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ABSTRACT
The Sandomierz Agreement, formed by Lutherans, Reformed, and Czech Brethren in the Polish Republic on April 14, 1570, stands out in European history for its efforts to consolidate Protestant groups against the Counter-Reformation's intensifying influence in the Polish Crown and Lithuania, while also aiming to resolve ongoing theological disagreements. Notably excluding the nontrinitarian Polish Brethren, this accord was distinguished by its provision for the mutual acknowledgment of sacraments and the ministry, alongside the organization of joint synods aimed at fostering resolution and collaboration amidst theological and liturgical autonomy for the churches involved. This agreement notably paved the way for the Warsaw Confederation of 1573, which was instrumental in establishing religious peace and securing the freedom of the nobility to select their religious affiliation. This paper posits that the external geopolitical pressures of the time were crucial in facilitating doctrinal consensus and proactive engagement in religious tolerance.
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Notes
1 Tazbir, Reformacja w Polsce, 27.
2 Cf. Wantuła, Zwięzłe wiadomości z historii Kościoła, 45, 59.
3 Koehler, “The Heritage of Polish Republicanism,” 1658.
4 Gastpary, Historia Kościoła w Polsce, 92.
5 Tazbir, Reformacja –kontrreformacja – tolerancja, 66.
6 Cf. Koehler, “The Heritage of Polish Republicanism,” 1658–65.
7 Tazbir, Reformacja –kontrreformacja – tolerancja, 18.
8 Urban, Epizod reformacyjny, 17.
9 Cf. Louthan and Murdoch, A Companion to the Reformation in Central Europe.
10 Cf. Kłoczowski, “Some Remarks on the Social and Religious History,” 96–110.
11 Wilczek and Burton, “Editors’ Introduction,” 5.
12 Cf. Nowakowska, King Sigismund of Poland and Martin Luther.
13 Pelikan, The Christian Tradition 4, 321.
14 Balserak, “Review. Polonia Reformata,” 13.
15 Louthan and Murdock, A Companion to the Reformation in Central Europe, 168.
16 We base here our understanding of this concept on the Płuciennik, “Metodologiczny indywidualizm w kognitywistyce i literaturoznawstwie,” 7–17.
17 Gastpary, Historia Kościoła w Polsce, 103.
18 Konfesya Sandomierska, 27.
19 Cf. Leszczyński, “Konfesja Sandomierska. Dzieje tekstu,” 16.
20 Augustyniak, Confession of Sandomir. A Historical Introduction, 26. This author cites another source in Polish J. Pirożyński, Sejm warszawski 1570 roku, Kraków 1972, 29–30.
21 Robert Frost on YouTube.
22 In sixteenth-century Poland, a ‘voivode’ was akin to a provincial governor. These individuals were central to regional administration, handling judicial, financial, and military duties within their voivodeship. They held significant military roles, often leading local forces during wartime. As influential nobles, voivodes participated in the legislative assembly, impacting state decisions and policies. They were also economic powerhouses, controlling extensive land and resources, and enjoyed high societal status. Their roles were critical during Poland's ‘Golden Age,’ contributing to the era's stability, prosperity, and cultural advancements. However, they navigated a constant balancing act within the state's noble democracy, amidst the monarchy, nobility, and foreign relations.
23 In sixteenth-century Poland, a ‘starosta’ was a district leader, typically from the nobility, appointed by the king. Their role covered local administration, tax collection, minor judicial duties, and regional defense. Essentially, they were the king's representatives, ensuring royal orders were followed while also addressing local issues. They played a key part in maintaining order and stability in their areas within the larger Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
24 Sipayłło, Akta synodów różnowierczych w Polsce, 251–304.
25 Konopczyński, Chronologia Sejmów Polskich, 141.
26 Siebert, Historia Kościoła, 145.
27 Lehmann, Konfesja Sandomierska na tle innych konfesji w Polsce XVI wieku.
28 Consensus Sandomiriensis 1586.
29 Gastpary, Historia Kościoła w Polsce, 107.
30 ewangelicy.pl. “Jedność w różnorodności – 450-lecie zgody sandomierskiej.”
31 Cf. Płuciennik, “Dyskurs reformacyjny w parafrazie Psalmu 110 Jana Kochanowskiego.”
32 Sanders, Towards a Re-Evaluation of the Sources, 436.
33 Gastpary, Historia Kościoła w Polsce, 112f.
34 Urban, Epizod reformacyjny, 17.
35 Cf. Płuciennik, Literatura, głupcze! Laboratoria nowoczesnej kultury literackiej.
36 Wojak, Szkice z dziejów Reformacji w Polsce, 76.
37 Ptaszyński, Wie politisch war die Reformation in Polen?, 75.
38 According to Jobert, De Luther a Mohila, 45.
39 Kneifel, Geschichte der Evangelisch-Augsburgischen Kirche in Polen, 26.
40 Siebert, Historia Kościoła, 132.
41 Louthan, A Companion to the Reformation in Central Europe.
42 Atwood, Fudge, and Montesano, “The Bohemian Brethren and the Protestant Reformation,” 360.
43 Gastpary, Historia Kościoła w Polsce, 106.
44 On Frycz-Modrzewski cf. In Polish, Pelc, Europejskość i polskość literatury naszego renesansu, passim.
45 Tazbir, Dzieje polskiej tolerancji, 46.
46 Łaski, Listy trzy wielce czytania godne.
47 Tazbir, Dzieje., 57.
48 Ibid.
49 Siebert, Historia Kościoła, 167.
50 Tazbir, Dzieje, 45.
51 Płuciennik, Nowożytny indywidualizm a literatura.
52 Jabłoński, Historia Consensus Sendomiriensis.
53 We saw it at the main library of the college while on sabbatical at Westminster College, Cambridge in 2004–2005 and then 2006, 2008–2009.
54 Augustyniak, Confession of Sandomir. A Historical Introduction, 18.
55 Maag, “Polonia Reformata.”
56 Kozik, “Polonia Reformata,” 233.
57 Siebert, Historia Kościoła, 168.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Jarosław Płuciennik
Jarosław Płuciennik (born 1966) Full Professor of the Humanities at the University of Lodz. Cultural and literary scholar, cognitive semiotician, researcher of the Reformation's culture and psalm translations, Editor-in-Chief of the international academic journal ‘The Problems of Literary Genres’. Author of over 180 publications in the field of literary studies, cultural studies, and cognitive studies, including seven individual books and ten co-edited volumes (one of them about Culture of Reformation, 2022, in Polish). Vice-Rector for Programmes and Quality of Education, University of Lodz in the 2012–2016 term. He functioned also as a lay representative in the Council Board of the Synod for the Lutheran Polish Church (2017-2023).
Marcin Hintz
Marcin Hintz (born 1968) Professor Associate of the Systematic Theology at the Christian Theological Academy in Warsaw. Bishop of the Wielkopolskas-Pomerania Diocese of the Lutheran Church in Poland since 2011. After study of Protestant Theology and Philosophy in Warsaw, he completed a scientific internship at Faculty of the Protestant Theology at Rhine-University Bonn. He is Editor-in-Chief of the ‘Gdański Rocznik Ewangelicki’ (Gdansk Evangelical Yearbook). Member of the Theological Committee of the Polish Academy of Science.