Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church

The Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church is one of the local, autonomous members of the family of the Orthodox Church. The current ecclesiastical diptych gathers 15 autocephalous churches (independent of any external authority) and three autonomous churches (partially dependent). The Orthodox Church in its entirety constitutes an internal unity. PAKP is a part, and at the same time the fullness, of the Worldwide Orthodox Church.

The Church bases her teaching on the legacy of the Church of the first millennium, seven Universal Councils, and nine local councils. It professes faith in the Most Holy Trinity, the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, it worships Virgin Mary as the Mother of God and the Saints as our intercessors at the throne of the Most High. The Church professes faith in the intercession of the living for the living and the dead, recognising that the Church has a significant importance for the salvation of man, especially through her sanctifying role. This role is implemented by the sacraments, mass devotions, and church practices.

PAKP as an independent Orthodox Church has its roots in the mission of St. Cyril and St. Methodius in Moravia in the 9th c. Upon the elimination of Methodian Christianity in Poland in the 11th c., it was reborn in the Byzantine and Russian tradition in the 14th c. when King Casimirus the Great incorporated into Poland the territories of today’s Lviv and Chełm areas. During the Second Republic it had the same number of the faithful as the Roman Catholic Church, even if the state legislation significantly curbed its free activity. The Church had a very difficult period after 1596, when pursuant to the provisions of the Union of Brest attempts were made to eliminate it. These actions, while futile, substantially weakened the Church and indirectly, in the 18th century, led to the loss of the autonomous status. Since 1925, pursuant to a decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople, the Eastern Orthodox Church in Poland has had autocephalous status.

At present PAKP is headed by His Beatitude Eminence Sawa, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland, who presides over the Church in cooperation with the Council of Bishops (6 diocesan bishops and two auxiliary bishops of the Warsaw and Bielsk Diocese). The Church has ca. 500,000 faithful. It is divided into six dioceses. The biggest group of Eastern Orthodox in Poland can be found in the Białystok area.

PAKP has three monasteries (Jabłeczna, Supraśl, Ujkowice), two convents (Białystok-Dojlidy and Grabarka), and two homes for religious (for men in Saki and for women in Wojnów). The total number of Orthodox religious is over 100. Chaplains occupy an important position in the pastoral and educational activity of the Church. Next to the Orthodox Ordinariate of the Polish Army, led by a bishop in the rank of a general, Orthodox chaplains conduct their ministry in hospitals, educational and care centres, the Police, the Prison Service, the Fire Brigade, artistic and university circles, scouting organisations, etc. Each diocese of PAKP runs a Diocesan Centre for Charity, which provides care for the sick and the needy. Moreover, the Church runs six Social Care Homes, two Youth Centres of Culture, five Deaconry Institutes of Orthodox Culture, as well as community day centres and counselling stations. The Orthodox Brotherhood, which coordinates the participation of laity in the life of the Church, plays a significant role in the Church’s activity.

PAKP has for many years been a member of the worldwide ecumenical movement, a member of the Polish Ecumenical Council, and KEK. It actively cooperates with the Polish Bible Society.

//ter