The Orthodox Brotherhoods in the Great Duchy of Lithuaniain XVI–XVIII century

Abstract

The origin of Orthodox brotherhoods is connected with the role of laymen in the Orthodox Church. In the Great Duchy of Lithuania land owners took patronage over village parishes, while in towns this role was assumed by burghers, who were organised into brotherhoods since the end of the 16th century. The participation of laymen in caring over the church was a result of the tradition of conciliarity of the Orthodox Church. This was not merely a custom – it was the law of the Orthodox Church. Mikołaj Kojałowicz proved that the brotherhoods were created on the basis of city guilds consisting of craftsmen of the same trade. Their task was to defend the interest of a particular trade. With time individual guilds formed closed structures, which played a major rolein the socio-political life of a city.