Kształtowania się ustroju niezależnego od Rzymu Kościoła mariawitów (1887–1914). Zagadnienia kanoniczno-prawne

Abstract

Development of the system of the Mariavite Church (1887-1914) independent of Rome. Canonical and legal issues Although the beginnings of the Mariavite Church have been quite extensively discussed in contemporary Polish historiography, the canonical and legal issues concerning the development of the structures of that denomination seem to be an insufficiently researched area. Indeed, almost all publications on the history of that movement mention particular levels of the Mariavite church and monastic administration, however they do not answer the basic question about the reasons why the Mariavite Church did not accept the episcopate or synodical system but the monastic one and adapted to congregationalism imposed by the authorities. The article, using methodology typical of historical and theological sciences, organizes the previous knowledge on the organization and system of Mariavite congregations within the Catholic Church (1887-1906), as well as at the time when the independent of Rome Mariavite Church developed (1906-1914). The author also answers the questions about possible reasons for adopting the monastic system, unique in the family of Old Catholic Churches.