Polish brethren

Polish Brethren (also called Antitrinitarians, Arians, or Socinians, Polish: Arianie, Bracia Polscy) was the name of a Christian Polish sect from the 16th century. The movement started around 1562 and ended with the expulsion of Arians from Poland in 1658. The Brethren never participated in the agreement at Sandomierz between different Polish Protestants. The Polish Brethren advocated the separation of church and state and taught the equality and brotherhood of all people; they opposed social privileges based on religious affiliation, and their adherents refused military service (they were known for carrying wooden swords instead of real almost obligatory szablas) and declined political office. They did not believe in private property, were against capital punishment, and did not believe in the traditional Christian doctrines of Hell or the Trinity.

Related Topics:
Arians - Socinians - Christian - Polish - Sect - 16th century - 1562 - 1658 - Agreement at Sandomierz - Protestant - Separation of church and state - Szabla - Private property - Capital punishment - Hell - Trinity

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Although never numerous, they had a significant impact on political thought in Poland. After being expelled from Poland, they emigrated to England and the Netherlands, where their works were widely published and influenced many the thinking of later philosophers such as John Locke and Pierre Bayle.

Related Topics:
England - Netherlands - John Locke - Pierre Bayle

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Their main ideologues were Piotr z Goniadza (Gonesius), Grzegorz Pawel z Brzezin, although Johannes Crellius (originally from Germany), and Jan Ludwik Wolzogen (who came to Poland from Austria) were far better known outside Poland. Among the best known adherents of this sect are Mikolaj Sienicki, Jerzy Niemojewski, and writers and poets Zbigniew Morsztyn and Waclaw Potocki.

Related Topics:
Piotr z Goniadza - Gonesius - Grzegorz Pawel z Brzezin - Johannes Crellius - Jan Ludwik Wolzogen - Mikolaj Sienicki - Jerzy Niemojewski - Zbigniew Morsztyn - Waclaw Potocki

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Their biggest cultural center were Pi?czów and Raków, site of the main Arian printing press and the university Akademia Rakowicka (Gymnasium Bonarum Artium) founded in 1602 and closed in 1638, which trained over 1000 students.

Related Topics:
Pi?czów - Raków - Printing press - Akademia Rakowicka - 1602 - 1638

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These men were exiled from Poland in 1658 after a series of 17th century wars known as the Deluge in which protestant Sweden invaded Poland, since they (as almost all non-Catholics) were commonly seen as Swedish collaborators. This expulsion is sometimes taken as the beginning of decline of famous Polish religious freedom, although the decline started earlier and ended later: the last non-Catholic deputy was removed from parliament in the beginning of the 18th century. Most of Polish Brethren moved to the Netherlands, where they greatly influenced European opinion, becoming precursors to Enlightenment. Through their connection to Enlightenment thinkers, their ideas also influenced the Founding Fathers of the United States.

Related Topics:
Exile - 17th century - The Deluge - Protestant - Sweden - Religious freedom - 18th century - Netherlands - Enlightenment - Founding Fathers - United States

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In the Second Polish Republic, 1937, priest Karol Grycz-?mia?owski recreated the Church of Polish Brethren in Kraków. In the People's Republic of Poland it was registred in 1967 as the Unity of Polish Brethern (Jednota Braci Polskich).

Related Topics:
Second Polish Republic - 1937 - Karol Grycz-?mia?owski - Kraków - People's Republic of Poland - 1967 - Jednota Braci Polskich

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