Krakowska konsekracja biskupa Jana Maurycego Strachwitza w 1761 r. O przedstawicielach polskiej linii sukcesji apostolskiej w gronie Episkopatu Wrocławskiego II połowy XVIII i I połowy XIX w.

Abstract

Born in Cisowa, Upper Silesia, bishop John Maurice Strachwitz (1721-1781), preconized in 1761 as titular bishop of Tiberias and auxiliary of Wroclaw (Breslau), is reckoned among the most celebrated persons in the midst of eighteen-century Silesian clergy. He governed (in years 1761-1781) Prussian part of Wroclaw diocese initially as general vicar of exiled ordinary bishop Philip Gothard Schaffgotsch and then as apostolic vicar. His consecration took place on 17th of May 1761 in St. Mary’s Church in Cracow and the principal consecrator was titular bishop of Patara Francis Fotkanski (Podkanski), the auxiliary bishop of the place. As a consequence of this, also bishop Strachwitz, though connected through his pastoral service with Prussian Silesia (then part of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation), represents Polish line of the Apostolic Succession (so-called Uchanski’s line). What more, with the above-mentioned line are linked also the other eight ordinary and auxiliary bishops of Wrocław from the second half of the 18th cent, and from the first half of the following century, namely: Anthony Ferdinand Rothkirch-Panthen († 1805), Emmanuel Schimoni-Schimcnsky († 1832), Charles Aulock († 1830), Joseph Charles Schubert († 1835), Leopold Sedlriitzky († 1871), Daniel Gaspar Latussek (Latusek) († 1857), Joseph Knauer († 1844) and Bernard Joseph Bogedain († 1860). These facts, hitherto omitted, throw new light on the subject of “expansion” of Polish line of the Apostolic Succession in preceding the partitions of Poland and also in subsequent to the partitions periods of Polish territories’ ecclesiastical history.