Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Nasza Przeszłość

Vol. 106 (2006): Our Past

Articles

The cult of St Michael the Archangel in the Latin diocese in Przemyśl in the 14th-18th centuries

  • Roman Pelczar
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52204/np.2006.106.237-260  [Google Scholar]
Published: 2006-12-30

Abstract

The cult of St Michael the Archangel originated in the East at the time of early Christianity and later spread to Western Europe. In Poland it appeared soon after the adoption of Christianity. In the Latin diocese of Przemyśl, the cult spread even after its foundation (14th century). One of the forms of worship was the invocation of parish and monastery churches. Before the Partition there were 14 parish churches under the invocation of St Michael (4 in towns and 10 in the countryside) and 3 monastery churches. There were also branch churches and public chapels dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. Altars (main and side altars) in churches and chapels were also dedicated to St Michael the Archangel. In iconographic works, the person of St. Michael the Archangel was represented in various ways. Mostly in the form of paintings, less often in the form of sculptures, bas-reliefs or murals. Church bells were also dedicated to him. Various professional groups adopted him as their patron saint. In the diocese of Przemyśl, the feast of St Michael the Archangel (29 September) has been observed since 1415. In the popular tradition there were proverbs and customs associated with this saint. St Michael's Day often appeared in legal and financial contracts and obligations. A manifestation of the cult was the popularisation of the name Michael, as well as the choice of place names referring to this name. Representations of Saint Michael were found on the coats of arms of towns in the region.

References

  1. Fros H., Sowa F., Twoje imię. Przewodnik onomastyczno-hagiograficzny, Kraków 1975. [Google Scholar]
  2. Jeanguenin G., Święty Michał Archanioł, Warszawa 2003. [Google Scholar]
  3. Kiryk F., Stosunki kościelne, w: Sanok. Dzieje miasta, t. I, red. F. Kiryk, Kraków 1995. [Google Scholar]
  4. Knapiński R., Titulus ecclesiae. Ikonografia wezwań współczesnych kościołów katedralnych w Polsce, Warszawa 1999. [Google Scholar]
  5. Krasny P., Kościół parafialny p.w. Św. Michała Archanioła w Starej Soli, w: Kościoły i klasztory rzymskokatolickie dawnego województwa ruskiego, t. V, Kraków 1997. [Google Scholar]
  6. Lenartowicz S., Kościół parafialny p.w. Znalezienia Krzyża Świętego w Rychcicach, w: Kościoły i klasztory, t. VI, Kraków 1998. [Google Scholar]
  7. Litak S., Kościół łaciński w Rzeczypospolitej około 1772 roku, Lublin 1996. [Google Scholar]
  8. Motylewicz J., Dzieje Kańczugi, Przemyśl 1984. [Google Scholar]
  9. Walczak M., Kościół p.w. św. Michała Archanioła w Mościskach - Zakościelu (dawniej Strzelczyska), w: Kościoły i klasztory, t. VII, Kraków 1999. [Google Scholar]
  10. Ziewiec I., Kościół i klasztor oo. Pijarów, w: Kościoły, klasztory i parafie dawnego Rzeszowa, red. M. Jaroszyńska, Rzeszów 2001. [Google Scholar]

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.