The “Belarusian” past, present and future in the representations of the Catholic Metropolitan Stanisław Bohusz Siestrzeńcewicz

Abstract

A large number of Roman Catholic population, mainly ethnic Lithuanians and Belarusians, joined the Russian Empire during the division of the lands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1771-1795. The first section of 1772 included mainly the Eastern Belarusian territories and the new Roman Catholic subjects of the Empire were mostly ethnic Belarusians. This fact influenced the choice by the Russian Imperial administration of «Bishop of Catholic churches in Russia». They appointed Stanisław Bohusz Siestrzeńcewicz. In accordance with the volition of Empress Catherine II, the “Bishop of Belarus” was placed in Mogilev. He was entrusted with the gradual transfer of control of the Russian Roman Catholics in within the Empire. Siestrzeńcewicz was a “Litvin” by origin, raised in a mixed Protestant and Catholic family. Over time, Siestrzeńcewicz became close to understanding the national otherness not only of his East Slavic flock, but, apparently, his own. His otherness was vitally connected with the use of the names “Belarus”, “Belarusian”. The relocation of Siestrzeńcewicz in the early nineteenth century from Mogilev to Saint Petersburg gave him the opportunity to significantly expand his ties and influence in the state. This contributed to his further scientific and literary researches. Even in Mogilev, he created a number of works, which described the Western part of the East Slavic lands, considers the problem of unity of the origin of the East Slavic peoples. By the end of his life, Siestrzeńcewicz sees the past, present and future of all the Eastern Slavs in close connection with the fate of Russia, “the State that occupies the ninth part of the inhabited globe...”