Collators of the Uniate Parish in the Brześć Diocese in the 18th Century

Abstract

The article discusses the way the right of patronage in the parishes of the Uniate Brześć diocese worked in the 18^th century. It describes the rights and duties of patrons, also called collators, the rules of their working and it analyses the personal composition of the class of legal protectors of parishes.

In the 18^th century the Brześć diocese had 305 parishes that were divided into 10 deaneries. The working of each parish was connected with the right of patronage. The patron (collator) had both privileges and duties resulting from this right. Introducing the candidate for the parish priest to the bishop, taking care of his salary and taking care of the condition of the church and its furnishings belonged to the patron's duties. In return for this the collator was entitled to have special privileges: he was remembered about in prayers, he had a special seat of honor in the church, priority over the others in processions and the right to put his coat of arms in the church.

The right of patronage in the parishes of the Uniate Brześć diocese in the 18^th century was enjoyed by the King (34%), the clergy (6%) and lay people (60%). Among the lay collators the Sapieha (26) and Radziwiłł (25) families patronized the greatest number of parishes.

The right was hereditary. It had a close connection with ownership. It did not belong to the competence of the diocesan authorities.