Włodawa posthumously honors Dr. Marek Bem as First Citizen

The city of Włodawa has posthumously honored the late Dr. Marek Bem with the title of ‘Primus civis urbis Vlodaviae’ (First Citizen of Włodawa). The award, the city’s highest distinction, was presented to his wife, Małgorzata Podlewska-Bem, during the XXVI Festival of Three Cultures.

Dr. Bem, a historian, ethnographer, and museum professional, passed away in November 2023. He is credited with founding the Festival of Three Cultures, an event that grew from a local review into a major Polish cultural festival celebrating the region's Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish heritage.