Religion in Poland
Encyclopedia
Most residents of Poland adhere to the Christian faith
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, with 89.8% belonging to the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. Catholicism plays an important role in the lives of many Poles and the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in Poland enjoys social prestige and political influence. The Church is widely respected by its members, who see it as a symbol of Polish heritage and culture. The rest of the population consists mainly of Eastern Orthodox (about 506,000 believers, mainly Polish Belarussians), Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland (about 85,000) and various Protestant (about 250,000, with about 130,000 Jehovah's Witnesses in the largest religious minorities.
According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll
Eurobarometer
Eurobarometer is a series of surveys regularly performed on behalf of the European Commission since 1973. It produces reports of public opinion of certain issues relating to the European Union across the member states...
2005:
- 80% of Polish citizens responded that "they believe there is a God" (which was the fifth highest result in EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
). - 15% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force".
- 3% answered that "don't know".
- 2% answered that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".
According to the most recent CBOS opinion poll published in the fall of 2008:
- 94% of Poles claim "they believe in God",
- 6% claim they "do not believe in God or do not know",
- 52% of believers claim "they attend to mass, religious meetings etc. at least once a week",
- while 17% do so "once or twice a month",
- 18% do so "a few times a year",
- and 13% "never do so".
From the beginning of its statehood, rulers of Poland were supporting religious minorities. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Poland was famous for its unique religious tolerance (see Statute of Kalisz (1264)
Statute of Kalisz
The General Charter of Jewish Liberties known as the Statute of Kalisz was issued by the Duke of Greater Poland Boleslaus the Pious on September 8, 1264 in Kalisz...
and Warsaw Confederation (1573)
Warsaw Confederation (1573)
The Warsaw Confederation , an important development in the history of Poland and Lithuania that extended religious tolerance to nobility and free persons within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. , is considered the formal beginning of religious freedom in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and...
).
However in the 15th and 18th century, pressure from the Catholic Church caused tensions to rise between Catholics and Protestants after the Edict of Wieluń
Edict of Wielun
The Edict of Wieluń was a 1424 law issued in Wieluń by King of Poland Władysław II Jagiełło under pressure from the Catholic Church. The edict outlawed Hussitism and represented a temporary regression for the Kingdom of Poland, which had a long tradition of religious toleration....
and later the Tumult of Torun
Tumult of Thorn (Torun)
The Tumult of Thorn , also called Blood-Bath of Thorn refers to executions ordered in 1724 by the Polish supreme court under Augustus II the Strong of Saxony...
contributing to the Age of Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
.
The Polish Constitution and religion
According to Poland's Constitution freedom of religion is ensured to everyone. It also allows for national and ethnic minorities to have the right to establish educational and cultural institutions, institutions designed to protect religious identity, as well as to participate in the resolution of matters connected with their cultural identity.Religious organizations in the Republic of Poland can register their institution with the Ministry of Interior and Administration
Ministry of Interior and Administration of the Republic of Poland
Ministry of the Interior and Administration is an administration structure controlling main administration and security branches of the Polish government. Current Minister is Jerzy Miller.-History and function:...
creating a record of churches and other religious organizations who operate under separate Polish laws. This registration is not necessary; however, it is beneficial when it comes to serving the freedom of religious practice laws.
Major denominations in Poland
| Denomination | Members | Leadership |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Church in Poland Roman Catholic Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity... Byzantine-Ukrainian Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church , Ukrainska Hreko-Katolytska Tserkva), is the largest Eastern Rite Catholic sui juris particular church in full communion with the Holy See, and is directly subject to the Pope... Armenian Armenian Catholic Church |- |The Armenian Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church sui juris in union with the other Eastern Rite, Oriental Rite and Latin Rite Catholics who accept the Bishop of Rome as spiritual leader of the Church. It is regulated by Eastern canon law... |
33,550,000 | Józef Kowalczyk Józef Kowalczyk Józef Kowalczyk is a Polish Roman Catholic clergyman, canon lawyer and diplomat who serves as the archbishop of Gniezno and primate of Poland. Previously, from 1989 to 2010, he served as the first apostolic nuncio to Poland since World War II.... , Prymas Primate (religion) Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence .... of Poland Józef Michalik, Chairman of Polish Episcopate Celestino Migliore Celestino Migliore Celestino Migliore is an Italian Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church who currently serves as the Apostolic Nuncio to Poland. He had previously served as... , Apostolic Nuncio to Poland Jan Martyniuk, Archbishop Archbishop An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop... Metropolite Metropolitan bishop In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of... of Byzantine-Ukrainian Rite |
| Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church Polish Orthodox Church The Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church, commonly known as the Polish Orthodox Church, , is one of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches in full communion... |
506,000 | Metropolitan of Warsaw Sawa Sawa (bishop) Metropolitan Sawa, is the leader of the Polish Orthodox Church , the second largest organized religion in Poland. He holds the title of Metropolitan of Warsaw.... |
| Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual... in Poland |
126,488 | Warszawska 14,Pl-05830 Nadarzyn |
| Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Poland Evangelical-Augsburg Church in Poland The Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Poland , the largest Protestant body in Poland, is rooted in the Reformation. The first Lutheran sermons were held in 1518, and in 1523 the first Lutheran dean, Johann Heß, was called to the city of Breslau, whence Lutheranism was spread into the... |
100,000 | Bishop Fr. Jerzy Samiec |
| Old Catholic Mariavite Church Mariavite Church The Mariavite Church is an independent Christian church that emerged from the Catholic Church of Poland at the turn of the 20th century. Initially, it was an internal movement leading to a reform of the Polish clergy. After a conflict with Polish bishops, it became a separate and independent... in Poland |
23,300 | Chief Bishop Fr. Michał Maria Ludwik Jabłoński |
| Pentecostal Church in Poland Pentecostal Church in Poland The Pentecostal Church in Poland is a Pentecostal Christian denomination in Poland. With 21,700 adherents and 211 congregations, it is the second largest Protestant church in Poland after the Evangelical-Augsburg Church... |
21,200 | Bishop Fr. Marek Kamiński |
| Polish Catholic Church Polish Catholic Church The Polish Catholic Church is an Old Catholic denomination in Poland which belongs to the Union of Utrecht. It is a member of the World Council of Churches and the Polish Ecumenical Council. It is not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church nor is it in communion with the Pope. In 2009 the... |
18,900 | Bishop Wiktor Wysoczański Wiktor Wysoczanski The Right Rev. Wiktor Wysoczański is notable as a Bishop and the present Superior of the Polish Catholic Church. He became Superior in 1995, succeeding Bishop Tadeusz Majewski... |
| Seventh-day Adventist Church Seventh-day Adventist Church The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ... in Poland |
9,600 | Fr. Paweł Lazar, President of the Church |
| Christian Baptist Church in Poland Baptist Union of Poland Baptist Union of Poland The Baptist Union of Poland is an association of Baptist churches in the country of Poland.Modern Baptist work began in Poland in 1844. The first Polish congregation was formed in the village of Zelow in 1872... |
6,500 | President of the Church : Gustaw Cieślar |
| Islamic Religious Union in Poland | 5,100 | President of the Supreme Muslim College Stefan Korycki |
| Evangelical Methodist Church in Poland | 4,460 | Ruler of the Church, Bishop Edward Puślecki |
| Evangelical Reformed Church in Poland Polish Reformed Church The Polish Reformed Church, officially called the Evangelical Reformed Church in the republic of Poland is a historic Protestant church in Poland established in the 16th century, still in existence today.-Structure and organisation:An internal census showed that in 2004 the Polish Reformed Church... |
3,500 | President consistory Dr. Witold Brodziński |
| Catholic Mariavite Church Catholic Mariavite Church The Catholic Mariavite Church is a Polish religious organization begun in 1935 by Archbishop Jan Maria Michal Kowalski.Kowalski had been the leader of the Old Catholic Mariavite Church, since the death of its foundress, Felicja Kozłowska , in 1921... in Poland |
2,150 | Bishop Damiana Maria Beatrycze Szulgowicz |
| Union of Jewish Confessional Communities in Poland | 1,222 | President of the Main Board Piotr Kadlcik Chief rabbi Chief Rabbi Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities... of Poland Michael Schudrich Michael Schudrich Michael Joseph Schudrich is the Chief Rabbi of Poland. He is the oldest of four children of Rabbi David Schudrich and Doris Goldfarb Schudrich.-Biography:... |
There are roughly 125 other minor religions registered in Poland.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in PolandRoman Catholicism in PolandEver since Poland officially adopted Latin Christianity in 966, the Catholic Church has played an important religious, cultural and political role in the country....
- Eastern Orthodoxy in PolandPolish Orthodox ChurchThe Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church, commonly known as the Polish Orthodox Church, , is one of the autocephalous Eastern Orthodox Churches in full communion...
- Islam in PolandIslam in PolandThe first ever written account of Poland was recorded by the Muslim Caliphate of Córdoba's 10th-century envoy, Ibrahim ibn Jakub. A continuous presence of Islam in Poland began in the 14th century. From this time it was primarily associated with the Tatars, many of whom settled in the...
- Buddhism in PolandBuddhism in PolandThe roots of Buddhism in Poland can be found in the early 20th century in the nation's connections to the origin countries of the religion, like China, Vietnam, Japan, and Korea. After World War II, primarily expatriate Poles joined various Buddhist groups and organizations...
- Hinduism in PolandHinduism in PolandHinduism in Poland is a minority religion.Hinduism has spread to Poland through ISKCON missionaries since 1976. First groups of Polish devotees were established in Warszawa and Wrocław. The first Polish Hindu temple was established in 1980 in Czarnów, Lower Silesian Voivodeship . Main ISKCON temple...
- History of the Jews in PolandHistory of the Jews in PolandThe history of the Jews in Poland dates back over a millennium. For centuries, Poland was home to the largest and most significant Jewish community in the world. Poland was the centre of Jewish culture thanks to a long period of statutory religious tolerance and social autonomy. This ended with the...
- Bahá'í Faith in PolandBahá'í Faith in PolandThe Bahá'í Faith in Poland begins in the 1870s when Polish writer Walerian Jablonowski wrote several articles covering its early history in Persia. There was a polish language translation of Paris Talks published in 1915. After becoming a Bahá'í in 1925 Poland's Lidia Zamenhof returned to Poland in...
- Slavic NeopaganismSlavic NeopaganismSlavic Neopaganism is a modern fakeloric, polytheistic, reconstructionistic, and Neopagan religion; its adherents call themselves Rodnovers , and consider themselves to be the legitimate continuation of pre-Christian Slavic religion.- Rebirth of Slavic spirituality :The pre-Christian religions...