Prałatury i kanonie de gremio Kapituły Katedralnej Wileńskiej w okresie przedrozbiorowym

Abstract

Formation of the Vilnius Cathedral Chapter was a long process since its inception in 1388 to the middle of the sixteenth century. As the capital city of the cathedral chapter of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the beginning of its existence in the system and the organization was inspired by the Cracow Cathedral Chapter. Under the papal foundation bull by pope Urban VI Pontifex Maximus to erect bishopric of Vilnius the first two of the Prelature were founded (provost and dean) and 10 canonries. All of them were endowed in 1387 by king Vladislav II Jagiello. The next four prelate names: custodian, archdeacon, scholastic and cantor, and two canonries were developed under the efforts of successive monarchs, bishops and Chapter. The structure of the Chapter was finally clarified around 1525, which since then consisted of six prelates and 12 canons. In such organizational frameworks the Vilnius corporation canons and prelates survived until the end of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Individual members of the Chapter had a specific range of privileges and obligations which in the case of prelates were assigned to each of the dignity of the individual. Competence of canons were evolving, depending on the current needs. In the reporting period, the corporation prelates and canons in gremio constituted under the church law a control body of the actions of diocesan bishops, which was de facto institution co-managering of the diocese.