Ks. Tadeusz KasabułaAs a result of the change of borders after World War II, one tenth of the
pre‑war archdiocese of Vilnius – an area of 5,550 square kilometers with 51 parishes,
around 100 priests and around 250,000 faithful – was incorporated into
the state of Poland. After the arrival of the metropolitan bishop of Vilnius Romuald
Jałbrzykowski in Białystok, a temporary administrative unit of apostolic
administration was formed under the name of the Archdiocese of Białystok.
An immediate effort to expand the network of parishes, restore the damaged
churches and build new ones was undertaken. Due to a temporary favor with
the authorities, 20 new pastoral centers were organized in the archdiocese of
Białystok between 1945 and 1952. During that time, 10 new parishes and 10
auxiliary churches were created.
After 1952, the communist government would not grant permits for building
churches or creating parishes. Permits were granted exclusively for restoring
churches destroyed during the war. Because of that, not a single new parish
was created in the Archdiocese of Białystok between 1953 and 1973. However,
as many as four independent vicariates were created, able to carry out the
pastoral work of a parish, but due to the lack of approval from the government
unable to formally enjoy the status of a parish. The number of sacral buildings
increased due to the erection of four newly-built auxiliary churches. As a result
of that, in 1973 the Archdiocese of Białystok had over 60 parish churches, five
independent vicariates and 20 auxiliary churches. Between 1973 and 1979 efforts to improve the relations between the Church and the state were undertaken, which led to a modest liberalization in the
state’s restrictive policy on erecting churches. Consequently, between 1973
and 1979 eight new parishes were created in the Archdiocese of Białystok, as
well as six new auxiliary chapels. In 1969, the Archdiocese of Białystok had 68
parish churches, three independent vicariates and 21 auxiliary churches.
The years between 1980 and 1989 witnessed enormous religious zeal on
the part of the faithful and numerous government permits for building new
churches and creating new parishes. In 1989, right before the fall of communism,
the Archdiocese of Białystok had a total of 99 church structures, including
76 parish churches, five independent vicariates and 18 auxiliary chapels
and churches.
Altogether, between 1945 and 1989 the Archdiocese of Białystok gained
32 new parishes (including the vicariates), which constituted 40% of all the
parish churches in 1989. Additionally, there were numerous auxiliary churches
and public chapels. Other church buildings that we have today were built in
independent Poland.Uniwersytet w Białymstok
