Discussion on the Dissolution of the Church Union in Bialystok district

Abstract

Even though there was official dissolution of the union in 1839, in the Lithuanian diocese the exit from the union lasted so many years. Building a separate Orthodox church and releasing from the Latin influence proved to be a long-lasting process. Access to archival documents gives an opportunity to compare common opinions on the exit from the union with the reality in those days. Beliefs according to which bishop Józef Siemaszko used severe punishments in the case of rebels or restoring the Orthodox faith in the Lithuanian diocese was forced by external authorities were not confirmed. The success was achieved as a result of the long-lasting changes and avoidance of both a one-off act of the church union dissolution and immediate restrictions. The remnants of the union that did not have any dogmatic meaning and significant impact on church services were treated in a liberal way.