History Counter-Reformation in Poland

religious denominations in poland-lithuania in 1573



religious denominations in poland-lithuania in 1750

poland emerged 1 of main terrains of struggle between protestant reformation movement , catholic church s counter-reformation. lutheranism popular among german-descent townsfolk, , calvinism among nobility. year after luther made theses public, preached in danzig (gdańsk), , spread on west prussia province of poland. there protestantism spread east prussia, greater poland, lesser poland , other polish provinces, grand duchy of lithuania. in 1573 protestants, commanding majority in sejm (parliament), scored major political victory passing law of religious tolerance, warsaw confederation. towards end of 16th century, can estimated (through number of parishes) seventh of christian population in polish-lithuanian commonwealth protestant. in 16th century, poland haven many refugees fleeing persecution less tolerant parts of europe, harboring not catholics , protestants, people of orthodox, judaic , muslim faiths.

soon after words of reformation reached poland in first half of 16th century, catholic authorities such primate of poland jan Łaski , bishop , vice-chancellor piotr tomicki began issuing edicts condemning movement, , garnered royal support course of action. in second half of century, key polish counter-reformation figures included cardinal stanislaus hosius. bishop , royal secretary martin kromer, primate stanisław karnkowski , jesuits piotr skarga , jakub wujek. key dates , events marking beginning of counter-reformation in poland establishment of regular papal nunciature mission in 1555 (beginning arrival of luigi lippomano), arrival of jesuit order in 1564, , synod of piotrków s acceptance of decrees of trent in 1577.

at first agents of counter-reformation in poland focused on persuasion, through relied heavily on legal discrimination, particularly anti-reformation royal decrees of sigismund of poland. catholic church in poland succeeded in subordinating eastern orthodox church through union of brest-litovsk (1595–1596). jesuit schools gained significant renown @ time. 17th century, agents of counter-reformation became increasingly intolerant, succeeding in introducing censorship, including index librorum prohibitorum. protestant denominations banned, while others lost many churches , adherents. construction of non-catholic churches banned in 1632. pacifist polish unitarians (polish brethren) expelled poland in 1658 refusing aid country in time of military need. in 1668 sejm made illegal catholics convert faith; in 1673 non-catholics forbidden ennobled. first half of 18th century, protestants barred civil offices, including being elected sejm.

nonetheless, compared many other european countries, conflict between catholics , protestants relatively peaceful. non-catholics sentenced death beliefs; common punishments fines or exile. polish historian janusz tazbir coined phrase state without stakes , illustrating level of religious persecution , conflict in poland lower in other european countries of time, fact can attributed protestant success in passing laws providing religious toleration in 16th century, , later, weakness of polish central state, resurgent catholics unable use implement more violent methods of conversion or reconversion (such burning @ stake). many protestant nobles converted catholicism increase chances of receiving favorable positions catholic-leaning monarchs; others did prove patriots .

many scholars agree poland 1 of great successes of counter-reformation , cite counter-reformation in poland main instance roman catholic church reversed gains of reformation. others, however, such norman davies, suggest triumph of counter-reformation might have been exaggerated, , @ least not protestants reconverted, nor case other denominations such eastern orthodox.

counter-reformation ended repnin sejm of 1768, abolished legal discrimination against religious dissidents. following further reforms @ partition sejm in 1773, political rights of remaining non-catholics in commonwealth largely restored, half century or before similar concessions granted catholics in protestant countries britain (1829) or sweden (1849).