Józef Baka
Encyclopedia
Józef Baka was a late Baroque
poet, Jesuit priest and missionary. Born in March of either 1706 or 1707, probably in Nowogrodek, Baka is regarded as one of the most prominent poets of the 18th century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
.
and his father Adam Baka was a treasurer of the Mscislaw Voivodeship
.
Baka entered the Society of Jesus
on July 16, 1723 and in 1735 he was ordained a priest, five years later becoming a monk. He studied at the Vilna Academy, but little is known about his curriculum. It has only been established that Baka passed a theology exam on May 7, 1736. Also, in late 1730s, he lectured rhetorics at the Academy.
Some time in late 1730s or early 1740s, Baka left Vilna for the town of Kraslaw (now Latvia
, then Inflanty Voivodeship). There, he worked as a priest and a missionary, in the Jesuit office Missio Plateriana. It was most likely in Kraslaw that he wrote his first works. Later on, Baka moved to the village of Blonie (also Livonia
), where he opened his own office, which he called Missio Bakana. He often traveled across the area, trying to be in touch with local population.
He died unexpectedly on June 2, 1780 in Warsaw
. It is unknown why he visited the capital of the Commonwealth, according to available sources, he had never left the Grand Duchy of Lithuania before. His death was mentioned by local daily Gazeta Warszawska. Baka was buried in Warsaw, in a Jesuit church on Świętojańska Street.
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
poet, Jesuit priest and missionary. Born in March of either 1706 or 1707, probably in Nowogrodek, Baka is regarded as one of the most prominent poets of the 18th century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
.
Early years
Little is known about early days of his life, furthermore, no portrait of Baka has been found so far. He was born into a wealthy family living in the Grand Duchy of LithuaniaGrand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
and his father Adam Baka was a treasurer of the Mscislaw Voivodeship
Mscislaw Voivodeship
Mstislaw Voivodeship or Mścisław Voivodeship was a unit of administrative division and local government in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 15th century till the partitions of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795.Voivodeship Governor seat:* Mscislaw- Voivodes :* Janusz Skumin Tyszkiewicz...
.
Baka entered the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
on July 16, 1723 and in 1735 he was ordained a priest, five years later becoming a monk. He studied at the Vilna Academy, but little is known about his curriculum. It has only been established that Baka passed a theology exam on May 7, 1736. Also, in late 1730s, he lectured rhetorics at the Academy.
Some time in late 1730s or early 1740s, Baka left Vilna for the town of Kraslaw (now Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, then Inflanty Voivodeship). There, he worked as a priest and a missionary, in the Jesuit office Missio Plateriana. It was most likely in Kraslaw that he wrote his first works. Later on, Baka moved to the village of Blonie (also Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
), where he opened his own office, which he called Missio Bakana. He often traveled across the area, trying to be in touch with local population.
Late years and death
Baka spent final years of his life in Vilna, where he moved for unknown reasons. Since 1756 or 1768, he lived in so-called House of Professors near Jesuit Church of Saint Casimirius. He was very active, sometimes visiting other places, such as Nowogrodek. His sermons were very popular, and in 1773 he was named Doctor of Theology by the Vilna Academy.He died unexpectedly on June 2, 1780 in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. It is unknown why he visited the capital of the Commonwealth, according to available sources, he had never left the Grand Duchy of Lithuania before. His death was mentioned by local daily Gazeta Warszawska. Baka was buried in Warsaw, in a Jesuit church on Świętojańska Street.