The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Changes in Religiousness of Residents of Podlaskie Voivodeship

Abstract

The article analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the religiousness of residents of the Podlaskie Voivodeship between 2017 and 2022, focusing on selected parishes in Mońki and Białystok. The analysis includes changes in the number of baptisms, weddings and funerals in aforementioned parishes that occurred in three years preceding the outbreak of pandemic, as well as during its course. The level of religiousness indicators, such as baptisms and weddings, along with dominicantes and communicantes, i.e. statistical research of Poles’ Sunday religious practices of all dioceses have been gradually decreasing over the years, however, a strengthening of this trend was observed during the pandemic. The decisions of hierarchs, combined with the laws introduced by the state authorities, regulating, for instance, the principles of religious life, have contributed to a more rapid departure from patricipating in religious practices among Poles and a decrease in the number of people declaring their religiousness. Nevertheless, the dynamics of processes occuring/taking place in Podlaskie Voivotheship is slower compared to other dioceses.