Features of the life and personality of Saint Casimir

Straipsnyje apžvelgiami istoriniai šaltiniai apie šv. Kazimiero (1458-1484) asmenybę bei gyvenimą. Daugiausiai dėmesio skiriama ankstyviesiems šaltiniams, turintiems tiesioginį istorinį ryšį su karalaičio gyvenimu. Chronologine šaltinių riba pasirinkta popiežiaus nuncijaus Zacharijo Ferrerio 1521 m. išleista šventojo biografija. Vėlesni raštai svarbesni jau ne tiek jo istorinei asmenybei, kiek kulto istorijai pažinti. Glaustai apžvelgiama, kokio pobūdžio rašytiniai šaltiniai iliustruoja įvairius šventojo karalaičio gyvenimo etapus (vaikystę; žygio į Vengriją laikotarpį akcentuojant 1471 m. pabaigos ir kitų metų pradžios įvykių svarbą formuojantis jo charakteriui, rengiantis būsimo valdovo padėčiai ir atsakomybei; apžvelgiamos jo kelionės į Lietuvą ir paskutinieji gyvenimo metai). Peržiūrimi stereotipiniai šv. Kazimiero asmenybės vertinimai. Jis traktuojamas kaip valstybininkas, savarankiškai tvarkęs ekonominius, finansinius, karinius, teisinius, kanceliarinius reikalus. Nepagrįsta laikoma nuomonė, kad jis buvo nuolat kankinamas ligos, kad liguistumas laikytinas svarbia pamaldumo priežastimi. Daroma išvada, kad išlikę fragmentiški liudijimai apie šv. Kazimierą papildo vienas kitą ir leidžia maždaug detaliai atkurti jo gyvenimo kelią, susidaryti jokių abejonių nekeliantį karalaičio portretą. Jie atskleidžia jį buvus dvasiškai turtingą, subrendusią, valingą ir tvirtai tikinčią asmenybę, siekusią ir gebėjusią įgyvendinti krikščioniškojo valdovo gyvenimo idealą.The article reviews the historical sources and the historically reliable information concerning the life and personality of Saint Casimir (1458-1484) they present. Attention is primarily paid to contemporaneous sources, having a direct historical tie with the life of prince Casimir, separating them from the those sources, which could be related with the later hagiographic tradition. The biography written in 1520 by Zacharias Ferreri and published the following year was chosen as the chronological border for such sources. There is a concise review of the kinds of written sources which were used to illustrate different periods of the saint's life, placing greater emphasis on the features of his personality which allow one to make a historically justified opinion. The errors in later interpretations, distorting historical truth, but still espoused stereotypes are indicated. One can declare that the fragmentary testimonies, which we have, supplement each other and allow one to reconstruct in detail the life of St. Casimir and to form a clear view about him as a person. They show him as a rich, mature, strong-willed personality with strong trust in God, who tried and managed to realize in his life the ideal of a Christian ruler. The article provides an overview of the historical sources on the personality and life of Saint Casimirus (1458-1484), dedicating most attention to the most early sources, having direct historical connection with the life of the prince. The chronological limit of the sources is the biography of the said saint, published by the Pontifical Nuncio Zacharias Ferrer in 1521. The later letters are more important in regard to cognition of not the historical personality of Saint Casimirus but rather the history of his cult. The article provides a brief overview of the character of the written sources, which illustrate different phases of life of the holy prince (his childhood; the time period of his campaign to Hungary emphasizing the importance of the events of the end of 1471 and the beginning of 1472 for shaping of his character and preparing for his future status and responsibilities of a ruler; his travels to Lithuania and his final years). The stereotypical evaluations of the personality of Saint Casimirus are reviewed. He is treated as a statesman, who self-sufficiently handled the economic, financial, military, legal and chancellery affairs. The opinion that he was continuously suffering from a disease and that his sickness should be considered an important reason for his godliness is considered unsubstantiated. The conclusion is drawn that the remaining fragmentary evidence on Saint Casimirus supplement each other and provide the possibility to restore his life path approximately in detail and shape the image of the priest, which would not raise any doubts. They reveal him as a spiritually rich, mature, strong-willed and godly personality, striving for and able to achieve the ideal of life of a Christian ruler