Szymon Zacjusz
Encyclopedia
Szymon Zacjusz or Szymon Żak (1507 in Proszowice
– 1591 in Bochnia
) was a Polish Protestant pastor, supporter of Reformation in Lesser Poland
and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
.
He spent his childhood in Proszowice
. In the years from 1523 to 1526 he studied at the Jagiellonian University
in Cracow, where he passed his Licentiate
. After the graduation he attended a castle school in Wawel
where he was one of the best humanists at his time. He studied Greek
, Latin
and Hebrew language
s.
After 1535 he established himself as a proponent of Calvinism
. From 1540 to 1548 he was a Calvinist pastor in Krzyżanowice
, near the town Bochnia
. There he married Catherine Przeklotowna (Katarzyna Przeklotówna) and they had two daughters.
As a Calvinist he couldn't be buried at a Catholic cemetery near his town, so he was buried in his own garden in Bochnia.
Proszowice
Proszowice is a town in southern Poland, situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Kraków Voivodeship . Its population numbers 6,206 inhabitants . It is the capital of Proszowice County....
– 1591 in Bochnia
Bochnia
Bochnia is a town of 30,000 inhabitants on the river Raba in southern Poland. The town lies approximately in halfway [] between Tarnów and the regional capital Kraków . Bochnia is most noted for its salt mine, the oldest functioning in Europe, built circa 1248...
) was a Polish Protestant pastor, supporter of Reformation in Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland
Lesser Poland is one of the historical regions of Poland, with its capital in the city of Kraków. It forms the southeastern corner of the country, and should not be confused with the modern Lesser Poland Voivodeship, which covers only a small, southern part of Lesser Poland...
and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand 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...
.
He spent his childhood in Proszowice
Proszowice
Proszowice is a town in southern Poland, situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship , previously in Kraków Voivodeship . Its population numbers 6,206 inhabitants . It is the capital of Proszowice County....
. In the years from 1523 to 1526 he studied at the Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
in Cracow, where he passed his Licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
. After the graduation he attended a castle school in Wawel
Wawel
Wawel is an architectural complex erected over many centuries atop a limestone outcrop on the left bank of the Vistula River in Kraków, Poland, at an altitude of 228 metres above the sea level. It is a place of great significance to the Polish people. The Royal Castle with an armoury and the...
where he was one of the best humanists at his time. He studied Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Hebrew language
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
s.
After 1535 he established himself as a proponent of Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
. From 1540 to 1548 he was a Calvinist pastor in Krzyżanowice
Krzyzanowice, Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Krzyżanowice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Bochnia, within Bochnia County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, in southern Poland. It lies approximately north of Bochnia and east of the regional capital Kraków.-References:...
, near the town Bochnia
Bochnia
Bochnia is a town of 30,000 inhabitants on the river Raba in southern Poland. The town lies approximately in halfway [] between Tarnów and the regional capital Kraków . Bochnia is most noted for its salt mine, the oldest functioning in Europe, built circa 1248...
. There he married Catherine Przeklotowna (Katarzyna Przeklotówna) and they had two daughters.
As a Calvinist he couldn't be buried at a Catholic cemetery near his town, so he was buried in his own garden in Bochnia.