Zmienność pieczęci proboszczów śląskich kościołów parafialnych w średniowieczu (do 1419 roku)
Variability of the Seals of Parish Priests of Silesian Parish Churches in the Middle Ages (until 1419)

Summary/Abstract: In her article, Jagna Rita Sobel deals with the problem of exchanges of seal matrices [Pl. typariusze pieczętne] made by parish priests of Silesian parish churches until 1419. Sobel enquires about reasons why parish priests needed to order the preparation of a new stamp for themselves. To this end, Sobel analyzes the cases of five priests (Stefan, parson in Nysa, Konrad, parson in Turów near Wrocław, Jakub Engilgeri, parson in Świdnica, Rychwin, parson in the church of St. Elizabeth in Wrocław, and Tomasz, parson in Strzelin). Her research has revealed that during their pastoral ministry in a given parish they used two types of seals. The research was based on a comparison of the two sigils of each parish priest in terms of differences in the content communicated by the sacred legends and images, taking into account — if necessary — the personal careers of priests and the iconosphere in which they functioned. The research shows that the reasons underlying the decision to change the piston could have been practical considerations (such as wear or loss of the matrix), the desire to make the message clearer expressed by the certain image of the message so that it is even more closely connected with the person of its administrator, or the assumption by the clergyman of a new office, resulting in the need to adapt the content of the legend of the sigillum to its current title. Such a small number of cases confirmed by sources, however, shows that this was not a common practice among the parish clergy of that time, which could undoubtedly have been influenced by the high costs associated with making the stamp by the craftsman.

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