On Thursday, June 4, 2026, the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord in Siemiatycze hosted the Annual Meeting of the Clergy Wives (Matushkas) of the Warsaw-Bielsko Diocese of the Polish Orthodox Church.
The gathering began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, presided over by Bishop Warsonofiusz of Siemiatycze. Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland participated in prayer at the altar and, following the service, offered a special prayer before the start of the conference proceedings.
In his introductory address, Metropolitan Sawa presented the theme of this year’s meeting, “The Marriage of Priests.” The hierarch emphasized the importance of unity both in the Church and in marriage, noting that this unity finds its fullest expression in the Holy Eucharist. He also stressed the indissoluble nature of Christian marriage, describing it as a unique, eternal, and mystical union. The liturgical hymns were sung by a choir of clergy wives under the direction of Maria Demczuk.
The plenary session, held at the parish hall, was opened by Metropolitan Sawa. The main presentation was delivered by Katarzyna Kosińska, who based her reflections on Holy Scripture and the canons of the Church. A second presentation was given by Monika Szwec, who approached the topic from the perspective of the patristic tradition. Both speakers also addressed contemporary challenges facing family life and shared insights drawn from personal experience.
The presentations were followed by a discussion during which participants exchanged reflections, experiences, and observations related to the conference theme.
The event concluded with a shared meal, providing an opportunity for fellowship and conversation. The clergy wives, who support their husbands in parishes throughout the diocese, enjoyed a warm atmosphere in which they could strengthen their bonds and share experiences from their ministry and family life.
Source: orthodox.pl/ Fr. Andrzej Stremkowski / Photos: Protodeacon Mirosław Demczuk
