Adaptation of the Rule of St. Benedict in the Benedictine Convents of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Cover Image

Šv. Benedikto Regulos Adaptacija Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės Benediktinių Vienuolynuose
Adaptation of the Rule of St. Benedict in the Benedictine Convents of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Author(s): Vaida Kamuntavičienė
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, 16th Century, 17th Century, Hermeneutics, Canon Law / Church Law, History of Religion
Published by: Visuomeninė organizacija »LOGOS«
Keywords: the Rule of St. Benedict; Benedictine convents of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania; Valavičius; Ščygielskis;

Summary/Abstract: At the end of the 16th and through the 1st half of the 17th c., seven Benedictine convents were founded in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in Niasviaž, Vilnius, Kaunas, Minsk, Kražiai, Orša and Smolensk (Slonim) all of them functioned according to the Rule of St. Benedict. The article analyzes the Polish translations and explanations of the Rule that helped to adapt it to the contemporary realities: “Reformed Rule”, composed by Magdalena Mortęska in 1605 in Kulm, Poland; the translation of the Rule, composed by Vilnius bishop Eustachijus Valavičius in 1629; the another one, composed by the Old Trakai Benedictine abate Stanislovas Ščygielskis, published 1677 in Vilnus; and the set of legal acts dedicated to convents created by Vilnius bishop Konstantinas Kazimieras Bžostovskis, published 1710 in Vilnius. The investigation has shown that the greatest impact on the Benedictine spirituality was made by Vilnius bishop E. Valavičius. Some of the Lithuanian Benedictines’ customs, described by E. Valavičius, have survived until today and can be traced to the Kaunas Benedictine convent.

  • Issue Year: 2014
  • Issue No: 79
  • Page Range: 123-136
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Lithuanian