Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Białystok
{{Short description|Roman Catholic archdiocese in Poland}}
{{Infobox diocese
|jurisdiction = Archdiocese
|name = Białystok
|image = Bialystok Kosciol.jpg
|image_size = 250px
|caption = Cathedral of the Assumption
|latin = Archidioecesis Bialostocensis
|local = Archidiecezja Białostocka
|country = Poland
|metropolitan = Białystok
|denomination = Catholic Church
|sui_iuris_church = Latin Church
|rite = Roman Rite
|cathedral = Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
|cocathedral =
|area_km2 = 6,263
|population = 437,790
|population_as_of = 2022
|catholics = 352,330
|catholics_percent= 80.5
|parishes = 116
|established = 5 June 1991
|suffragans = Diocese of Drohiczyn, Diocese of Łomża
|pope = {{Incumbent pope}}
|bishop = Józef Guzdek
|bishop_title = Archbishop
|coadjutor =
|auxiliary_bishops= Henryk Ciereszko
|vicar_general =
|emeritus_bishops =
|website = [http://www.archibial.pl/ Website of the Diocese]
}}
Image:Ozorowski wizytacja (2012).JPG
The Archdiocese of Białystok ({{langx|la|Bialostocen(sis)}}; {{langx|be|Беластоцкая архідыяцэзія|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.
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 :
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).[https://archibial.pl/biskupi/arcybiskup-dr-tadeusz-wojda/ Honorable Archbishop Dr. Tadeusz Wojda], Archbishop of Białystok website[http://www.fides.org/en/news/62120-VATICAN_Tadeusz_Wojda_Under_secretary_of_the_Congregation_for_the_Evangelization_of_Peoples_appointed_Archbishop_of_Bialystok VATICAN - Tadeusz Wojda, Under-secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, appointed Archbishop of Bialystok], Agenzia Fides, 19 April 2017
- 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
References
{{Commons category|Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Białystok}}
- {{cite book|last=Gulbinowicz|first=Piotr Nitecki|title=Biskupi Kościoła w Polsce w latach 965 - 1999 : słownik biograficzny|year=2000|work=Pax|location=Warszawa|isbn=83-211-1311-7|edition=Wyd. 2 popr. i uzup.}}
{{Reflist}}
Sources and external links
- [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/bial0.htm GCatholic.org, with Google map & satellite photo - data for all sections]
- [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dbial.html Catholic Hierarchy] Wikipedia:Verifiability#Reliable sources
- [http://www.bialystok.opoka.org.pl/ Diocese website] (in Polish)
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{{Roman Catholic dioceses in Poland|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}
{{Białystok}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bialystok, Roman Catholic Archdiocese}}
Category:Roman Catholic dioceses in Poland
Category:Roman Catholic dioceses established in 1991
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