Religion

Vanishing lives: Descendants of 17th century bearded radicals who fled to Poland from Russia to avoid religious persecution are now facing a new crisis as their numbers slowly dwindle out

The dwindling religious group known as Old Believers is a group of Orthodox Christians who separated from the Eastern Orthodox Church after a schism in the 17th century. There are currently around 1,000 left in Poland. Pictured the gate and gatekeepers house at the Monastery of the Savior and the Holy Trinity in Wojnowo. Kalbar/TFN

It is easy to miss their presence - the three-barred crosses, the wooden banyas and the modest churches – unless you know what to look for. TFN travelled to the regions of Mazury and Suwalszczyzna in north-east Poland to track down the Old Believers, a minority which has almost disappeared, yet which still lingers among the hills, fields and virgin forests in the land of a thousand lakes.

Religious practice declines in Poland, especially among young

Increasing numbers of Poles no longer practise religious faith, according to a survey charting the years from 1992 to 2021.

Sermon-giving ‘robotic priest’ arrives in Poland to support faithful during pandemic

Creator Gabriele Trovato from Tokyo’s Waseda University said: “The need to build such a robot became clear to me when I listened to friends who complained that they could not go to church during the pandemic.”

Vatican punishes Polish bishop for covering up child abuse

The Holy See has banned a Polish bishop from participating in public religious ceremonies after finding him guilty of negligence in incidents of child sex abuse involving priests from his diocese.

Young Poles becoming less religious

Trust in the Catholic Church is on the decline among young Poles, a report by the Catholic Information Agency has revealed.

Trial of women accused of insulting religious feelings of others starts

Three women have gone on trial for insulting religious feelings by producing and distributing stickers of the Virgin Mary with the LGBT rainbow added to her halo.

Polish churches to celebrate more Christmas midnight masses

Some Polish churches will increase the number of midnight masses celebrated by Roman Catholics following an appeal by bishops.

Polish priests speak out against "political abuse" of Church

Dozens of priests have put their names to a letter published in a magazine stating their opposition to what they call "abuse by politicians and the sins of the Church.

Monastic makeover: offshore wartime torpedo station gets recast as monastery

New design aims to give peace a chance by changing a military base into a place of prayer.

Poland and Hungary to jointly assist victims of religious persecution

Poland and Hungary have reached an agreement to help persecuted religious groups and to counteract threats to religious freedom, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced in a press statement.

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