The Myth of Russification: Addressing the Language of Church Preaching in the Post-Polotsk Period

The article explores the established practice of Uniate clergy delivering sermons in Polish within the Uniate Church in Belarusian lands at the onset of the 19th century. It also delves into the responses of Russian authorities and Orthodox clergy regarding this matter. A significant challenge encountered by Orthodox hierarchs in Belarusian dioceses during the post-Polotsk era was the custom of delivering sermons in Polish, also known as the “Belarusian-Polish dialect”, within Uniate churches. This tradition had been established since the late 18th to early 19th centuries. The article sheds light on the efforts made by Western Russian Orthodox hierarchs to address the language issue. The conclusion drawn is that the Russian Orthodox Church’s activity in Belarus played a foundational role in the emergence of the modern Belarusian people as an integral part of Eastern Christian civilization.