An attempt of introducing the Belarusian language in to public liturgy of the Catholic Church in 1905 (on the example of the Grodno province) Cover Image

ПОПЫТКА ВВЕДЕНИЯ БЕЛОРУССКОГО ЯЗЫКА В ДОПОЛНИТЕЛЬНОЕ БОГОСЛУЖЕНИЕ РИМСКО-КАТОЛИЧЕСКОГО КОСТЁЛА В 1905 Г. (НА ПРИМЕРЕ ГРОДНЕНСКОЙ ГУБЕРНИИ)
An attempt of introducing the Belarusian language in to public liturgy of the Catholic Church in 1905 (on the example of the Grodno province)

Author(s): Vasiliy V. Tabunov
Subject(s): History
Published by: Vilniaus Universiteto Leidykla

Summary/Abstract: In this article, the actions of the Russian Empire civil authorities concerning the introduction of the Belarusian language into public liturgy service of the Catholic Church on an example of the Grodno province are analyzed. One of the main Petersburg policy objectives on the Belarusian lands was the strengthening of Orthodoxy positions and weakening the influence of Catholicism. The introduction of the “local dialect” into the public liturgy of the Catholic Church service had also to assist in attaining this objective. Having carefully examined the situation in this area and considering that in the consciousness of the population professing Catholicism the Polish language was perceived as an integral part of belonging to the church and the Polish people, it had been thought that any action directed at the disintegration of this unity would cause an active obstruction from believers and clergy. Being concerned, in the conditions of social shocks of 1905–1907, to break the established status quo and thus to aggravate the internal political situation in the edge, the authorities considered it best to postpone the question of the Belarusian language introduction into public liturgy of the Catholic church service.

  • Issue Year: 2012
  • Issue No: 30
  • Page Range: 85-91
  • Page Count: 7
  • Language: Russian