POLISH ORTHODOX CHURCH

POLISH ORTHODOX CHURCH. The Ecumenical Patriarch (q.v.) granted about four million Orthodox in Poland autocephaly (q.v.) in 1924. But they suffered persecution and the closure of churches during the 1930s under the Roman Catholic government of Pilsudski in spite of their independent status. In 1939, when the borders were changed, most of the Polish Orthodox ended up within the Soviet Union because most lived in the east of the country. In 1948 after the Communist takeover, the primate, Metropolitan Dionysius, was arrested and the Polish Church was effectively “decapitated,” forcing the Orthodox Poles to seek refuge with the Patriarchate of Moscow. The Communists with the Russian Church’s assent forcibly readmitted Polish Uniates (q.v.) into Orthodoxy, creating tremendous tensions. Moscow slowly reconferred Orthodox autocephaly, but full independence did not occur until the collapse of Communism. Since a majority of Poles consider Roman Catholicism (q.v.) an integral aspect of national identity, and there has been a longstanding antagonism between Russian and Polish interests, the association of the Polish Orthodox with Moscow made their road very difficult as Polish citizens. Although they were willing, they were excluded from the Solidarity Movement, which greatly aided the national spirit and effectively neutralized the Communists over the long run. Currently, there is a vibrant youth movement among the Orthodox. Parishes number approximately two hundred fifty with a slightly greater number of clergy, and church life appears to be improving now that the Muscovite association has lessened.