History of the Orthodoxy in the Bialystok region       Beginning of the Christianity in the Bialystok region (Podlasie) compact associated with Orthodox church. This arrived on territory of the Podlasie region in XI century, when area beetwen Bug and Narew river founded on borders Russian principalitys. Firsteen orthodox churches on Bialystok region rised on time when Russian princes achieved numerous expeditions in nord-west direction against neighbour from his states Jacwings. To protection his territorial conquestes Russian princes builded many defensive citys: on river Bug - Brzesc and Drohiczyn, on river Niemen - Grodno, on river Biala - Bielsk and also on Nurzec - Bransk. This cities builded in period of appurtenance this territory to Grand Kijev Principality, especially under the reign of Jaroslaw Clever (1036-1054).
    After province break on Russian, lands today south Bialystok region belong to Turow-Pinsk principality, and next to Halicz-Wolyn principality, however his west territory founded under an influence Mazowsze. About orthodox community lived in Bransk, Suraz, Knyszyn, Bielsk, Wysokie Mazowieckie and Ciechanowiec remember Lithuanian and Belarrusian books. This period was very important in history of the Orthodox Church on Bialystok region, because arised at that time oldest Orthodox church centres, lead action of the christianity among local population. Christianity of the population in east ceremony influenced to permanent presence Orthodoxy on this territory to this day. Canonical Bialystok region was subject first jurisdiction of Turow-Pinsk bishops, and later go over jurisdiction Wlodzimierz bishops.
    Downfall Halicz-Wolyn Principality and increase power of Lithuania leaded to absorbing Podlasie land by Grand Lithuanian Principality in the reign of Giedymin (1315-1341) and Olgierd (1345-1377). In frontiers Grand Lithuanian Principality finality was formed organization structure of the Orthodox Church on this lands. Territory of the nord Podlasie was subject at that time immediately jurisdiction of the Kijev metropolitans (metropolitan diocese), however south Podlasie remained in frontiers of Wlodzimierz diocese (river Narew was approximately frontier both dioceses).
    Lithuanian and Russian princes and other feudal lords in XVI century founded many orthodox church in such cities as: Suraz, Bielsk, Drohiczyn, Mielnik, Tykocin, Orla, Lipsk, Ciechanowiec, Wysokie Mazowieckie. Special importance in evolution Orthodox Church in Bialystok region had foundation in 1500 of the Suprasl monastery. His founders that owner Grodek and Zabludow, Nowogrodek voivode Aleksander Chodkiewicz and also archbishop of Smolensk Jozef Soltan. Suprasl monastery standed soon after second with regard to importance order (monks) centre after Kijev-Pieczersk Lavra. Suprasl monks was big influence to evolution of the religion and national identity of the population of Bialystoks region. Among other Podlasie orthodox centres special importance to taken: Bielsk, Drohiczyn and Zabludow (on this functioned on years 1568-1572 first printing house worked to need of Orthodox Church).
    Important event in history Orthodox Church was Brzesc synod. Participated in this representatives Podlasie clergy and orthodox fellowships decided was declare to contrary approbation of Pope jurisdiction and breach with Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Antiunion orientation of the delegation of an orthodox population of Podlasie began above two centurys fight about preserved „Greek faith” on Bialystok region. Introduced union was make on the way of pressure on clergy, recovered of the church and his estates. Owners estates passed to catholicos or union was force to acceptation new confession their people. Orthodox fellowships worked in cities especially kingdoms cities (in Bielsk, Drohiczyn, Kleszczele) and also monastery centres (monastery in Zabludow and Bielsk) standed principal support Orthodox Church in Bialystok region. They was protect not only law to own church, but also economic and politic bussiness Russian people. After introduced union on Orthodoxy was stay only Bellarussian diocese with seat in Mohylew, and its bishops together with superiors of the Kijev Metropolitan to exercise power over all orthodox parishes in the Kingdom of Poland, and also in Bialystok region.
    At finally of a Polish Kingdom was take trial created independent Orthodox Church in poland, but his break annexations. Plane maked indepedent diocese on Bialystok region had too administration of Prussian sector, but their not realised, becouse in 1807 (on Tylzyca treaty) Bialystok region founded in frontiers Russian. This territory founded in jurisdiction Minsk archbishop. On XIX century follows slow process return of the union parishes to Orthodox Church. Buildind new church and founded new parishes. Suprasl was stay at that time principal centre orthodox religion and intellectual life in Bialystok region. Orthodox parishes in Bialystok region entered into Vilno diocese (after Lithuanian-Vilnius diocese). On 1900 Bialystok region entered in new Grodno-Brzesc diocese. Also in interwar period Bialystok region belonged to Grodno diocese.
    Repeated break organization structure of the Orthodox Church in Poland followed during First World War Orthodox people from Bialystok region was mass evacuate to deep of Russian. Together with clergy and faithfuls was carry out equipment of temples, expensive objects of cult, wonder icons, relic of saints. After ending war follows return of the clergy and orthodox people. In renaissance II Polish Republic waiting for his other policy and social conditions. Polish administration treated Orthodoxy as relic of annunciation. Many church was destroyed or changed to Roman-catholic church.
    In interwar period Orthodox Church in Poland was obtain autocephaly or independent. Considering that Moscow Patriarch not to assent to autocephaly, goverment administration was obtain this bestowed to Ecumenical Patriarch (of Constantinople) Grzegorz VII (tomos from 1924), this was proclaimed in Warsaw in 1925. In 1948 autocephaly was confirmed by Moscow Patriarch.
    Socond World War was bring changes in situation of the Orthodox Church. Bialystok region was include to Belarussian Soviet Republik after September 17, 1939. New soviet administration was restrict possibility filled of religion used (practice). Also orthodox people and clergy was put to deportation and exportation to deep of USRR. Next changes in religion life follows in period of the hitlerite occupation. Germans administration was permit to reactived religion life, that counteract to communist ideology, whats no mean, that Germans not appled restrict to orthodox people.
    After war into frontiers Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church, Bialystok region was distribute to two dioceses: Warsaw-Bielsk diocese and Bialystok-Gdansk (line of river Narev is a aproximately frontier between dioceses, similar as before centurys frontier between Metropolitan diocese and Wlodzimierz diocese). In time Polish Peoples Republic, communist administration was restrict evolution Orthodox Church. Dynamic progress parishes structure follows after year 1981, when communist administration began delivered permission to building new churches. Since this time was build many new church and created many new parishes, especially in Bialystok. In 1984 reactived Suprasl monastery, and in 1993 created female monastery (convent) in Dojlidy (Bialystok). This condition is undoubted merit of the activity of His Eminence Archbishop SAWA, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland, previous superior of Bialystok-Gdansk Diocese. Full freedom of activity and also in army, Orthodox Church was recover but only after 1989, when in result of democratic changes, and relation goverment to religion, also to orthodox church, was change. Thanks this changes in 1994 began activity the Orthodox Ordinariate of Polish Army.       Orthodox Church on Bialystok region is have many centurys tradition. Orthodoxy since time of christianity this territory is a integral element of lived here people. As for past centures also today this is define character this region. Orthodoxy not a relic annexation, but expensive legacy of the Polish Kingdom, community country many religions and nations. History was given to Orthodox Church many sufferings and humiliations. History this region at point, that despite aspirations to liquidate orthodoxy, his was endure to this day, and new builded church certify about immense attachment population of Bialystok region to orthodox faith.