Abstract

The second half of the nineteenth century was a period of dynamic development in Warsaw’s district of Praga. Along with industrial development, trade and transportation came a sharp increase in the population of Warsaw – from 260 000 in 1864 to 900 000 in 1914. The population of Praga rose from a several thousand to 90 000. Orthodox Christians made up 13% of the population of the district, around 15 000. These Orthodox Christians, however were not made up of one nationality. At the turn of the twentieth century, 70% of Orthodox Christians in Praga were of Russian decent or from the eastern borderlands (Kresy) with Russian sounding last names. 15-20% were “native” Poles with Polish last names. The remaining 10-15% were Greeks, Bulgarians and Georgians. These are of course approximate figures, however only 50% of local Orthodox Christians considered their native language as Russian. This leads us to conclude, that the percentage of non-Russian nationalities among the Orthodox could only account for half of the faithful. Just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, about 5 000 Orthodox Christians lived in Praga. 60% were Russians or from the eastern borderlands with Russian last names, 30% “native” Poles and 10% other nationalities.