Liturginiai indai ir reikmenys - istorijos šaltiniai

LTStraipsnyje norima atkreipti dėmesį į Lietuvos katalikų bažnyčiose išlikusius XVII-XIX a. liturginius indus ir altorių reikmenis, kuriuose vienu ar kitu būdu užfiksuotas koks nors istorinis faktas. Siekiama tiksliau apibrėžti jų, kaip istorijos šaltinių, specifiką, pasigilinti į dekoro detalėse ir įrašuose užfiksuotų žinių pobūdį, atskleisti bažnyčioms skirtuose taikomojo meno kūriniuose tiesiogine ir perkeltine prasme užrašytos informacijos vertę. Tuo tikslu bus aptariami kai kurių dirbinių donaciniai įrašai, herbai ir puošybos elementai. [Iš leidinio]

ENThe aim of this article is to draw attention to liturgical vessels and altar utensils from the 17th century through to the 19th century surviving in Lithuanian Catholic churches that have recorded, in one way or another, some historical facts. The article seeks to better define their value as fragmented, however reliable historical sources and to reveal the value of information ‘‘written" (both literally and metaphorically) on the items of applied arts created for churches. Any work of applied arts with a sacral purpose can be treated as historical source providing historical information. Once its function and variations in shape are perceived, such artefact expands knowledge on the traditions of church rites and thus provides data on the history of religious culture. Through their shape and decor, church vessels and utensils tell us about the artistic styles of certain periods, cultural relations, and the mastery level of the schools of crafts which makes them a very important source for the history of arts, crafts and social relations. Next to religious symbols related to the ritual function and stylistic decor motifs, the vessels may be decorated with the coats of arms and initials of their donors. They provide data for the biographies of people as well as for genealogical and heraldic science. In addition, church utensils and liturgical vessels often bear engraved inscriptions proclaiming intentions, ownership, and donation or acquisition facts.Such memorial texts give the item an additional value: they are significant for the history of monasteries, religious fellowships and craftsmen guilds and are particularly important when collecting data about the houses of the GDL nobles and other prominent people. Information contained in inscriptions together with the example of goldsmithery itself tells us about the specific act of donation as well as about position held by the donor at the time and even allow making some assumptions on the relationships between this person and Catholic Church, reveals his or her patronising approach towards a parish or monastery and speaks about the financial situation or even artistic tastes of the donor. Since the 2nd half of the 18th century, inscriptions suggesting that the person who donated the vessel was not a noble but came from the class of rich peasants or minor gentry can be increasingly frequently found which makes such vessels a visual testimony of the changes in the property-related relationships of the society. [From the publication]