Przestrzeń sakralna małych, średniowiecznych miast podkarpackich

Abstract

The article includes the most important issues connected with research on the changes of sacral space of cities. Sacral space of subcarpathian cities has been presented on the examples of 7 small cities: Żywiec, Nowy Targ, Krościenko, Piwniczna, Muszyna, Jaśliska and Miastko (since 1612 known as Tylicz). They are characterized by being located in the foothill area and on the edges of the Krakow diocese. The article includes an attempt to discover and describe the characteristic features of their location conditioning the prevalence of fears of the wild space. The basic elements of sacral space were described: time of the creation of the parochial church, its dedication, location compared to the city centre, relics kept in the church, the process of the creation of side altars and chapels inside the church, the existence of remote altars and images considered wonderful. Much attention was paid to the issue of detached chapels, including the ones outside of the city’s boundaries and the patrocinia connected with them present in the city space, cemeteries, as well as the identification of local places of cult and the process of expanding the sacral space through Christian signs (crosses, God’s Passion). They were closely connected to the processions originating from the parish church. The article presents signs of other religions than the Roman Catholicism and the space connected with them, and brings up the issue, as a research postulate, of hermits near Piwniczna and Żywiec. It also includes the description of the cult of saints as a patron cult and the role of the parish church as the hallmark of a city.