View source for Hagia Sophia (Białystok, Poland)

[[Image:Hagia Sophia (Białystok, Poland).JPG|right|thumb|200px|Church of the Holy Wisdom, Białystok, Poland.]]
'''Hagia Sophia''' or  the '''Church of the Holy Wisdom''' in Białystok, Poland is a miniature version of the [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|temple located in Constantinople]], designed by architect [[w:Michał Bałasz |Michał Bałasz]]. 

The act of laying and consecrating the cornerstone took place on [[November 20]], 1987, during the visit of Patriarch [[Demetrius I (Papadopoulos) of Constantinople|Demetrius I of Constantinople]]. The following year on [[September 17]], 1988, the former hierarch of the Białystok and Gdańsk diocese Archbishop [[Sawa (Hrycuniak) of Poland|Sawa (Hrycuniak)]] solemnly consecrated the cornerstone of the new church.

The solemn consecration of Hagia Sophia took place on [[October 15]], 1998. Officiating at the service was His All-Holiness Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople]], together with His Eminence Metropolitan [[Sawa (Hrycuniak) of Poland|Sawa (Hrycuniak)]].

The Patriarch's gift for the parish were magnificent frescoes executed in the Byzantine style. They were done by professor Constantine Xenopoulos and his group of iconographers: Constantine Tzitzilis, and Leonidas and Maria Tsauparoglou from Greece. 

A four person group of painters worked on the polychrome in the church of Hagia Sophia from 1998 to 1999. 

The polychrome of the dome was a gift of the Patriarch of Constantinople, whereas the polychrome of the altar was a personal contribution of the group of painters.

==See also==
* [[Diocese of Bialystok-Gdansk]]

==Sources==
* Elzbieta i Andrzej Danieluk. ''Prawoslawne cerkwie Bialegostoku i okolic.'' Białystok: Stowarzyszenie Bractwo Prawoslawne.
* [http://www.orthodox.bialystok.pl/en/sofia.htm Hagia Sophia, Bialystok].

[[Category:Churches]]
[[Category: Churches in Poland]]
[[Category:Orthodoxy in Poland]]