The Hajnówka International Orthodox Church Music Days Festival is a unique event that offers music lovers and listeners the opportunity to experience Orthodox church singing. In addition to the main performances, the festival also includes a variety of accompanying events. This year, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Orthodox Church’s independence in Poland, a special scientific session was held on May 15, 2024, at the Deanery Center in Hajnówka.
The session featured a lecture by Bishop Varsonofiusz titled “Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Poland in 1924 against the background of the religious policy of the Second Polish Republic.” Prior to the lecture, the Children’s and Youth Choir of the Holy Trinity Parish in Hajnówka, conducted by Justyna Marczuk, performed for the audience.
Bishop Varsonofiusz’s lecture, divided into two parts, explored the relationship between the Orthodox Church in Poland and the authorities of the time, highlighting both positive and negative aspects. He discussed the “Temporary government regulations regarding the Orthodox Church in Poland,” which were in effect for several years and helped to formalize the coexistence of the Church and the Polish state. These regulations addressed various administrative issues, including the establishment of parishes and monasteries, the organization of church brotherhoods, and the creation of theological schools for the education of future clergy, psalmists, and administrative workers. However, these temporary measures did not resolve all the pressing problems faced by the Church in Poland.
Attendees also had the chance to view archival photographs documenting events related to the Church’s autocephaly and its life during the interwar period. This exhibition, prepared by the Museum of the Warsaw Orthodox Metropolis, opened on Tuesday, May 13, 2024, as part of the festival.
Source: orthodox.pl
