Ewangelickie agendy liturgiczne w kulturze Prus Królewskich i Książęcych

Abstract

Since mid 16th c. Protestants in Poland published over 25 liturgical diaries. As they were published in the Polish language in Prussia, they have not been well known and only a few copies are now available. They are an important source of our knowledge about religious and liturgical life and the Polish character of Royal and Ducal Prussia between 16th- 18th c. They include a wide range of subject matters and yet have been studied only by historians of literature, the Polish language and printing. The parts referring to discipline reveal the quality of everyday life of evangelicals in this area of Poland. One can find the rules of behaviour concerning crucial moments in human life, from birth to death. They discuss issues of education, upbringing of children and lieges, celebrating holidays, dealing with the sick and criminals, supporting the poor or getting married. It should be underlined that Evangelical Church subjected its activity to propagate the new faith through humanistic education, with the use of the Bible and Church Fathers’ writings as well as the works of the Reformers of the Church, such as Martin Luther and Philip Melanchton. Various life situations were an occasion to examine the faithful in the principles of the evangelical faith. The diaries and the frequency with which they were issued prove the strong spirit of the Polish element in Prussia and the attraction of Polish culture to the inhabitants of Royal and Ducal Prussia, who were subjected to deliberate Germanization processes by its rulers.The author has examined four diaries in the above mentioned aspects, namely those published in 1560, 1599, 1625 and 1714.