Warsaw, November 15, 2024
Photo: orthodox.pl
The Polish Orthodox Church has been celebrating the 100th anniversary of its autocephaly with liturgical and other events throughout the year.
On November 13, the main celebration was held at St. Mary Magdalene Cathedral in Warsaw. The service was led by His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa of Poland with the hierarchs of the Polish Church and clergy from throughout the country, reports the Polish Orthodox Church.
“The autocephaly granted one hundred years ago provided an opportunity for reviving the consciousness of Orthodox citizens of the Republic of Poland, while giving the homeland a chance to understand the role of indigenous Orthodoxy, which should be regarded as an inalienable whole and a treasure of national culture,” the report reads.
The Polish Church was granted autocephaly by the Patriarchate of Constantinople on November 13, 1924.
Met. Sawa greeted the pilgrims and honored guests and spoke of the history of Orthodoxy in Poland, beginning with the missionary activity of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. “Today is a day of thanksgiving to God for 100 years of independence and over 1,000 years of Eastern Christianity in Polish lands.”
Photo: orthodox.pl
In conclusion, Met. Sawa spoke the initiator of autocephaly, Metropolitan George (Jaroszewski), whose portrait is placed on the western wall of the cathedral, and the continuator of his work, Metropolitan Dionysius (Waledyński), whose episcopal Panagia the Polish primate wore for the anniversary.
The Metropolitan’s paternal instruction concluded with a quote from Colossians: Continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope (1:23), and a call to trust in Christ, Who gives strength to everyone.
During the Divine Liturgy, the Council of Bishops’ message on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of autocephaly was read. Thanksgiving prayers were offered for church and state authorities. Prayers were said for the prosperity and God’s blessing for the homeland, nation, and Orthodox faithful.
After the Divine Liturgy, a prayer was read for the Orthodox Church in Poland, its hierarchy, clergy, and faithful. Prayers were offered for the deceased initiators, builders, and continuators of the Orthodox Church’s independence in Poland.
Concluding the jubilee celebrations in the capital, His Eminence directed many words of fatherly concern to the young generation of Orthodox residents of Poland, encouraging them to draw wisdom from the lives of past generations of our ancestors and seek support in Christ Who helps overcome all evil and difficulties.
Photo: orthodox.pl
A jubilee concert was held that evening.
The report concludes:
The great jubilee of the 100th anniversary of the Orthodox Church's autocephaly in Poland should encourage every Orthodox Christian to be a proud child of their mother Church, heir to the faith and culture of their ancestors. The autocephaly jubilee should remind all citizens that Orthodoxy is a common treasure that has been shaping our homeland’s identity for over 1,000 years. May the work initiated by Metropolitan George of blessed memory, sealed by his tragic, martyric death, continued by the great Metropolitan Dionysius and the holy Metropolitans Makary, Timothy, Stefan, Basil, up to the current Metropolitan Sawa, become a message to all faithful and an encouragement for creative activity, born from the beauty of Orthodoxy, its spiritual depth, theological thought, and artistic richness, being a treasure of every citizen of the Republic of Poland.
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