Apostolic Administration for Belarus

Erection of the Apostolic Administration for the faithful of the Byzantine rite in Belarus and appointment of the Apostolic Administrator

Cathcon: the overcoming of the past

The Holy Father has erected the Apostolic Administration for the faithful of the Byzantine rite in Belarus, appointing as Apostolic Administrator of the same ecclesiastical affiliation the Rev. Archimandrite Jan Sergiusz Gajek, M.I.C., currently Apostolic Visitor for the same faithful.

Curriculum vitae

The Rev. Archimandrite Jan Sergiusz Gajek, M.I.C., was born on February 8, 1949 in Łyszkowice, Poland. In 1963 he graduated from the secondary school in Łyszkowice and, four years later, from the secondary school in Łowicz. Later, he entered the Congregation of Marian Clerics assuming the monastic name of Sergiusz. From 1967 to 1974 he studied at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Lublin and, subsequently, at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, obtaining his doctorate in 1983. On 15 August 1973 he made his Final Vows in the Congregation of Marian Clerics and on 23 June of the following year he was ordained a priest.

After his ordination he carried out pastoral service in the Latin parish of Głuchołazy and collaborated with the Byzantine parish of Kostomłoty. From 1983 to 1999 he taught theology of the Eastern Churches at the Ecumenical Institute of the Catholic University of Lublin. In 1993, Pope John Paul II appointed him Apostolic Visitor for the Greek-Catholic faithful in Belarus. In 1996 he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

Historical notes on the Catholic communities of the Byzantine rite in Belarus

The Catholic community of the Byzantine rite in Belarus is heir to the Union of Brest of 1596.

In 1798 the Eparchy of Minsk (of the Ruthenians) was erected which, in 1839, became impeded, but never suppressed. The Annuario Pontificio mentioned it until 1924. In 1939 the Byelorussian Exarchate was erected, by Metropolitan Andriy Sheptysky, Archbishop of Lviv, who was confirmed as Apostolic Administrator by Pope Pius XII in 1941. This post remained vacant in 1943 In 1988 the faithful began to reorganize themselves, continuing with the civil registration of the parishes. Since 1993 they have been entrusted to the pastoral care of the Rev. Archimandrite Sergiusz Gajek, M.IC., as Apostolic Visitor ad nutum Sanctae Sedis.

Currently there are about 5,000 faithful, organized in 16 parishes and assisted by 16 priests and 3 deacons. There are 4 seminarians.

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