(“In Virtue of Sacred Obedience”: The Power and Authority of Bishops of Eger Evidenced in Communications with the Town of Bardejov in the Middle Ages)
Abstract: This study deals with communications between the town of Bardejov and bishops of Eger in the Middle Ages. The author examines how the ecclesiastical power and authority of the bishops was demonstrated in their communications with the free royal town of Bardejov. The bishops’ power toward medieval towns in the Kingdom of Hungary was primarily manifested in the collection of tithes and exemptions granted in the rights of archdeacons. In the case of Bardejov, there can be found some areas where the power of bishops of Eger (frequently represented by episcopal vicars) was demonstrated. First of all, the episcopal tithe collection caused permanent disputes between the parish priest, town representatives and the bishop. The author describes how the problems were solved and the machinery of episcopal powers in these cases. Another area of communication and the manifestation of episcopal authority was that of judicial cases between burghers, which were occasionally brought before ecclesiastical court contrary to town law. A greatly significant manifestation of episcopal power in the area of the town was that of ecclesiastical rituals and symbolic communication. The study mentions various examples of episcopal presence in the consecration of churches, chapels, altars and liturgical dress.
Author: FEDORČÁKOVÁ Mária
DOI: 10.17846/SHN.2020.24.1.36-52
Publication order reference: Univerzita Pavla Jozefa Šafárika v Košiciach, Katedra histórie, Moyzesova 9, 040 59 Košice, Slovak Republic, mail: maria.fedorcakova@upjs.sk
Source: Studia Historica Nitriensia, 2020, vol.: 24, number: 1, pages: 36-52
Key words: Middle Ages; Towns; Bishops; Episcopal Power and Authority; Communication; Bardejov;
Language: SLOVAK