Congregation of the Pentecostal Church in Dubicze Cerkiewne

The Pentecostal Church congregation in Dubicze Cerkiewne is the largest rural congregation of this denomination in Poland, with nearly 200 believers, primarily from the Dubicze Cerkiewne municipality. Its origins can be traced back to the Kondratiuk family and home groups from the 1920s, when regular services began in 1927 in Grabowiec. At that time, the congregation had a Baptist character, but in 1928, it began attracting Pentecostal preachers. In 1968, after the construction of a chapel in Dubicze Cerkiewne, which became the congregation's headquarters, the communities from Grabowiec and Reduty merged. The chapel, built on the initiative of local believers, aimed to facilitate access to meetings and integrate various religious groups, which was quite exceptional in Poland at that time. The history of the congregation was also marked by persecution during the communist era and internal schisms, such as those following arrests in the 1950s. Since 1989, the congregation has grown, organizing baptisms and attracting believers from unregistered communities. In 2003, Andrzej Światłowski became the new pastor, contributing to greater integration with the local community. An interesting aspect is the cooperation with the Belarusian Pentecostal congregation "Gethsemane" and the fact that services are conducted in two languages: Polish and Russian. The congregation also served as a center for Pentecostals in the Podlasie region in the 1970s, before this role was taken over by the congregation in Hajnówka. In addition to its spiritual engagement, the congregation holds cultural significance as an important element of religious life in the region. Today, believers come from various localities, highlighting the diversity of this community.