Warmia, Bishop of Ełk
- Edward Ozorowski, died 2024; previously Titular Bishop of Bitetto, first as Auxiliary Bishop of Vilnius, then as Auxiliary Bishop of Białystok
- Tadeusz Wojda, ; next Metropolitan Archbishop of Gdańsk ; previously Undersecretary of the Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
- Józef Guzdek ; previously Titular Bishop of Treba as Auxiliary Bishop of the Kraków, Bishop of Military Ordinariate of Poland