Przestrzeń znacząca akcji scenicznej w liturgii średniowiecza i wczesnej nowożytności
The Significant Space in the Liturgy of the Middle Ages and Early Modern Period

Author(s): Mirosław Lenart
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Cultural history, Studies of Literature, Polish Literature, Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Liturgy; Sacred space; Medieval theater; Religious performance; Ritual and architecture
Summary/Abstract: The main goal of the presented text is to acknowledge that the spatial dimension of liturgy does not refer solely to itself, although it is closely related to it. The idea is that through liturgy, space can be discovered because it is created by the Holy Spirit, and its purpose is to introduce man into a new dimension of existence beyond "the theater of this world," whose final act is the Last Judgment. On the other hand, liturgy opens up to reality, which is celebrated by people participating in time and space and, above all, within a specific culture. Therefore, in its analyses, there are naturally connections and comparisons with theater, though these do not fully exhaust the essence of liturgical action, which is examined in a specific setting. The text discusses the city as a liturgical space and the temple, whose interiors were historically used to prepare stage designs referring to salvific events, thus supporting theatrical performances. Additionally, there are known examples of the use of ancient theater spaces for religious-themed performances. Similarly, the emerging Renaissance theater used monastery cloisters for secular stage performances, although originally, these spaces served as settings for scenes strongly connected to the liturgy. Testimonies of lost liturgical theater stage designs can be found in paintings depicting structures that most likely served as backdrops for specific religious performances.

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