The Podillia orthodox clergy in the struggle for orthodoxy in Chelm land and Podlasie in 1875–1905

The purpose of this study is to explore the mutual influence between the Orthodox clergy of the Podillia and Chelm-Warsaw dioceses from 1875 to 1905 in the context of the struggle against the Uniate Church and Catholicism. Particular attention is given to the involvement of former clergymen from the Podillia diocese, as well as natives of Podillia—from both clerical and lay backgrounds—in strengthening Orthodoxy in Chelm Land and Podlasie. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the analysis of the contribution made by Podillian clergymen who, having served in the unique conditions of former Uniate dioceses, played a significant role in reinforcing the Orthodox faith in territories long influenced by Catholicism and the Uniate Church. The methodological foundations. The study employed methods of historical analysis, comparative analysis, and a systems approach, which allowed for a comprehensive examination of various aspects of clerical activity in the struggle for the establishment of the Orthodox Church amid religious conflict in Chelm Land and Podlasie. Conclusions. The author analyzed the participation of former Orthodox clergy from the Podillia diocese and natives of Podillia in the formation of a new Orthodox diocese in the Kingdom of Poland and the eradication of Uniate traditions in Chelm Land and Podlasie. The article highlights the significant roles played by hierarchs such as Chelm-Warsaw Archbishop Leontiy (Lebedinsky), as well as Lublin bishops Markell (Popel) and Modest (Strilbytsky). The article also notes that experience gained in one diocese had a foundational impact on the development of skills that these hierarchs later applied in another. It further demonstrates that despite the relatively small number of white clergy of Podillian origin, their work in the vicariate of the Chelm-Warsaw diocese influenced the gradual adoption by believers of Russian Orthodox traditions, thereby contributing to the spread of imperial religious policy in the formerly Uniate territories.