James (Kostiuczuk) of Bialystok

Bishop Jakub of Bialystok-Gdansk

Archbisiop James or Jakub (secular name Jan Kostiuczuk) of Bialystok and Gdansk is an archbishop who is the ruling hierarch of the Diocese of Bialystok-Gdansk, under the jurisdiction of the Church of Poland.

Life

His Grace was born on October 22, 1966 in Narew, Poland. He finished studying at the Electric Technical School in Bialystok, after which he worked as an electrician. In 1987 he joined the brotherhood at the monastery in Suprasl, became a novice and was also tonsured to the minor orders. In the same year he began studies at the Moscow Theological Academy in Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, where in 1992 he received his Master's degree.

He was ordained to the diaconate by Archbishop Sawa in 1989. In 1993, he was ordained to the priesthood. In 1995, he began working at the Christian Theological Academy in Warsaw. He was an assistant in the Chair of Dogmatic and Moral Theology. He has been fulfilling duties of spiritual protector of the Orthodox Fellowship of Ss. Cyril and Methodius since 1995. He was also a superior of the monastery of the Annunciation to Holy Lady Virgin Mary in Suprasl.

On May 11, 1998 he was elevated to the episcopacy with the title of Bishop of Suprasl, and the Holy Synod of the Polish Orthodox Church appointed him to care for the spiritual welfare of Orthodox youth in Poland. Thus, since August 1998 he has been the spiritual protector of the Fellowship of Orthodox Youth in Poland. On March 30, 1999, the Synod, through the edict of His Beatitude Metropolitan Sawa appointed him to the Bialystok-Gdansk Diocese. His enthronement in the cathedral took place on May 22, 1999.

Succession box: James (Kostiuczuk) of Bialystok
Preceded by: ?	Bishop of Suprasl 1998-1999	Succeeded by: ?
Preceded by: Sawa (Hryciuniak)	Archbishop of Bialystok-Gdansk 1998-present	Succeeded by: —

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Source

• Bishop Jakub
• ORI: Jacob (Kostiuchuk) of Bialystok