Metropolitan Archdiocese of Białystok, Poland 🇵🇱

Continent: East Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Białystok / Bialostocen(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Drohiczyn, Łomża

Neighbouring Dioceses: Drohiczyn (↙), Łomża (←), Ełk (↖), Grodno (↗), Pinsk (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Najświętszej Maryi Panny Ostrobramskiej, Matki Miłosierdzia (November 16), Saint George (April 24)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: May 30

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1991.06.05: Established as Diocese of Białystok / Bialostocen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Vilnius and became suffragan of Vilnius)
1992.03.25: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Białystok / Bialostocen(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Drohiczyn and Łomża)

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1991.06)

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2021.07.16 – ...):	Archbishop Józef Guzdek (70)
Auxiliary Bishop (2012.11.17 – ...):	Bishop Henryk Ciereszko (70) Titular Bishop of Dices

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Białystok (Roman Rite)

Archbishop Józef Guzdek (70)
(2021.07.16 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Białystok (Poland)

Tobie Panie zaufałem

Born:	1956.03.18 (Wadowice, Poland)
Ordained Priest:	1981.05.17
Consecrated Bishop:	2004.09.15

Priest of Kraków (Poland) (1981.05.17 – 2004.08.14)

Titular Bishop of Treba (2004.08.14 – 2010.12.04)

Auxiliary Bishop of Kraków (Poland) (2004.08.14 – 2010.12.04)

Military Ordinary of Poland (Poland) (2010.12.04 – 2021.07.16)

Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinariate of Poland (Poland) (2021.07.16 – 2022.01.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Białystok (Poland) (2021.07.16 – ...)

Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, S.A.C. (69)
(2017.04.12 – 2021.03.02)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gdańsk (Poland)
President of Episcopal Conference of Poland

Oportet prædicari evangelium

Born:	1957.01.29 (Kowala, Poland)
Ordained Priest:	1983.05.08
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.06.10

Bureau Chief of Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (2007.12.12 – 2012.07.24)

Undersecretary of Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples (2012.07.24 – 2017.04.12)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Białystok (Poland) (2017.04.12 – 2021.03.02)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Gdańsk (Poland) (2021.03.02 – ...)

President of Episcopal Conference of Poland (2024.03.14 – ...)

Archbishop Edward Ozorowski
(2006.10.20 – 2017.04.12)

In Eo qui confortat / W Tym, który umacnia

Born:	1941.05.01 (Wólka Przedmiescie, Poland)
Ordained Priest:	1964.06.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1979.04.29
Died:	2024.10.12 (Białystok, Poland † 83)

Priest of Vilnius (Lithuania) (1964.06.21 – 1979.01.31)

Auxiliary Bishop of Vilnius (Lithuania) (1979.01.31 – 1991.06.05)

Titular Bishop of Bitetto (1979.01.31 – 2006.10.20)

Auxiliary Bishop of Białystok (Poland) (1991.06.05 – 2006.10.20)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Białystok (Poland) (2006.10.20 – 2017.04.12)

Archbishop Wojciech Ziemba
(2000.11.16 – 2006.05.30)

Dives Deus in misericordia

Born:	1941.10.15 (Wampierzów, Poland)
Ordained Priest:	1967.06.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1982.07.04
Died:	2021.04.21 (Olsztyn, Poland † 79)

Titular Bishop of Falerone (1982.06.19 – 1992.03.25)

Auxiliary Bishop of Warmia (Poland) (1982.06.19 – 1992.03.25)

Bishop of Ełk (Poland) (1992.03.25 – 2000.11.16)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Białystok (Poland) (2000.11.16 – 2006.05.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Warmia (Poland) (2006.05.30 – 2016.10.15)

Archbishop Stanisław Szymecki
(1993.05.15 – 2000.11.16)

Diliges

Born:	1924.01.26 (Katowice-Zaleska Halda, Poland)
Ordained Priest:	1947.07.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1981.04.12
Died:	2023.09.26 (Białystok, Poland † 99)

Priest of Katowice (Poland) (1947.07.03 – 1981.03.27)

Bishop of Kielce (Poland) (1981.03.27 – 1993.05.15)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Białystok (Poland) (1993.05.15 – 2000.11.16)

Bishops of Białystok (Roman Rite)

Bishop Edward Kisiel
(1991.06.05 – 1992.03.25)

Evangelizare misit me

Born:	1918.02.24 (Jundzillo, Poland)
Ordained Priest:	1943.02.14
Consecrated Bishop:	1976.06.27
Died:	1993.09.28 (Białystok, Poland † 75)

Titular Bishop of Limata (1976.05.03 – 1991.06.05)

Apostolic Administrator of Vilnius (Lithuania) (1976.05.03 – 1991.06.05)

Bishop of Białystok (Poland) (1991.06.05 – 1992.03.25)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Edward Ozorowski (later Archbishop) (1991.06.05 – 2006.10.20)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica: Bazylika Archikatedralna Wniebowzięcia NMP, Białystok, Podlaskie
Minor Basilica: Bazylika Ofiarowania NMP, Różanystok, Podlaskie
Minor Basilica: Bazylika św. Rocha, Białystok, Podlaskie
Jubilee Churches in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (2016)
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (120)

Drohiczyn (↙), Łomża (←), Ełk (↖), Grodno (↗), Pinsk (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 5,500 km²

Population: 352,000 Catholics (80.5% of 437,500 total)

Pastoral Centres: 116 parishes, 24 missions

Personnel: 382 priests (354 diocesan, 28 religious), 177 religious (33 brothers, 144 sisters), 24 seminarians