Leśne przestrzenie świętości w polskim żywotopisarstwie XVI – XVIII wieku
Forest Dimension of Holiness in the Polish Biographies of the XVI-XVIII Centuries

Summary/Abstract: The article aims at the presentation of the variety of images and functions of woods and forests in Polish hagiography of the 16th-18th centuries. In the majority of the texts analysed they play the role of a natural shelter from the outside world, enabling different categories of saints (hermits, anchoresses etc) to lead their spiritual life. The forest existence as a temporary, “formative” stage of life shapes biographies of other saintly characters such as preachers, monks and scholars. The forest as a symbol of seclusion is also used as an illustration of strict monastery discipline. Also, it is frequently presented as a background of numerous martyrdom episodes and miracles. Other interesting aspect of forest is its functioning in the role of a shelter in persecutions or a space ‘desecrated’ by heretics.

• Details
• Contents