Polish Church celebrates 100th anniversary of autocephaly

Metropolitan Sawa. Photo: Polish Orthodox Church

On November 13, 2024, Warsaw hosted celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Poland, granted by the Patriarch of Constantinople on November 13, 1924, reports the website of the Polish Orthodox Church.

The official festivities started with a Divine Liturgy at St. Mary Magdalene Cathedral in Warsaw, presided over by Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland. Members of the Holy Synod and numerous clergy participated in the Liturgy.

Metropolitan Sawa extended greetings to representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, the Polish Council of Churches, the President of Poland, central and local authorities, as well as the faithful. In his address, he thanked God for the gift of autocephaly, emphasizing that this milestone strengthened the Orthodox identity in the country. The Metropolitan recalled the missionary work of Saints Cyril and Methodius and underscored the significance of autocephaly for the Church's stability and its improved relations with the state.

During the Liturgy, a message from the Holy Synod was read, along with prayers for the well-being of Poland and its people. Concluding the events, Metropolitan Sawa addressed the younger generation, urging them to draw wisdom from the lives of their ancestors and adhere to Christian values.

As previously reported by the UOJ, Polish Metropolitan Sawa congratulated Metropolitan Onuphry on his anniversary.

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