Benedyktyni w diecezji krakowskiej

Abstract

There were three autonomous Benedictine houses, Św. Krzyż, Sieciechów and Tyniec, and several minor houses (Koniemłoty, Słupia, Sieciechów, Radom, Wąwolnica and Tuchów) in the Diocese of Cracow in its historical confines as extant prior to the Partitions of Poland in the late 18th century. The wealthiest in terms of the size of its estate was the Abbey of Tyniec. According to its charter, granted by King Casimir the Jagellonian in the fifteenth century, Tyniec Abbey was the feudal lord of five country towns and ninety-six villages. The Abbey of Sieciechów hand only two towns and twenty-two villages, while Św. Krzyż had one town and twenty-eight villages. At the beginning of the 18th century these three abbeys, along with the other Benedictine foundations scattered throughout the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania, formed a community known as the Congregano Benedictino-Polona Sanctae Crucis. In the early 19th century all three abbeys were dissolved by the Austrian Partitioning authorities (Tyniec in 1816, and Sieciechów and Św. Krzyż in 1819). In the aftermath of dissolution their libraries and archives were confiscated, while the buildings were allocated to different uses or allowed to fall into ruin. For some years the buildings at Tyniec served as an unofficial residence for the local bishop, and subsequently for a group of Jesuits, until a fire destroyed them in 1831. For a long time the buildings at Św. Krzyż were used as a prison. Only one of these ancient foundations, Tyniec Abbey, was eventually restored: in 1939 — with the assistance of the monks of Zevenkerken Abbey in Belgium. The Benedictine community at Tyniec now consists of 40 monks, of whom 20 are in holy orders. In its capacity as the traditional mother house in the region, Tyniec Abbey still dispenses assistance to the smaller foundations. Its work involves pastoral duties in the local parishes and the holding of retreats, and also activities in teaching, publishing and academic life.