Polish old printings dedicated to the Unite bishop and metropolitan Atanazy Szeptycki (1715-1746) in the light of Uniate moral theology

Abstract

Panegyrics dedicated to the 18th century Uniate bishops and metropolitans represent specific Polish-Ukrainian cultural borderland of that time. From the one hand, bishops represent famous Polish (Sarmatian) families, from the other: as shepherds of the Uniate church. Authors of these literary works were well-educated people. Panegyrics in honour of Atanazy Szeptycki (1715-1746), the Lviv Uniate bishop, were written by well-known theologians and a sermon author Józef Narolski. These panegyrics were written according to common rhetorical rules (common themes or toposes, like an immortal fame, a good shepherd, a nobile family, virtues, humility). Typical way of narration about a famous person (history of a family, birth, teaching, death) under an influence of Uniate moral theology led to creation of an unique picture of the Uniate bishop of the 18th century.