Piotr Skarga’s Tale

Piotr Skarga studied at Krakow University; in 1564 he became a priest of the Catholic Church. He lived in Lvov, then in Vienna and Rome where in 1569 he joined the Jesuit Order. Piotr Skarga lectured at Jesuit Collegiums in Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Latvia and Estonia. He was one of founders of Collegium in Vilnius, and in 1579 after its transformation into Academy he became its first rector. Besides, he was one of founders of Polotsk Jesuit Collegium at which he lectured as well. Since 1588 he had been a court preacher of King Sigismund III Vaza.

Piotr Skarga is regarded as the founder of Polish oratorical prose. His book “Weekend and Holiday Tales for the Whole Year” (“Kazania na niedziele y święta całego roku”), which includes the Seym speeches with the author’s moral and political appreciation of the situation in the State, has great literary value. The exhibition presents the fourth and the sixth editions of this popular book published by Jesuit printing houses in Pinsk and Vilnius in 1735 and 1793. The printing house at Pinsk Jesuit Collegium (circa 1729–1746) issued two editions of Piotr Skarga’s book “Weekend and Holiday Tales for the Whole Year” in 1734 and 1735. Vilnius Academic Printing House worked in 1586–1805 at Vilnius Academy. Its basic property were prints and other printing products of Brest printing houses which belonged to Duke N.K. Radzivill “the Black” and later on in 1586 were handed to Jesuits by Duke N. Radzivill “the Orphan”.

“Hagiography” (“Żywoty świętych”) (eight editions issued in the author’s lifetime) was very popular. The exposition presents its reeditions of the 17th and the 18th centuries. The Krakow edition of “Hagiography” published in 1619 by Andzhey Petrkovchik’s Printing House received the title of the King’s Book from Sigismund III Vaza in 1608. The Vilnius edition of “Hagiography” (1780) was published by Vilnius Academy’s Printing House.

Piotr Skarga’s “Tales of the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church” published in the author’s lifetime (1600) by Andzhey Petrkovchik’s Printing House in Karkow is displayed at the exhibition as well. The book belonged to the Radzivills’ Nesvizh Library, according to the ex-libris “Biblioteka Ordynacji Nieświeskiej” and the seal “Ordynacjа Nieświeskа. Biblioteka. № 4420”. The edition includes engravings, initials and miniatures. Texts are written in Polish and set in Gothic type.