Bishop Uladzimir Huljaj

Bishop Uladzimir Huljaj, Bishop of the Diocese of Grodno, was born on 14 June 1975 in Vawkavysk, the second child in the family of Yuri Huljaj and Maria Huljaj, née Nevaleuskaya. He was baptized in the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Ros near Vawkavysk. After completing secondary school and passing examinations in 1992, he entered the Higher Theological Seminary in Grodno. In 1992-1998 he studied philosophy and theology at the seminary. On 29 September 1997 he received diaconal ordination, and on 26 June 1999 he received priestly ordination, conferred in the Grodno cathedral by Bishop Aleksandr Kashkevich. After receiving a Master of Theology degree at the Catholic University of Lublin, in 1998-2001 he studied at the same university in doctoral studies, specializing in dogmatic theology; in 2000 he defended his licentiate, and in 2011 his doctorate. In 2000-2001 he carried out pastoral work as vicar in the parish of Saint Francis Xavier in Grodno. From 2000 he served as diocesan youth chaplain. In 2001 he was appointed prefect and lecturer in dogmatic theology at the Higher Theological Seminary in Grodno. For a long time he has been a lecturer in theology at the Saint Casimir Theological College in Grodno and also in the Family Life Courses of the Conference of Catholic Bishops in Belarus. From 2003 he has been pastor of the parish of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Lida. In 2006 he was appointed episcopal vicar for general pastoral care of the Lida region and a member of the presbyteral council, and the source states that he performs these functions to the present day. He is also a member of the Diocesan Commission for Ordinations and Ministries. From 19 May 2016, by the will of the diocesan bishop, he has belonged to the cathedral chapter of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Casimir in Grodno as a canon with the gremial office of theologian. From 2016 he has served as diocesan censor; from 2018 he has belonged to the college of consultors of the Diocese of Grodno and is also chairman of the Synodal Commission for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue of the Diocese of Grodno. On 5 April 2024, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Father Canon Uladzimir Huljaj coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Grodno. He received episcopal ordination on 25 May 2024; the principal consecrating bishop was the Apostolic Nuncio in Belarus, Archbishop Ante Jozic. On 30 September 2024, he succeeded Bishop Aleksandr Kashkevich as diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Grodno.