Poland marks 100th anniversary of Lemkos’ return to Orthodoxy

The 100th anniversary of the Lemkos’ return to Orthodoxy was commemorated in Gorlice. Photo: orthodox.pl

Celebrations were held in the Polish city of Gorlice in honor of the Holy Hieromartyr Maxim of Gorlice and the 100th anniversary of the Lemkos’ return to Orthodoxy. The church festivities of the Przemyśl-Gorlice Eparchy of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church were led by Archbishop Abel of Lublin and Chełm.

The services were attended by Archbishop Jakub of Białystok and Gdańsk, Archbishop George of Wrocław and Szczecin, Archbishop Paisius of Przemyśl and Gorlice, and Bishop Athanasius of Łódź and Poznań. Before the Liturgy, Archbishop Abel blessed a commemorative plaque marking the 100th anniversary of the Lemkos’ return to the faith of their ancestors. After the service, clergy and faithful took part in a procession with the relics of Hieromartyr Maxim.

Archbishop George read a message from Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland, Primate of the Polish Orthodox Church.

“The sons of Saints Cyril and Methodius, as a result of the Union of Brest of 1596, were forced to abandon the faith of their ancestors only in 1691. For centuries they wept as they looked upon the churches that had been taken from them – churches that carried within them Lemko prayer and longing (...) The churches were taken away from the faithful, but Orthodoxy could not be torn from their hearts.”

The clergy also recalled the history of the mass return of the Lemkos from the Unia to Orthodoxy in 1926. By decision of the Holy Synod of the Polish Orthodox Church, the hierarchs were presented with commemorative medals marking the 100th anniversary of the Lemkos’ return.

As previously reported by the UOJ, thousands of Orthodox Christians in Poland honored the Supraśl Icon of the Mother of God.

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