Catherine Zelazowska
Encyclopedia
Katarzyna Weiglowa (German: Katherine Weigel or in many English sources, incorrectly, Catherine Vogel) (circa 1460 – April 19, 1539 in Kraków
), was a Roman Catholic woman from the Kingdom of Poland
who converted to Judaism
or to Nontrinitarianism
. She was burned at the stake in Kraków under the charge of apostasy
, when she refused to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is a Son of God
. She is regarded by Unitarians
and Jews
(among others) as a martyr
.
She was born Katarzyna Zalasowska, a daughter of Stanisław Zalasowski and widow of Melchior Weigel, merchant and councilman of Kraków.
under the influence of writings by Martin Borrhaus, published in 1527. According to other sources, she followed the example of the daughter of Nicholas Radziwill and embraced Judaism
. She tried to promote her views during the Sejm
debates in 1538–1539.
At the age of 70, Katherine was imprisoned in Kraków under the charge of confessing "heresy
" by the order of Piotr Gamrat
, bishop of Kraków, who had accused her before the Queen of Poland Bona Sforza
.
have often referred to her, as victim of religious persecutions and martyr.
before Roman Catholic requests, demanding repressions against "heretics".
After her death her fate faded into obscurity in Poland. The Sejm
in 1539 did not take a stance on her execution, and mentions of Katarzyna Weiglowa have been preserved mainly in Protestant polemical writings and in anti-Judaism literature from the 17th century.
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
), was a Roman Catholic woman from the Kingdom of Poland
Poland during the Jagiellon dynasty
History of Poland during the Jagiellon dynasty is the period in the history of Poland that spans the late Middle Ages and early Modern Era. Beginning with the Lithuanian Grand Duke Jogaila , the Jagiellon dynasty formed the Polish–Lithuanian union...
who converted to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
or to Nontrinitarianism
Nontrinitarianism
Nontrinitarianism includes all Christian belief systems that disagree with the doctrine of the Trinity, namely, the teaching that God is three distinct hypostases and yet co-eternal, co-equal, and indivisibly united in one essence or ousia...
. She was burned at the stake in Kraków under the charge of apostasy
Apostasy
Apostasy , 'a defection or revolt', from ἀπό, apo, 'away, apart', στάσις, stasis, 'stand, 'standing') is the formal disaffiliation from or abandonment or renunciation of a religion by a person. One who commits apostasy is known as an apostate. These terms have a pejorative implication in everyday...
, when she refused to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is a Son of God
Son of God
"Son of God" is a phrase which according to most Christian denominations, Trinitarian in belief, refers to the relationship between Jesus and God, specifically as "God the Son"...
. She is regarded by Unitarians
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
and Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
(among others) as a martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
.
She was born Katarzyna Zalasowska, a daughter of Stanisław Zalasowski and widow of Melchior Weigel, merchant and councilman of Kraków.
Accusation of apostasy
In the Jewish Encyclopedia 1912 she appears under a variant spelling of her maiden name as Catherine Zelazowska. Little is known about her life before 1529–1530 when she appeared several times before an episcopal court in Kraków, and refused to abjure "mistakes of the Jewish faith". Katherine probably started professing nontrinitarianismNontrinitarianism
Nontrinitarianism includes all Christian belief systems that disagree with the doctrine of the Trinity, namely, the teaching that God is three distinct hypostases and yet co-eternal, co-equal, and indivisibly united in one essence or ousia...
under the influence of writings by Martin Borrhaus, published in 1527. According to other sources, she followed the example of the daughter of Nicholas Radziwill and embraced Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. She tried to promote her views during the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
debates in 1538–1539.
At the age of 70, Katherine was imprisoned in Kraków under the charge of confessing "heresy
Heresy
Heresy is a controversial or novel change to a system of beliefs, especially a religion, that conflicts with established dogma. It is distinct from apostasy, which is the formal denunciation of one's religion, principles or cause, and blasphemy, which is irreverence toward religion...
" by the order of Piotr Gamrat
Piotr Gamrat
Piotr Gamrat of Sulima arms was Archbishop of Gniezno and Primate of Poland.Gamrat was born in Samoklęski near Jasło, Poland. Early in his career, Gamrat was the royal secretary to Sigismund I the Old. Gamrat was bishop of Kamieniec since 1531, of Przemyśl since 1535, of Kraków since 1538 and...
, bishop of Kraków, who had accused her before the Queen of Poland Bona Sforza
Bona Sforza
Bona Sforza was a member of the powerful Milanese House of Sforza. In 1518, she became the second wife of Sigismund I the Old, the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and became the Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania.She was the third child of Gian Galeazzo Sforza and his wife...
.
Execution
She admitted professing the unity of God, and rejecting the notion of "Holy Trinity". She spent 10 years in prison, before she was burnt alive at the stake on the Little Market place in Kraków at the age of 80. According to written testimonies, even on the stake she refused to abjure her faith which she confessed loudly until the end. Because of her Nontrinitarian views Katarzyna Weiglowa was not defended by Polish Protestants. However, after her death believers from different branches of ProtestantismProtestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
have often referred to her, as victim of religious persecutions and martyr.
Aftermath
The martyrdom of Katarzyna Weiglowa was a surprising fact in Poland which ranked in the 16th century among the countries with the highest degree of religious tolerance. Presumably sentencing her to death (an elderly and lonely woman, and not a noblewomen as well) was simpler than attacking well-organised Polish Protestant groups. Probably it was a concession of the Queen Bona SforzaBona Sforza
Bona Sforza was a member of the powerful Milanese House of Sforza. In 1518, she became the second wife of Sigismund I the Old, the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and became the Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania.She was the third child of Gian Galeazzo Sforza and his wife...
before Roman Catholic requests, demanding repressions against "heretics".
After her death her fate faded into obscurity in Poland. The Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
in 1539 did not take a stance on her execution, and mentions of Katarzyna Weiglowa have been preserved mainly in Protestant polemical writings and in anti-Judaism literature from the 17th century.