Relations of Poor Clare Order of Stary Sącz with the Parish of St. Lawrence in Biegonice from the 13th to the 18th century

Abstract

The article discusses the relations of the Order of Poor Clare in Stary Sącz with the Parish of St. Lawrence in Nowy Sącz-Biegonice founded by Saint Kinga of Poland, the abbess of the Order. The Parish of St. Lawrence is currently the oldest parish in the city. The relations were of legal, economic, ministerial and personal nature. The Order was in possesssion of a wealthy farm (grange, manor) in the village of Biegonice until the Austrian times. Moreover, during the Old Polish period, the Order - represented by abbesses - had the right of patronage (jus patronatus), involving financial maintenance of the parochial church as well as the privilage of the appointment of the parish priest. In turn, parish priests were the confessors for the nuns of the Order. The discussed issues are a solid illustration of various social, legal and economic phenomena in the Old Polish period.