Jesuit Mission in Košice and Circumstances of the Foundation of the University of Košice

Author(s): Peter Fedorčák / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2014

This paper describes the political and other influences on the foundation of the University of Košice in 1657. The surprising hesitation of the Hungarian king Leopold I and the Jesuits in Vienna in particular leads to some probable interpretations. The contemporary speculations within the Austrian Society of Jesus regarding the partition of the province in two parts and establishment of an autonomous Hungarian province are in the centre of attention.

Marek Walticher (1603 – 1655) a jeho rodina. Kariéra prešporského mešťana v kráľovských a palatínskych službách

Author(s): Frederik Federmayer / Language(s): Slovak Issue: 2/2013

This study presents a biography of one of the burgherois origin officials – Marek Walticher. He was a son of a merchant born in Pressburg. Marek Walticher came from vicinity of Pressburg Catholic patricians, mainly through his mother‘s family. Marek Walticher´s career had three periods. Initially he was employed in the Hungarian Chamber. Later he moved to the Mikuláš Esterhazy palatine barnyard, where he worked as his accountant and then he worked in important position of palatine office clerk. On the top of his career he worked as a main royal customs officer in Magyaróvár and he was appointed by monarch as a royal counselor. The study also presents detailed genealogical analysis of his family and social contacts of his wider kinship.

Religious Issue and the Initial Period of the Reformation in Košice

Author(s): Peter Fedorčák / Language(s): English Issue: 1-2/2012

The history of Košice in the 16th century exemplifies a Micro History of the Reformation including all local particularities. The three persons from the church background in the town represent three characteristic types and three developmental phases of initial period of the Reformation in Košice. During this time the initiative shifted from clergy to the city council, which unprecedentedly extended his competence into theology and mainly liturgy. At the same time, contact with other towns in the region and also with Wittenberg was reinforced due to the correct interpretation of reformation teachings. At that time, the city council presented itself as a competent institution with the right and the duty to uphold the responsibility for religious issues also in theological meaning.

Poszukiwania „optymalnego” tekstu Biblii w XIII wieku

Author(s): Janusz Królikowski / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2016

Chociaż chrześcijaństwo nie jest „religią księgi” w potocznym rozumieniu tego określenia, to jednak księga Pisma Świętego stanowi jej oparcie, program i kryterium weryfikujące. Dlatego też w ciągu wieków zawsze starannie dbano o to, by tekst biblijny był odpowiednio przechowywany i przekazywany. W tym artykule zwracamy uwagę na to, w jaki sposób poszukiwano optymalnego tekstu Biblii na uniwersytecie w Paryżu w XIII wieku. Powstanie uniwersytetów i nadanie naukowego charakteru teologii sprawiło, że powstał problem przygotowania odpowiedniego tekstu biblijnego, jednakowego dla wszystkich i łatwo dostępnego. Potrzeba akademicka szybko wpłynęła więc na popularyzację tekstu biblijnego oraz na potrzebę jego skorygowania. Proces opracowania nie był łatwy, ale mimo powstających trudności dość szybko z nim się uporano. Wypracowano tekst, który w końcu zarówno zadowalał uczonych, jak i spełniał kryteria tradycji eklezjalnej. Przy okazji pojawiło się wiele ważnych refleksji teoretycznych, które wpłynęły na pogłębione rozumienie natury tekstu biblijnego oraz na sposoby jego interpretacji. Z tych doświadczeń korzystano w kolejnych wiekach, a wiele wniosków, które wyprowadzono w XIII wieku, zachowuje swoją aktualność do dnia dzisiejszego. Although Christianity is not “a religion of the book” in the common understanding of this expression, however the Bible constitutes its support, programme and verifying criterion. That is why over the centuries the text of the Bible was always scrupulously enshrined and transferred. This article focuses on the subject of how the optimal text of the Bible was searched for at the University of Paris in 13th century. The advent of universities and a new character of theology as a scientific study created a need for a proper text of the Bible, the same for everyone and easily available. Thus the academic necessity rapidly increased the popularity of the biblical text but also prompted the need of its correction. The study was a difficult task, but the problems were soon overcome. The final version of the text satisfied the scholars and met the criteria of the ecclesiastical tradition. Concurrently a lot of significant theoretical reflections emerged which affected the profound understanding of the nature of the biblical text and the ways of its interpretation. These achievements appeared to be valuable in centuries to come and the numerous conclusions drawn in 13th century remain relevant even today.

Англиканската църква, Източното православие и България (XIX – средата на ХХ в.) Част втора.

Author(s): Zhivko Lefterov / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1-2/2015

The first contacts of the Anglican Church with the Eastern Orthodoxy date from the early 17th century and launch a process of rapprochement, which is well known in the international historiography. Over the centuries, until today it has a different intensity depending on the degree of theological negotiations and political situation. The study traces the impact of this process among the Bulgarian Orthodox community and among Bulgarian society, how Bulgarians form their perceptions of the Anglican Church and to what extent the subject goes out of theological dialogue and is publicly known and discussed, and hence politically exploited. The author traces the attitudes and positions which the representatives of the Anglican Church occupy regarding major events related to Bulgaria, and Bulgarian Orthodox Church in the 19th and early 20th century; how individual public officials try to see farther than purely theological dialogue and to use sporadically, albeit unsuccessfully, the benevolence of the Anglican Church to Eastern Orthodoxy in the context of the national tasks that need to be resolved. During the Second World War and the Cold War Anglican-Orthodox rapprochement becomes part of big politics and is influenced by Stalin‘s religious policy. Initially, Stalin relies on the Anglican Church for expansion of Orthodox influence in international organizations, but later he begins to consider it as a rival and opponent. Consequently, the dialogue is restored only after Stalin‘s death, but on the part of Orthodox churches of the socialist camp and particularly Bulgaria it will be subject to the religious policy of „opening“ led by communist parties, which aims to use the churches in the big propaganda war between Orient and Occident about the existing religious freedom behind the Iron Curtain.

Baptismal Memrāʾ of Anonymous Author of the Ninth Century

Author(s): Francis Pittappillil / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: 51/2018

“Exposition of the Church Services” (ECS) is a 9th century liturgical commentary, the first and integral liturgical work about the East Syrian liturgy after the great liturgical reformation of Patriarch Išo’yahb III. Though the Author of the ECS comments on the various memrē of the Church of the East, we shall pay attention mainly to the baptismal memrā, which is the most remarkable among the memrē commented on by the Author. At first, we shall discuss the different terms and methods of baptism together with the manuscripts and editions of East Syrian baptismal liturgy. The baptismal memrā contains nine chapters and an analysis of the content of each chapter provides us with a clear outlook about the content of the text. The Author highlights the Pauline theology that explains baptism as a participation in the death and resurrection of Christ. The Author speaks about three anointings upon the candidate: pre-baptismal rušmā, anointing of the whole body and the post-baptismal rušmā. He emphasizes the pouring out of the consecrated water before the post-baptismal rušmā. He sets the baptismal rite within the framework of Eucharistic celebration, and the reception of the Eucharist by the baptized is presupposed in the commentary. A lucid idea is depicted in the commentary about the rights and duties of the sponsors too. In short, the baptismal commentary of the Anonymous Author of the 9th century provides us with a holistic view about the East Syrian rite of baptism.

От съставителя

Author(s): Rayna Gavrilova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2018

Etyka cnót w polityce

Author(s): Grzegorz Chojnacki / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: 19/2019

Na drodze dialogu ekumenicznego powstają różnorodne inicjatywy – na poziomie hierarchicznym, naukowym, lokalnym etc., które z jednej strony są wynikiem mozolnego dyskursu, modlitwy, spotkań, z drugiej zaś świadczą o chęci uczestnictwa w toczącej się debacie publicznej i przemianach społeczno-kulturowych. Ze względu na fakt, że ten głos jest zabieramy regularnie i przez wielu partnerów dialogu, tym bardziej można zauważyć jego rezonans w przestrzeni międzynarodowej, krajowej czy lokalnej. Przykładem tego ekumenicznego zrozumienia jest wspólny dokument Konferencji Episkopatu Niemiec i Rady Ewangelickiego Kościoła w Niemczech pod znamiennym tytułem: Demokratie braucht Tugenden („Demokracja potrzebuje cnót”). „Rehabilitacja” cnót w przestrzeni społeczno-politycznej wypływa z wizji antropologicznej człowieka, opartej przede wszystkim na jego istocie, a nie funkcjonalności. Metafizyczno-deontologiczne spojrzenie na człowieka i jego relacyjne odniesienia pozwala ugruntować pogląd, że cnota sprawiedliwości i solidarności wyznaczają kierunek zrównoważonego rozwoju społeczeństwa.

Nowe miasto Boże w ujęciu Ezechiela (Ez 48,30-35)

Author(s): Andrzej Sebastian Jasiński OFM / Language(s): English,Polish Issue: 19/2019

W duchu dialogu judaistyczno-chrześcijańskiego, w artykule zajmuję się tekstem Ez 48,30-35, który jest bardzo ważny dla obu wspólnot wierzących. Ostatnia wizja Ezechiela (Ez 40–48) stała się źródłem inspiracji dla judaizmu i chrześcijaństwa. Nie ma jednak zgodności w interpretacji tej prorockiej zapowiedzi: nastania nowej świątyni i nowego miasta. Świątynia (+ miasto) została przedstawiona w świetle judaizmu rabinackiego, pism qumrańskich oraz samego Ezechiela. W części egzegetycznej przebadano dokładnie tekst Ez 48,30-35. Na zakończenie zostały przedstawione wnioski teologiczne w sześciu punktach: chwała Jahwe; dziedzictwo patriarchów; potęga Jahwe; obecność Jahwe; nadzieja Izraela; recepcja chrześcijańska. Księga Ezechiela pozostaje jednym z najbardziej tajemniczych pism biblijnych. Jej potencjał teologiczny nie zawsze jest doceniany. Odnosi się to również do kwestii dialogu międzyreligijnego. Ezechiel był heroldem świętości imienia Jahwe oraz poznania Boga: Pana całego stworzenia, obecnego pośrodku swego ludu. Prawdy te stanowią trzon credo zarówno Żydów, jak i chrześcijan. Wspólna ich kontemplacja pozwala na wzajemne zbliżenie, które w końcu wszystkich pragnących doprowadzi do miasta nazwanego „Jahwe (jest) tam” (Ez 45,35).

Между ереста и кабалата – адамитство и адамизъм в средновековна България

Author(s): Hristo Saldzhiev / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 3/2020

The present article regards the history of an adamitian sect practicing “ritual nudism” and the specifics of peculiar cult of Adam in the 14th century Bulgaria. On the basis of comparative analysis of other cases of “adamitism” in North Africa and Western Europe in Late Antiquity and Middle Ages it is proposed the hypothesis that Bulgarian “adamitism” was due to the influence of gnostic gospel texts belonged to Early Christian communities. In respect to “adamism” which is specified as a cult of non-biblical and non-Christian Adam, the view that it stemmed from the Jewish community inhibiting the capital of the Second Bulgarian tsardom and reflected religious notions connected with the medieval mystical Judaism is introduced. Chronologically the spread of “adamism” must be attributed to the 1350-ies. Then, according to the contemporary sources, Judaic religious ideas were actively propagandized in the capital city of Tarnovo and its vicinity.

Ленка Будилова, Марек Якоубек. Българските чехи. Случаят Войводово (Социалноантроположки ескизи). София: Парадигма, 2016

Author(s): Katerina Terzieva / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 1/2020

Book Review

СРПСКИ ДОПРИНОС ОБЕЛЕЖАВАЊУ ПЕТСТОГОДИШЊИЦЕ ПРОТЕСТАНТСКЕ РЕФОРМАЦИЈЕ

Author(s): Branka B. Ognjanović / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 70/2019

PREZENTĂRI BIBLIOGRAFICE

Author(s): Maxim Moraru,Stelian Gombos,Cătălin Varga,Răzvan Fibișan / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 07-09/2020

Радмила Радић, Војислав Јанић (1890–1944). Свештеник и политичар. Поглед кроз аналитички прозор

Author(s): Mirko Mlakar / Language(s): Croatian Issue: 1/2021

Review of: Mirko Mlakar - Радмила Радић, Војислав Јанић (1890–1944). Свештеник и политичар. Поглед кроз аналитички прозор (Београд: Институт за новију историју Србије, 2018), 482 str. Mirko Mlakar - Радмила Радић, Мисија британске Хришћанске заједнице младих људи у Краљевини Југославији (Београд: Институт за новију историју Србије, 2019), 375 str.

Sprawozdanie z sympozjum naukowego Maryja w teologii i sztuce chrześcijańskiej, Stadniki, 6 maja 2021 roku

Author(s): Leszek Poleszak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2021

Report from the scientific symposium Mary, Mother of God, in theology and Christian art, Stadniki, May 6th, 2021

Католическият празник Тяло и Кръв Христови в българско и полско село (Съпоставително изследване)

Author(s): Natalia Rashkova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2020

In the thirteenth century, in the calendar of the Catholic Church, a special day is established to honour the Holy Communion – the bread and the wine, turned into the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. The feast is celebrated everywhere in the Catholic world with a solemn liturgy and a procession. The article presents in a comparative perspective fieldwork observations and documentation of this Catholic feast in two villages in Bulgaria and in Poland: the village of Oresh, Svishtov region (in 1995 and 2015) and the village of Złaków Kościelny, Łowicz district, Łódź voivodeship (in 2016). The author outlines the specific characteristics in performing of the feast in the two communities (Corpus Christi in Oresh; Boże Ciało in Złaków Kościelny), conditioned by differences in the confessional and cultural history as well as by different conditions of practicing the religious traditions.The comparative study shows the significance of local identity, expressed through elements of inherited traditional culture. For the Bulgarian Catholics, cultural identity is affirmed mainly through their religious affiliation, which is different from the official Orthodox religion, predominant in the country. The revival of the festive Catholic processions in modern times is an expression of the desire for a sustainable connection with the restored family and community confessional tradition. An essential expression of the local specificity in the religious festivity of the inhabitants of the Polish village is the adherence to traditional elements of the folklore culture, which have cultivated the local religious tradition.

Полски духовни песни в българската източнокатолическа музика

Author(s): Stefka Venkova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2020

Polish popular religious songs are part of the repertoires of both the Roman Catholic and the Eastern-rite Catholic Churches in Bulgaria. These songs were introduced in the paraliturgical practice via different ways. One reason was the influence of missionaries from monastic communities from Poland: the friars from the Resurrectionist Congregation, the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin и the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. On the other hand, the personal influence of St. Pope John Paul II also contributed to the process. During his pontificate, some Polish popular religious songs that he supposedly liked gained popularity in Bulgaria. The presence of Polish popular religious songs in the Eastern Catholic repertoire, accepted and assimilated in the local tradition, is an example of various interactions: between East and West; between Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic music; and between two Slavic cultures, the Polish and the Bulgarian one. The popular religious songs are a brilliant example of cultural transfer, implemented on different levels: religious, confessional, national and universal. The focus of the paper is on three songs, which are a part of the Eastern Catholic song repertoire in modern times.

Религиозно обучение и възпитание в българските и циганските евангелски общности до 1944 г.

Author(s): Magdalena Slavkova / Language(s): Bulgarian Issue: 4/2021

The article makes an overview of the development of missionary activities of the Protestant denominations of different backgrounds in Bulgaria from the second half of the 19th century to 1944. It studies the religious education and upbringing of young people of Bulgarian and Gypsy origins. Using historical and archival sources, and ethnographic fieldwork as methods of work, this text aims to show that the most important part of the development of the church communities is the training of their members. Education in evangelical morality is also a key element in the socialization of every Evangelical Christian.

ASPECTE ALE IDENTITĂȚII CONFESIONALE PE CELE DOUĂ MALURI ALE NISTRULUI ȘI ROLUL ACESTEIA ÎN PROCESUL DE REGLEMENTARE A DOSARULUI TRANSNISTREAN

Author(s): Marius Spechea / Language(s): Romanian Issue: 1/2022

Religious identity represents one of the most sensitive topics, especially in the context of a conflict, so religious identity and confessional aspects can be bridges for resolution and de-escalation, or on the contrary, they can block and stiffen the regulatory process. The confessional reality on the two banks of the Dniester has so far not been analyzed from the perspective of the regulatory process, but more from the historical perspective of the evolution of religious life in the Transnistrian region. The Soviet period made it practically impossible to discuss religious life in the region, it was almost annihilated. But even in the context of special and internationally unregulated political realities after 1991 and which still bear strong traces of the Soviet period, religious and confessional life developed and diversified. In this situation, a series of questions arise regarding the specifics of religious and confessional life as well as confessional freedoms in the region, as well as the role they may or may not have in the effort to regulate the Transnistrian file.In general, the confidence-building measures considered and are undertaken by international actors, but also by the authorities on the two banks of the Dniester, where they have focused in recent years especially on elements specific to human security and less on elements of national security and state consolidation, as many expected or counted on in the regulatory process, a fact that somewhat displeased the political decision-makers. In the context of the war in Ukraine, the negotiation format has stalled, and the process of settling the Transnistrian file has entered a very dangerous minefield. That is why it is important to analyze the opportunity or, on the contrary, the risk, that religious identity can generate the continuation of measures to strengthen trust and maintain dialogue, especially when political channels of communication close.

Matrimony between Christians: Historical Dynamics and Canonical Perspective

Author(s): Stanislav Přibyl / Language(s): English Issue: 11/2023

Firstly, the article provides basic information on the biblical teaching on marriage. While the Old Testament sees marriages with numerous offspring as a high value, the New Testament shows a tendency towards celibacy, be it on account of imitating Christ or for the expectation of imminent parousia. The most important author amongst the Fathers of the Church, St. Augustine, made a significant contribution towards forming the Catholic doctrine on marriage upon which drew even the medieval scholastics. In the modern age, the Church complained about the countries which forced their concept of marriage on the Catholic faithful. Even today, the Catholic Church is against the breakdown of marriage by means of divorce. Since the Second Vatican Council, however, there has been a development, for example, as regards contracting marriages between Christians of Catholic and non-Catholic confessions. Prior to the publication of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, this was expressed in the motu proprio of Paul VI Matrimonia mixta, whose regulation did not have to be changed substantially in the Code.