Od prawosławia do katolicyzmu: ruscy możni i szlachta Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego wobec wyznań reformacyjnych

ENAround the middle of the 1 6th century the Reformation ideology spread over a large number of the magnates as well as the middle nobility of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, where ethnically the nobility was mostly made of Lithuanians and Ruthenians, and at the time of Protestant denominations inlow the prevailing religion was mainly Catholic (Lithuanians and sporadically Ruthenians then still converted into Catholicism) as well as Orthodox (Ruthenians and Ruthenized Lithuanians) . The book considers the connections of the GDL Ruthenian magnates and nobility with the Reformation (it has been assumed that the term "Ruthenians" would refer to those who were the Orthodox Church followers before adopting new denominations, therefore both ethnic Ruthenians and Ruthenized Lithuanians ) . The book presents the reception process of Protestant denominations (Calvinism and Anti-Trinity ideology) by the Ruthenian magnates and nobility, the source of this phenomenon, the involvement of the Ruthenians in new denomination community life, how firm these relations were and the motives for abandoning Protestant Churches. Due to significant diferences in actual financial and social conditions as well as political importance and prestige of the magnates and middle nobility, the indicated issues were discussed separately for these two nobility classes. As the unambiguous definition of the term "magnates" that could be approved of by all the historians has not been worked out yet, it has been assumed (with the awareness of debatable implications of such an approach) that it would refer to the representatives of lords and kniaź (princes / dukes) who held senatorial ofices and made political elite of the GDL in the second part of the 1 6th century.These issues were discussed in the background of legal, religious and cultural situation of the GDL Ruthenian magnates and nobility in the middle of the 16th century as it mostly conditioned the adoption of the Reformation denominations. The problem was researched on the basis of available studies, printed source materials and manuscripts . J. Wolf, S. Konarski and S. Szczotka' s studies as well as W. Wijuk-Kojałowicz, K. Niesiecki and A. Boniecki's coats of arms proved particularly useful among source studies. The printed sources that were mostly used are the records from various denominations synods held in Poland, the records of provincial Lithuanian Calvinists from 1611-1 624, diaries and the act of Vilnius Confederation between the Evangelicals and Orthodox from 1599 . The most important manuscripts were: evangelical records of provincial synods in the GOL from 161 1-1 686 and the correspondence from the Radziwiłł Archives (The Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw) as well as the documents of the Reformed Evangelicals Synod in Vilnius (The Lithuanian National Library and The Lithuanian Academy of Science Library) including records of individual Protestant churches, district debates protocols, funds records, letters, testaments and collections' lists. Calvinist churches certificate books from the GOL area were also used. The separation of the research subject into a relative unity proved possible only in the case of the GOL political elite. Earlier findings, among other things by J. Wolf, E. Barwiński H. Merczyng, W. Oworzaczek, H. Lulewicz, J. Suchocki and A. Rachuba, as well as severa! very detailed recent biograms in Polish Biographical Dictionary, together with the research conducted, made it easier indeed. However, the initial denomination (the one before the Reformation arrival) of some individuals or family houses could not always be unquestionably established.The unquestionable connection with Protestantism could not be ascertained in each case supported by existing premise . The research was further complicated by the denomination mobility of the magnates and nobility as well as the fact that one family comprised representatives of several denominations. It was finally established that 14 kniaź (prince/ duke) houses and 14 lord houses whose members held the highest ofices in the second part of the 1 6th century, were followers of the "Creek religion" before the inflow of the Protestant ideology. The representatives of 5 family houses among kniaź (prince/ duke) houses had contact with the Reformation (sometimes temporary but unquestionable) . It should be emphasized, however, that this proportion does not reflect the scale of the actual interest in Protestant ideology: only 2 family houses identified with it for longer and showed more involvement in the life of a new denomination community (the Hołowczyński and Proński houses) . It could also be noticed that the most outstanding representatives of ruthenized Giedymin's descendants did not show considerable or firm interest in Protestant ideas. Unquestionable followers of the Anti-Trinity ideology were not found among kniaź (prince/ duke) families as well. As far as the group of lords who were earlier the Orthodox Church followers is concerned, they responded more to the Reformation ideas than the magnates deriving from the kniaź (prince / duke) family houses. The representatives of 9 family houses out of 14 were unquestionably connected with the Reformation. However, only members of 4 families: the Wołłowicz, Hornostaj, Korsak and Czaplic Szpanowski were connected with the Reformation for longer and more actively supported their new denominations. As far as the lords are concerned, they were also interested in Anti-Trinity ideology: formally the Czaplic-Szpanowski house and informally Ostafi Wołłowicz. [...]. [From the publication]