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The Friars-Preachers in Russia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

George Bennigsen
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Extract

The first Dominicans came to Russia in 1222, only a year after another group of Friars had set foot for the first time on English soil.

With the exception of the Apostolic times, no other period in the history of the Church can be compared to the first half of the thirteenth century. In founding their respective Orders both Dominic and Francis gave such an impulse to the entire Catholic world that during subsequent centuries their successors had only to follow in the footsteps of their great predecessors. It was to Hyacinth, one of his first disciples, that St. Dominic entrusted the mission of evangelizing Northern Europe.

St. Hyacinth was a member of the noble Polish family of Odrowaz, and had been received into the Order of Preachers in 1220. Shortly afterwards, accompanied by three other Polish friars, St. Hyacinth returned to his native country. In Cracow he founded his first monastery, and then started on his missionary journey. In two years the Saint had visited Poland, Prussia, Denmark, Scandinavia, Finland. Everywhere his passage was marked by the establishment of Dominican monasteries. In 1222 he at last reached Red Russia, or Galicia, and, having founded a monastery in Halic, proceeded to Kiev.

At that time Russia presented an agglomeration of principalities (Oudiely), governed by princes, descendants of Saint Vladimir, the most important principality being that of Kiev, whose Great Prince was the doyen amongst the other princes.

Type
Research Article
Information
Blackfriars , Volume 7 , Issue 76 , July 1926 , pp. 422 - 434
Copyright
Copyright © 1926 Provincial Council of the English Province of the Order of Preachers

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References

1 R.P. Mortier. Histolre des Maîtres Generaux … Vol. I, p. 216–17, 528.

2 R.P. Antonin Danzas. Etudes sur les temps primitifs de l'Ordre de St. Dominique. Vol. I, p. 82.

3 This must have been Prince Vladimir Rurikovitch of Smolensk, who ruled in Kiev from 1218 to 1235.

4 Bzovius. Annalib. Eccles. n. 2, quoted by Fr. S. Baracz, O.P. in Rysdsiejow sakonu kasnodziejskiego w Polsce. Vol. I, p. 76.

5 R.P. Danzas, O.P. Op. cit., III, p. 162.

6 It is confirmed by a precious fourteenth century manuscript in the Chigi library, Rome, MS. f. iv, 90, quoted by A. Theiner: Vicissitudes de l'Eglise Catholique. … en Russie. Par un pretre de la Congreg. de l'Oratoire. Paris 1843. Remarque sur p. 23.

7 R.P. Mortier. Histoire des Maîtres … Vol. I, pp. 378–379.

8 R.P. A. Touron, O.P. Histoire des hommes illustres de l'ordre de St. Dominique. Vol. I, pp. 145–146.

9 Mortier. Op. cit., I, pp. 383–386, II, p. 540.

10 Ibid. I, pp. 529–530.

11 R.P. Danzas. Etudes … Vol. III, pp. 162–163.

12 R.P. Danzas. Op. cit. III, p. 167.

13 R.P. Mortier. Op. cit. III, pp. 30–31. R.P. Chapotin, A travers l'histoire Dominicaine. P. 41, etc.

14 Mortier. Op. cit. Vol. II, p. 382.

15 A. Theiner. Vicissitudes de l'Eglise Catholique. P. 27.

16 17 C. G. Friesius. De episcopate Kijowiensi. 1763, pp. 30 and 34 quoted by Fr. Baracz, op cit. Vol. I, pp. 182 and 165.

18 On the division of the Polish Province see Mortier, Vol. VI, pp. 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 128, 249–254.

19 Fr. S. Baracz. Op. cit. Vol. I, p. 44.

20 Id. Vol. I, p. 297.

21 Fr. Baracz. Op. cit. Vol. I, pp. 314–315.