Grzegorz Paweł z Brzezin
Encyclopedia
Grzegorz Paweł z Brzezin (English: Gregory Pauli of Brzeziny
), Latin: Gregorius Paulus Brzezinensis) (1525-1591), was a Socinian writer and theologian, one of the principal creators and propagators of radical wing of the Polish Brethren
, and author of several of the first theological works in Polish, which helped to the development of literary Polish.
, where he encountered the ideas of Lutheranism
and Calvinism
. Upon his return he became rector of the school at the Catholic Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Poznan
. But he later had to abandon the position due to profession of Calvinism. From about 1550 he began to openly promote the Reformation, and from 1552, celebrated Protestant worship for the inhabitants of Krakow
. He was named pastor in Pełsznicy church, and in 1557 was elected pastor of the church in Krakow. From this time his beliefs became more radical, and in 1562 he broke with Calvinism and became openly nontrinitarian. In 1569 Paweł moved to Raków, Kielce County, in the year the settlement was founded by castellan Jan Sienieński, and Paweł became a leader of the radical wing. He died before the founding of the Racovian Academy
(Polish Akademia Rakowska) in 1602 by Jakub Sienieński
.
should not participate in the government of the State and resolve disputes before the courts. It was an unconditional pacifist (like Martin Czechowic).
In the religious sphere he denied the immortality of the soul, claiming that the soul can not exist outside the body. He also denied the Trinity
, Jesus was only a perfect human being, miraculously born for the salvation of humanity, and after the resurrection exalted by God because of the sanctity of his life. He saw the Holy Spirit as allegorical, a personification of all that is "under God".
In 1567 a split occurred among the Brethren. The majority followed the views of Fausto Sozzini, advocated by Grzegorz Paweł z Brzezin and the Silesian Georg Schomann
who denied the pre-existence
of Christ, though they still accepted the virgin birth of Jesus, unlike later Unitarianism
. The minority seceded, holding to the divinity of Christ and pre-existence of Christ
(deism
). In 1568 Grzegorz Paweł z Brzezin translated into Polish the commentary on the first chapter of the Gospel of John, by Fausto Sozzini.
Brzeziny
Brzeziny is a town in Poland, in Łódź Voivodeship, about 20 km east of Łódź. It is the capital of Brzeziny County. Population is 12,417 .- History :...
), Latin: Gregorius Paulus Brzezinensis) (1525-1591), was a Socinian writer and theologian, one of the principal creators and propagators of radical wing of the Polish Brethren
Polish Brethren
The Polish Brethren were members of the Minor Reformed Church of Poland, a Nontrinitarian Protestant church that existed in Poland from 1565 to 1658...
, and author of several of the first theological works in Polish, which helped to the development of literary Polish.
Biography
Paweł was educated at the University of KönigsbergKönigsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, where he encountered the ideas of Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
and Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
. Upon his return he became rector of the school at the Catholic Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Poznan
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
. But he later had to abandon the position due to profession of Calvinism. From about 1550 he began to openly promote the Reformation, and from 1552, celebrated Protestant worship for the inhabitants of Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
. He was named pastor in Pełsznicy church, and in 1557 was elected pastor of the church in Krakow. From this time his beliefs became more radical, and in 1562 he broke with Calvinism and became openly nontrinitarian. In 1569 Paweł moved to Raków, Kielce County, in the year the settlement was founded by castellan Jan Sienieński, and Paweł became a leader of the radical wing. He died before the founding of the Racovian Academy
Racovian Academy
The Racovian Academy was a school of the Socinian Polish Brethren operating in Raków, Kielce County, Poland 1602-1638, and publisher of the Racovian Catechism in 1605....
(Polish Akademia Rakowska) in 1602 by Jakub Sienieński
Jakub Sienieński
Jakub Sienieński was a Polish nobleman, representative in the Sejm, who in 1602 founded the Racovian Academy.His father Jan Sienieński founded the town of Raków, Kielce County in 1569...
.
Views
He preached an early form of socialist utopianism, including community assets and common work. He claimed that the true Christians, that is the Polish Brethren, did not need a State, which was created only for evil people to control and punish them. Although stressed the need to comply with the secular authorities, it is believed that AriansArianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
should not participate in the government of the State and resolve disputes before the courts. It was an unconditional pacifist (like Martin Czechowic).
In the religious sphere he denied the immortality of the soul, claiming that the soul can not exist outside the body. He also denied the Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
, Jesus was only a perfect human being, miraculously born for the salvation of humanity, and after the resurrection exalted by God because of the sanctity of his life. He saw the Holy Spirit as allegorical, a personification of all that is "under God".
In 1567 a split occurred among the Brethren. The majority followed the views of Fausto Sozzini, advocated by Grzegorz Paweł z Brzezin and the Silesian Georg Schomann
Georg Schomann
Georg Schomann was a Socinian theologian.In his youth, was distinguished by a deep Catholic religiosity. In the years 1552-1554 he studied at the Krakow Academy and then at Wittenberg, where he was Lutheran...
who denied the pre-existence
Pre-existence
Pre-existence , beforelife, or pre-mortal existence refers to the belief that each individual human soul existed before conception, and at conception one of these pre-existent souls enters, or is placed by God, in the body...
of Christ, though they still accepted the virgin birth of Jesus, unlike later Unitarianism
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
. The minority seceded, holding to the divinity of Christ and pre-existence of Christ
Pre-existence of Christ
The pre-existence of Christ refers to the doctrine of the ontological or personal existence of Christ before his conception. One of the relevant Bible passages is where, in the Trinitarian view, Christ is identified with a pre-existent divine hypostasis called the Logos or Word...
(deism
Deism
Deism in religious philosophy is the belief that reason and observation of the natural world, without the need for organized religion, can determine that the universe is the product of an all-powerful creator. According to deists, the creator does not intervene in human affairs or suspend the...
). In 1568 Grzegorz Paweł z Brzezin translated into Polish the commentary on the first chapter of the Gospel of John, by Fausto Sozzini.
Major works
- Rozdział Starego Testamentu od Nowego (division of the Old Testament from the New) (c.1568)
- O prawdziwej śmierci (on the mortality of the soul) (c.1568).
- O różnicach teraźniejszych (of the distinctions in the present-day) (1564)