The 100th anniversary of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Poland, granted on November 13, 1924 by the Patriarch of Constantinople, is an expression of the millennial history of Orthodoxy in the Polish lands. This date was a reflection of the maturity and ecclesiological consciousness of local Orthodoxy, expressed throughout history by a unique culture, liturgical tradition, rich spirituality, intellectual creativity and courage of ancestors who did not spare their lives in defense of the Church and homeland. The autocephaly granted a hundred years ago gave the Orthodox citizens of the Republic of Poland an opportunity to revive their consciousness, and the Motherland an opportunity to understand the role of indigenous Orthodoxy, which should be treated as an integral whole and a treasure of native culture.
Exactly one hundred years later, November 13, 2024, marked the 100th anniversary of the granting of jurisdictional independence to the Orthodox Church in Poland. On that day, the Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene in Warsaw was honored under the leadership of His Eminence Sava, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland. Liturgy. The hierarchs were assisted by members of the Holy Council of Bishops of the Polish Catholic Church and the clergy present at the ceremony.
As an introduction, His Eminence Metropolitan Savva welcomed the representatives of the The Roman Catholic Church, the Churches affiliated with the Polish Ecumenical Council, the President of the Republic of Poland, the central authorities, regional and local authorities, as well as all guests and faithful. Addressing the audience, Metropolitan Savva expressed gratitude to God for the granting of autocephaly and the gifts he has given to the Church in Poland in recent years. His Eminence mentioned the birth of Orthodoxy in the lands of the Poles and the Vistula, enlightened by the activities of St. Cyril. St. Cyril and Methodius. Recalling the twists and turns of history, the hierarch noted that Orthodoxy experienced many trials on its way to independence in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Despite the difficulties, the Church never ceased to strive for canonical and administrative independence.
As the head of the Orthodox Church in Poland noted, autocephaly allowed to stabilize the internal life of the Church and relations with the state power. Thanks to the above, the national Orthodox identity was restored. The faithful felt themselves citizens, responsible for their homeland, for the sake of which they gave their talents and gave their lives in the struggle for the independence of their homeland and numerous uprisings. They remembered the color of the clergy and faithful of the Orthodox Church in Poland who gave their lives for the saint. Orthodoxy and Motherland. Metropolitan Savva's words about the real and undeniable contribution of Orthodoxy to the history of the Republic of Poland resonated with great resonance. The autocephaly received a hundred years ago should be seen as a seal of the close connection of Orthodoxy with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which has existed since the IX century. The granting of autocephaly bears witness to this. Therefore, today is a day of thanksgiving to God for one hundred years of independence and more than a thousand years of Eastern Christianity in the Polish lands.
Summing up, His Eminence Metropolitan Savva mentioned the initiator of autocephaly, Metropolitan Jerzy Jaroszewski, whose portrait is placed on the western wall of the cathedral, and the successor of his work, Metropolitan Dionysius Waledinski, whose panagia was worn on his chest by Metropolitan Savva on the same day.
The paternal instruction of the head of the Orthodox Church in Poland ended with a quotation from the Second Epistle of the Apostle. St. Paul to the Corinthians "be firm in the faith - steadfast and immovable - do not waver" (1:23) and the call to trust in Christ, who gives strength to everyone.
During the liturgy, the message of the Council of Bishops on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of autocephaly was read. Thanksgiving prayers were offered for the church and state power. They prayed for the prosperity and God's blessing of the Motherland, the people and the Orthodox faithful. In During the ceremony, the Metropolitan Cathedral Choir, led by Protodeacon Dr.. Sergiusz Boutruczuk and the choir of the Warsaw Theological Schools under the direction of Prof. Wlodzimierz Wolosiuk. After the Holy Liturgy, prayers were offered for the intention of the Orthodox Church in Poland, its hierarchy, clergy and its faithful. Prayers were offered for the deceased initiators, builders and continuers of the independence of the Orthodox Church in Poland.
Concluding the jubilee celebrations in the capital, His Eminence addressed many words of fatherly concern to the younger generation of Orthodox inhabitants of Poland, urging them to draw wisdom from the lives of past generations of our ancestors and to seek support in Christ, who helps them to overcome difficulties. all evils and hardships. Metropolitan Savva called for attention to the education of the younger generation, emphasizing that the strength of those present is in understanding and appreciating the past. The saint thanked the hierarchs and numerous clergy, pilgrims, choirs and officials present at the ceremony for their presence and prayers.
Then representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, the President of the Polish Ecumenical Council, the President of the Republic of Poland, as well as central and regional authorities delivered addresses, wishes and congratulations.
Anniversary The celebrations in Warsaw were accompanied by an open-air exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Poland, prepared by the Museum of the Orthodox Metropolis of Warsaw. Pilgrims were treated to a warm meal prepared by the parish of St. Mary Magdalene in Warsaw.
In the evening, at 5 p.m., a jubilee concert was held at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, which began with the singing of the national anthem. Then His Eminence Metropolitan Savva delivered a speech to the assembled guests in the Great Hall of the Royal Residence in Warsaw. The hierarch noted that the evening gathering in such an honorable place is a continuation of the jubilee celebrations that began today in the Metropolitan Cathedral and continued last year. Metropolitan Savva emphasized that Orthodox singing is the voice of the Church, a special way of communicating God's truth to the world. "Singing touches the human being in a complementary way, penetrating the soul and body. What the Church lives by is expressed in liturgical texts and translated into notes'" Metropolitan Savva said. The hierarch expressed his gratitude to the management of the cultural institution for lending the Great Hall of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, where our ancestors, great kings, senators and citizens, who were spiritually present that evening, visited. His Eminence wished everyone a pleasant evening and many creative and spiritual experiences.
Between the performances of the following choirs there were beautiful and rich recollections of the history of the Orthodox Church in Poland and references to Metropolitan Dionysius' 1927 visits to the sister Orthodox Churches.
During the concert, in addition to works by creators of Orthodox church music such as: Dimitr Bortynanski, Aleksiy Turkanov from Polesie, Piotr Trochanowski from Krynica Górska, classical Byzantine and Old Bulgarian melodies were performed, as well as Polish classics: Bohurodzice, Gaude Mater Polonia, God's Word, Chervone Poppies over Monte Cassino.
The concert was broadcasted by cerkiew.pl.
The great anniversary of the 100th anniversary of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Poland should encourage every Orthodox Christian to be a proud child of his Mother Church, an heir to the faith and culture of his ancestors. The anniversary of autocephaly should remind all citizens that Orthodoxy is a common patrimony that has been creating the identity of our homeland for more than a thousand years. May the work begun by the blessed memory of Metropolitan George, sealed by his tragic, martyrdom, continued by the great Metropolitan Dionysius and the holy Metropolitans: Makarii, Timothy, Stephen, Basil, and the present Metropolitan Savva, be message to all believers and encouragement of creative activity arising from the beauty of Orthodoxy, its spiritual depth, theological thought, from the artistic wealth that is everyone's heritage.
God bless our Church - the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church - for future generations for the glory of God, Orthodoxy and for the good of our homeland, the Republic of Poland!
Priest L. Koleda, V. Michalczuk
Exactly one hundred years later, November 13, 2024, marked the 100th anniversary of the granting of jurisdictional independence to the Orthodox Church in Poland. On that day, the Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene in Warsaw was honored under the leadership of His Eminence Sava, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland. Liturgy. The hierarchs were assisted by members of the Holy Council of Bishops of the Polish Catholic Church and the clergy present at the ceremony.
As an introduction, His Eminence Metropolitan Savva welcomed the representatives of the The Roman Catholic Church, the Churches affiliated with the Polish Ecumenical Council, the President of the Republic of Poland, the central authorities, regional and local authorities, as well as all guests and faithful. Addressing the audience, Metropolitan Savva expressed gratitude to God for the granting of autocephaly and the gifts he has given to the Church in Poland in recent years. His Eminence mentioned the birth of Orthodoxy in the lands of the Poles and the Vistula, enlightened by the activities of St. Cyril. St. Cyril and Methodius. Recalling the twists and turns of history, the hierarch noted that Orthodoxy experienced many trials on its way to independence in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Despite the difficulties, the Church never ceased to strive for canonical and administrative independence.
As the head of the Orthodox Church in Poland noted, autocephaly allowed to stabilize the internal life of the Church and relations with the state power. Thanks to the above, the national Orthodox identity was restored. The faithful felt themselves citizens, responsible for their homeland, for the sake of which they gave their talents and gave their lives in the struggle for the independence of their homeland and numerous uprisings. They remembered the color of the clergy and faithful of the Orthodox Church in Poland who gave their lives for the saint. Orthodoxy and Motherland. Metropolitan Savva's words about the real and undeniable contribution of Orthodoxy to the history of the Republic of Poland resonated with great resonance. The autocephaly received a hundred years ago should be seen as a seal of the close connection of Orthodoxy with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which has existed since the IX century. The granting of autocephaly bears witness to this. Therefore, today is a day of thanksgiving to God for one hundred years of independence and more than a thousand years of Eastern Christianity in the Polish lands.
Summing up, His Eminence Metropolitan Savva mentioned the initiator of autocephaly, Metropolitan Jerzy Jaroszewski, whose portrait is placed on the western wall of the cathedral, and the successor of his work, Metropolitan Dionysius Waledinski, whose panagia was worn on his chest by Metropolitan Savva on the same day.
The paternal instruction of the head of the Orthodox Church in Poland ended with a quotation from the Second Epistle of the Apostle. St. Paul to the Corinthians "be firm in the faith - steadfast and immovable - do not waver" (1:23) and the call to trust in Christ, who gives strength to everyone.
During the liturgy, the message of the Council of Bishops on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of autocephaly was read. Thanksgiving prayers were offered for the church and state power. They prayed for the prosperity and God's blessing of the Motherland, the people and the Orthodox faithful. In During the ceremony, the Metropolitan Cathedral Choir, led by Protodeacon Dr.. Sergiusz Boutruczuk and the choir of the Warsaw Theological Schools under the direction of Prof. Wlodzimierz Wolosiuk. After the Holy Liturgy, prayers were offered for the intention of the Orthodox Church in Poland, its hierarchy, clergy and its faithful. Prayers were offered for the deceased initiators, builders and continuers of the independence of the Orthodox Church in Poland.
Concluding the jubilee celebrations in the capital, His Eminence addressed many words of fatherly concern to the younger generation of Orthodox inhabitants of Poland, urging them to draw wisdom from the lives of past generations of our ancestors and to seek support in Christ, who helps them to overcome difficulties. all evils and hardships. Metropolitan Savva called for attention to the education of the younger generation, emphasizing that the strength of those present is in understanding and appreciating the past. The saint thanked the hierarchs and numerous clergy, pilgrims, choirs and officials present at the ceremony for their presence and prayers.
Then representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, the President of the Polish Ecumenical Council, the President of the Republic of Poland, as well as central and regional authorities delivered addresses, wishes and congratulations.
Anniversary The celebrations in Warsaw were accompanied by an open-air exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Poland, prepared by the Museum of the Orthodox Metropolis of Warsaw. Pilgrims were treated to a warm meal prepared by the parish of St. Mary Magdalene in Warsaw.
In the evening, at 5 p.m., a jubilee concert was held at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, which began with the singing of the national anthem. Then His Eminence Metropolitan Savva delivered a speech to the assembled guests in the Great Hall of the Royal Residence in Warsaw. The hierarch noted that the evening gathering in such an honorable place is a continuation of the jubilee celebrations that began today in the Metropolitan Cathedral and continued last year. Metropolitan Savva emphasized that Orthodox singing is the voice of the Church, a special way of communicating God's truth to the world. "Singing touches the human being in a complementary way, penetrating the soul and body. What the Church lives by is expressed in liturgical texts and translated into notes'" Metropolitan Savva said. The hierarch expressed his gratitude to the management of the cultural institution for lending the Great Hall of the Royal Castle in Warsaw, where our ancestors, great kings, senators and citizens, who were spiritually present that evening, visited. His Eminence wished everyone a pleasant evening and many creative and spiritual experiences.
Between the performances of the following choirs there were beautiful and rich recollections of the history of the Orthodox Church in Poland and references to Metropolitan Dionysius' 1927 visits to the sister Orthodox Churches.
During the concert, in addition to works by creators of Orthodox church music such as: Dimitr Bortynanski, Aleksiy Turkanov from Polesie, Piotr Trochanowski from Krynica Górska, classical Byzantine and Old Bulgarian melodies were performed, as well as Polish classics: Bohurodzice, Gaude Mater Polonia, God's Word, Chervone Poppies over Monte Cassino.
The concert was broadcasted by cerkiew.pl.
The great anniversary of the 100th anniversary of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Poland should encourage every Orthodox Christian to be a proud child of his Mother Church, an heir to the faith and culture of his ancestors. The anniversary of autocephaly should remind all citizens that Orthodoxy is a common patrimony that has been creating the identity of our homeland for more than a thousand years. May the work begun by the blessed memory of Metropolitan George, sealed by his tragic, martyrdom, continued by the great Metropolitan Dionysius and the holy Metropolitans: Makarii, Timothy, Stephen, Basil, and the present Metropolitan Savva, be message to all believers and encouragement of creative activity arising from the beauty of Orthodoxy, its spiritual depth, theological thought, from the artistic wealth that is everyone's heritage.
God bless our Church - the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church - for future generations for the glory of God, Orthodoxy and for the good of our homeland, the Republic of Poland!
Priest L. Koleda, V. Michalczuk
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