Udział duchowieństwa w tańcach w świetle średniowiecznego ustawodawstwa synodalnego

Abstract

Synodal charters are one of the most improtant source to the meeting of the past. We can find the laws here regulating all matters relating to the Church, priests and faithful, moreover mentions, and not even spacious fragments about the everyday life of clergymen. They were trying because to prevent behaviours not befitting representatives of the hallowed state with legal validity of acts. Delivering the demand of a moral revival of the clergy during another synods attitudes and behaviours of which clergymen should beware were being drawn precisely. An inclining of the clergy to imitating secular customs, wearing colour dresses, possession of material things or finally spending the time on secular entertainments, that were negated by the Church. Dance was one of these forms of entertainments, which woke the most restrictions. Synodal charters treated to the participation of clergymen in dances from this regard unceasingly. The problem was undertaken in the twofold way: it tended to be that the individual articles of synodal charters had forbid joining to the dance directly, or also – indirectly, when criticize these all revelries, spectacles or masquerade with dancers and other jesters. The ban on practising the dance was a flagship restriction which warning conditioned virtuous life, and which we find almost in everyone, well-known synodical charters. We also notice echoes of synodical decisions in the pastoral works. Medieval preachers loud called for repair of customs of the considerable part “secularized” clergies. But although for the entire Middle Ages repeatedly under threat penalties they were forbidding the participation of clergymen in dances, this phenomenon wasn’t pretended to eliminate, or even to brake.