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Vol. 66 (1986): Our Past

Articles

Orthodox bishops in Jagiełło's monarchy

  • Tadeusz M. Trajdos
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52204/np.1986.66.107-157  [Google Scholar]
Published: 1986-12-30

Abstract

The work presents the status and activities of the Orthodox episcopate in the Polish-Lithuanian state under the rule of Władysław II Jagiełło (1386-1434). The territorial organization of dioceses and their subordination to the metropolitan area of Kiev in the 14th and the first quarter of the 15th century is described, i.e. at a time when the rulers of Poland, Lithuania and Russia repeatedly tried to create separate Orthodox metropolitan states within their states. This was the result of the actual division of Russian lands between Lithuania, Poland and Moscow, and after 1386 between Moscow and the Jagiellonian state. The author shows changes in the boundaries of individual eparchies, their episcopal sees and the connections of individual bishops with Russian metropolitans. To a limited extent, due to the availability of sources, it also deals with the issue of the social origin of bishops. The legal relationship of bishops to the metropolitan, the theoretical possibility of appealing to the patriarchate and the actual advantage of monarchs, who ensured strict subordination of the Orthodox episcopate in both the Orthodox and Catholic countries, were shown. Then, the legal rights of bishops were specified: resulting from their administrative and sacramental authority and resulting from judicial and disciplinary matters. Finally, attention was paid to the weakness of the education of the then Orthodox Church in the Polish-Lithuanian state and the lack of major spiritual individuals among the Orthodox episcopate. Despite passively affirming reforms at the Synod of Novgorod (1415), Orthodox bishops did not manage to break with the tradition that tied them to the idea of a united Russian metropolis, subordinated to Moscow and the Patriarchate of Constantinople. They also felt unprepared to reach an agreement with the Catholic Church on doctrinal issues.

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