This is a medal of the heretic1 Unia Church.
Unia (Greek Catholic) Church still exists in Belarus and Ukraine. After the division of Rzhech Pospolita, Belarus became a part of Russian Empire and Unia Church was prosecuted and repressed in its own turn by Orthodox believers. Unia (Greek Catholic) Church is a compromise solution to unify both Catholic and Orthodox Christians in Belarus and Ukraine. The Union - Unia Church has retained most of rich and glamorous Orthodox rituals and decor but was subdued to Pope in Rome. Creation of Unia added to the history of social unrests in Belarus and Ukraine despite it's initial purpose to unite people. 1 - Identified as heretic by Russian translator - refers to position of the Greek Orthodox Church. |
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