In the anniversary year of 2024, when the Orthodox Church in Poland celebrates the centenary of independence, the Prison Service joined the celebrations. On June 10, a solemn thanksgiving prayer service led by Bishop Andrzej Supraslski was held at St. Mary Magdalene Cathedral in Warsaw for officers, employees and chaplains of the Prison Service. During the prayer, His Eminence Metropolitan Savva, the standard bearers of the Prison Service General Directorate, General Director Colonel Dr. Andrzej Piecka with almost the entire senior staff of the CZSW, directors of district inspections, heads of prison training centers, Fr. Piotr Janik, chief chaplain of the Evangelical Church of Augsburg, together with chaplains and invited guests. The "Varslavia" choir sang under the direction of Miloš Bogić, Grand Prix winner of the International Festival "Days of Orthodox Church Music in Hajnuvka".
Before the service, the guests were welcomed by Fr. Dr. Andrzej Lewczak, Chief Chaplain of the Prison Service of the Orthodox Church. The priest emphasized the role of prison chaplains in the process of re-socialization of prisoners, who often provide prisoners and their families with spiritual, emotional and moral support. In the context of the anniversary of autocephaly, it was emphasized how much the perception and organization of prison pastoral care has changed. custodial care. Orthodox chaplains are now an integral part of the social rehabilitation system, supporting the process of transformation and reconstruction of prisoners' lives. The sacrificial ministry of prison chaplains in recent years was recognized. Tragically killed by the NKVD at Katyn: Fr. Chief Wlodzimierz Ohab, chaplain Col. Szymon Fedoronko, chief chaplain of the Polish Army, Fr. Jerzy Lotocki, who was chaplain in Warsaw and at Holy Cross and tragically died with his entire family during the bombing of the capital during the Warsaw Uprising in the church in the Basement.
After the service, His Eminence Metropolitan Savva addressed those gathered in the church and emphasized how important the chaplain's service is in the rehabilitation of prisoners and their return to life in society. The saint pointed to the figure of the chaplain as one who must lift prisoners from sin and sinfulness, following the example of Christ, who by his Resurrection freed mankind from the bondage of the abyss. To commemorate the prayer service at the Warsaw Cathedral, His Eminence introduced the General Director of the Military Service, Col. Dr. Andrzej Pekka and Gen. Pawel Nasilowski, the medal of the 100th anniversary of the autocephaly of the SACP.
An important event of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the autocephaly of the Prison The service was the presentation to the senior chaplains of the Prison Service, Fr. Andrzej Pugacewicz from Biała Podlaska and Fr. Jan Jakymiuk from Piotrków Tribunal the gold cross with awards issued on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Prison Service. Moreover, the commander of the Prison Service Training Center in Olsanica, Lt. Col. Adam Nieznanski was honored with a Santa Claus badge with a golden halo. For the first time in history, starting this year, the badge of the Orthodox prison chaplain is awarded on the basis of an order of the General Directorate for Prisoners' Affairs.
On the same day, the annual training briefing for Orthodox and Evangelical prison chaplains was held at the Prison Service Training Center in Popovo. The briefing was attended by chaplains delegated from dioceses of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. On Monday afternoon, the chaplains listened to a lecture by Bishop Andrzej of Suprasl on "Autocephaly - 100 Years in the Republic of Poland."
The next day of service began with morning prayer led by Fr. Alexander Konachowicz. After them Fr. Andrzej Lewczak discussed organizational issues of the service of Orthodox chaplains in penitentiaries. Lieutenant Marek Pikulski from the Penitentiary Service Headquarters then spoke about the cooperation of the Penitentiary Service with prison chaplains. Next, the clergy took part in classes on negotiation and safety in crisis situations, conducted by Major Krzysztof Lisiak from the OISW in Poznań and Kamil Ochuida from the detention center in Poznań. The last speaker was Lieutenant Dr. Michał Staroszczyk from Prison no. 1 in Wrocław, who gave a presentation on interpersonal communication in the work of a prison chaplain.
Concluding the briefing, Fr. Andrzej Lewczak thanked the audience for coming. He expressed his gratitude to God for the opportunity to organize the meeting. The chaplains, in turn, conveyed Fr. Gratitude to Andrzej Lewczak for the efficient organization, the high content level of the briefing and the opportunity to share their experience.
Priest Lukasz Lewczuk
Photos: Protodeacon Igor Kutovy
Before the service, the guests were welcomed by Fr. Dr. Andrzej Lewczak, Chief Chaplain of the Prison Service of the Orthodox Church. The priest emphasized the role of prison chaplains in the process of re-socialization of prisoners, who often provide prisoners and their families with spiritual, emotional and moral support. In the context of the anniversary of autocephaly, it was emphasized how much the perception and organization of prison pastoral care has changed. custodial care. Orthodox chaplains are now an integral part of the social rehabilitation system, supporting the process of transformation and reconstruction of prisoners' lives. The sacrificial ministry of prison chaplains in recent years was recognized. Tragically killed by the NKVD at Katyn: Fr. Chief Wlodzimierz Ohab, chaplain Col. Szymon Fedoronko, chief chaplain of the Polish Army, Fr. Jerzy Lotocki, who was chaplain in Warsaw and at Holy Cross and tragically died with his entire family during the bombing of the capital during the Warsaw Uprising in the church in the Basement.
After the service, His Eminence Metropolitan Savva addressed those gathered in the church and emphasized how important the chaplain's service is in the rehabilitation of prisoners and their return to life in society. The saint pointed to the figure of the chaplain as one who must lift prisoners from sin and sinfulness, following the example of Christ, who by his Resurrection freed mankind from the bondage of the abyss. To commemorate the prayer service at the Warsaw Cathedral, His Eminence introduced the General Director of the Military Service, Col. Dr. Andrzej Pekka and Gen. Pawel Nasilowski, the medal of the 100th anniversary of the autocephaly of the SACP.
An important event of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the autocephaly of the Prison The service was the presentation to the senior chaplains of the Prison Service, Fr. Andrzej Pugacewicz from Biała Podlaska and Fr. Jan Jakymiuk from Piotrków Tribunal the gold cross with awards issued on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Prison Service. Moreover, the commander of the Prison Service Training Center in Olsanica, Lt. Col. Adam Nieznanski was honored with a Santa Claus badge with a golden halo. For the first time in history, starting this year, the badge of the Orthodox prison chaplain is awarded on the basis of an order of the General Directorate for Prisoners' Affairs.
On the same day, the annual training briefing for Orthodox and Evangelical prison chaplains was held at the Prison Service Training Center in Popovo. The briefing was attended by chaplains delegated from dioceses of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church. On Monday afternoon, the chaplains listened to a lecture by Bishop Andrzej of Suprasl on "Autocephaly - 100 Years in the Republic of Poland."
The next day of service began with morning prayer led by Fr. Alexander Konachowicz. After them Fr. Andrzej Lewczak discussed organizational issues of the service of Orthodox chaplains in penitentiaries. Lieutenant Marek Pikulski from the Penitentiary Service Headquarters then spoke about the cooperation of the Penitentiary Service with prison chaplains. Next, the clergy took part in classes on negotiation and safety in crisis situations, conducted by Major Krzysztof Lisiak from the OISW in Poznań and Kamil Ochuida from the detention center in Poznań. The last speaker was Lieutenant Dr. Michał Staroszczyk from Prison no. 1 in Wrocław, who gave a presentation on interpersonal communication in the work of a prison chaplain.
Concluding the briefing, Fr. Andrzej Lewczak thanked the audience for coming. He expressed his gratitude to God for the opportunity to organize the meeting. The chaplains, in turn, conveyed Fr. Gratitude to Andrzej Lewczak for the efficient organization, the high content level of the briefing and the opportunity to share their experience.
Priest Lukasz Lewczuk
Photos: Protodeacon Igor Kutovy
Share:
