Janez Svetokriški
Encyclopedia
Janez Svetokriški (1647 – 17 October 1714) was a Slovene preacher
and writer
in the Baroque
period.
Svetokriški was born as Tobia Lionelli to a Slovene mother and an Italian father in the town of Sveti Križ (Holy Cross) in the Vipava Valley
, County of Gorizia
(now known as Vipavski Križ
in the municipality of Ajdovščina
, Slovenia
). He took the name Janez Svetokriški (John of St. Cross) upon joining the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
, in reference to his native town, and probably also to the Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross.
He served in various monasteries in the Slovene Lands
, including the Capuchin monastery of St. Francis Assisi in his native town, and in Croatia
. He wrote several sermons, which he published in a series of five books entitled Sacrum promptiuarium (The Holy Guide). One of his most well known sermons is Na noviga lejta dan ("On New Year’s Day"). The publication of these books was financed by members of the nobility and benefactors from within the Church.
His 'Holy Guide' was published between 1691 and 1707. The first two volumes were published in Venice
, the remaining three in Ljubljana
. They are written in the Slovene dialect of the Goriška
region, with strong influence of the neighbouring Inner Carniolan dialect, with numerous Germanism
s and Latin
quotations. The sytnatx presents a typically Baroque style, with references to the Classical tradition.
Svetokriški's texts provide excellent insight in the lingusitic situation of the Slovene language around the end of the 17th century, as well as the wider cultural position of Slovenes and the Slovene culture of the late Baroque period.
Svetokriški died in Gorizia
, where he had spent the last years of his life.
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
in the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
period.
Svetokriški was born as Tobia Lionelli to a Slovene mother and an Italian father in the town of Sveti Križ (Holy Cross) in the Vipava Valley
Vipava Valley
The Vipava Valley is a valley located in the Slovenian Littoral, between the towns of Nova Gorica and Vipava.-Geography:It is a narrow valley, serving as the main passage between Friulian lowland and central Slovenia, and thus also an important corridor connecting Northern Italy to Central Europe...
, County of Gorizia
County of Gorizia
The County of Görz was a county based around the town of Gorizia in the present-day Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of north-eastern Italy.Count Meinhard, descendant of the Bavarian Meinhardiner noble family with possessions around Lienz in Tyrol, is mentioned as early as 1107...
(now known as Vipavski Križ
Vipavski Križ
Vipavski Križ , named Sveti Križ till 1955, is a settlement built on a small hill in the Vipava Valley in the Ajdovščina Municipality in the Littoral region of Slovenia. It is one of the historically most interesting places of the area. There is evidence of habitation on the hill in pre-Roman period...
in the municipality of Ajdovščina
Ajdovšcina
Ajdovščina is a small town and a municipality with the same name and a population of 7000 , located in the Vipava Valley , Slovenia....
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
). He took the name Janez Svetokriški (John of St. Cross) upon joining the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
, in reference to his native town, and probably also to the Spanish mystic St. John of the Cross.
He served in various monasteries in the Slovene Lands
Slovene Lands
Slovene Lands or Slovenian Lands is the historical denomination for the whole of the Slovene-inhabited territories in Central Europe. It more or less corresponds to modern Slovenia and the adjacent territories in Italy, Austria and Hungary in which autochthonous Slovene minorities live.-...
, including the Capuchin monastery of St. Francis Assisi in his native town, and in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. He wrote several sermons, which he published in a series of five books entitled Sacrum promptiuarium (The Holy Guide). One of his most well known sermons is Na noviga lejta dan ("On New Year’s Day"). The publication of these books was financed by members of the nobility and benefactors from within the Church.
His 'Holy Guide' was published between 1691 and 1707. The first two volumes were published in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, the remaining three in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
. They are written in the Slovene dialect of the Goriška
Goriška
Goriška is a traditional region in western Slovenia on the border with Italy. The name means "the Gorizia region" because it is named after Gorizia, Italy. It is part of the wider traditional region of the Slovenian Littoral . Its principal urban center is Nova Gorica...
region, with strong influence of the neighbouring Inner Carniolan dialect, with numerous Germanism
Germanism
Germanism can mean or be confused with any of the following:* German loan words and expressions in English* Pan-Germanism* Germanisation* Germanism...
s and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
quotations. The sytnatx presents a typically Baroque style, with references to the Classical tradition.
Svetokriški's texts provide excellent insight in the lingusitic situation of the Slovene language around the end of the 17th century, as well as the wider cultural position of Slovenes and the Slovene culture of the late Baroque period.
Svetokriški died in Gorizia
Gorizia
Gorizia is a town and comune in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, and it is a local center of tourism, industry, and commerce. Since 1947, a twin...
, where he had spent the last years of his life.