Aspects of the cult of St John of Nepomuk and Lithuania

Straipsnyje analizuojama šv. Jono Nepamuko kulto raida Bohemijoje ir sklaida už jos ribų, atskleidžiami svarbiausi ją formavę faktoriai, nurodoma jėzuitų įtaka šio šventojo kulto plitimui. Siekiama atskleisti gilesnes religinio ir kultūrinio gyvenimo priežastis, apsprendusias išskirtinį šio šventojo populiarumą XVIII-XIX a. Apibūdinama šventojo ikonografija, pagrindiniai ją formavę pirmavaizdžiai, šios ikonografijos ypatumai Lietuvoje.Article focuses on the spread and origins of the cult of St. John of Nepomuk. Attention is drawn to the fact that this cult spread rapidly within the ecumenical Catholic Church (also in Lithuania) after the saint's canonization in 1729, although in Prague the cult was active from the death of the Saint in the 14th century. The cult of St. John of Nepomuk experienced a rather rapid spread in Lithuania from the middle of the 18th century. We find the images of St. John of Nepomuk in various Lithuanian churches and in prints made for devotional usage. St. John of Nepomuk is one of the most popular saints in folk sculpture and graphics. In Lithuania his iconography is very simple. Mostly this saint is depicted as a canon: over his cassock he wears a surplice and a rochet lined with ermine, on his head he wears a biretta, around his head there are five stars and in his hands a cross and palm and sometimes a book. His iconography and cult are much more complex in countries such as Czechoslovakia, Bavaria, Austria and Silesia. In the "Chronicle of Czech" written by the priest Vaclav Hajek in 1539, the story of St. John of Nepomuk was inscribed as one of the events of the period of Vaclav's IV ruling. The narration of Hajek's chronicle became the basis of all the subsequent descriptions of St. John's life. The cult of this saint was strengthened by the rebirth of Catholicism in Czechoslovakia in the 17th century. It was precisely during this period that the devotion of the Czech patrons was absorbed by its new rulers the Habsburgs beginning with Ferdinand II. The description of St. John's life contained in the book "Bohemia sancta" by the Jesuit Bohuslav Balbin, published in 1682, was carried into the "Acta Sanctorium" of the Bolandists. Furthermore, this text was published in Latin, Czech, and German and was later translated into almost all European languages. In the second half of the 17th century, the cult of St. John of Nepomuk spread past the boundaries of the city of Prague. The Vilnius Jesuit Academy published a description of St. John's of Nepomuk life in 1702. St. John of Nepomuk was beatified in 1721. After his beatification, the celebration of the Masses and breviary prayers of St. John of Nepomuk were sanctioned. In turn this prompted the spread of his cult. The process of canonization was begun a year later and completed in 1729. Alongside the traditional images St. John of Nepomuk, such as his taking of the Queen's confession, his torment and drowning and images depicting the discovery of his body, the iconography of the new saint was complemented by scenes depicting miracles. Soon after his canonization, St. John of Nepomuk was announced as the patron of the Habsburgs' family and the Association of Jesus. The cult of the new saint was even spread by a few monkhoods, although those who were most devoted to him were diocesan priests. Catholic reform demanded a right and exemplary life from its priests and loaded upon their shoulders the responsibility for the religious practice of the faithful. St. John of Nepomuk became a synonym for the ideal and saintly priest, one which lasted for a few hundred years at least