Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

altra potestà ecclesiastica che non sia del nostro impero, di spedirgli parte alcuna delle loro rendite, e ne anco di avere connessione alcuna con essa, sotto pena di essere processati giuridicamente per la disobbedienza alle leggi della potestà suprema.

XII. Noi ordiniamo all' arcivesco della chiesa Romana di Mohilow di spedirci nota circostanziata di tutti li monasterj di quella chiesa, specificando quali di essi giudica veramente utili alla religione, ed alla patria, scia per le loro cognizioni, scia per la istruzione della gioventù, le loro cure a soccorrere i poveri e ad assistere tutti quelli, che sono bisognosi, quali, misura dovrà prendere per conservarli; e sibbene quali siano quelli che vivono nella infingardaggine, ed unicamente per loro stessi, che nulla fanno per il ben publico, ma che sono a peso della SOcietà, affinchè noi possiamo prendere su tal proposito le megliori mesure possibili per il progresso della gloria di Dio, e per il bene della società.

XIII. Noi confermiamo i nostri precedenti decreti, che divietano di accettare bolla alcuna dal Papa, o alcun altra carta spedita in suo nome, commettendo di consegnarle al nostro senato, il quale dopo di averne esaminato il contenuto, e particolarmente se nulla si trova, che non sia conforme alle leggi del' imperio di Russie, o ai diritti della potestà ecclesiastica, cui noi abbiamo ricevuta da Dio, sarà tenuto di darne il suo parere, e di attendere, il nostro permesso o divieto di rendere pubbliche simili bolle, o scritti.

Il presente decreto deve essere pubblicato per tutto dove appartenirà, e dovrà essere consegnato a tutte le chiese cattoliche, perchè agniuna possa avere cognizione di quanto è publicato con la presente. (L'originale era sottoscritto dal senato dirigente).

(L. S.)

Stampato dal senato a Peterburgo, 1782.

B.

Translation of the Ukase of the empress Catharine II. relative to the appointment of two Suffragan Roman Catholic Bishops. Dated Sept. 27, 1795.

Oukase of her Imperial Majesty of all the Russias, from the directing Senate to Mons. de Yutolmin, General in Chief, Senator, Governor Generale of Minks, Volhinsk, Braslavsk and Podolsk, and Knight of several Orders.

In consequence of the oukas of her Imperial Majesty, given to the senate the 6th day of this present September, signed in her majesty's own hand-writing, in which it is thus expressed: In the present arrangements of the dominions annexed to our sceptre from Poland, we have examined the reports made to us respecting the spiritual exercise of the Romish religion in the governments of Minks, Volhinsk, Podolsk and Braslavsk, and we find that the bishoprick of Vilna remains vacant, and that the bishops of Lutsk and Kamentsk reside without the boundaries of the empire, and the churches in their dioceses of the Romish faith, remain without ecclesiastical superiors. In directing our sovereign solicitude towards the better establishment of order for the public good in all parts of our empire, we institute for the monasteries and churches of the Romish faith, in the governments of Minks, Volhinsk, Braslavsk and Vosnesensk, two bishopricks, under the appellations of Pinsk and Letitchevsk, ordaining, 1. That the bishop Tsetsishevsky be nominated to the bishoprick of Pinsk of the Romish faith; and the bishop of Serakovsky to that of Letitchev. 2. Tsetsishevsky, bishop of Pinsk, is in future to enjoy the possession of estates destined to defray the expenses of his establishment, according to his dignity; and to the bishop Serakovsky, we must graciously fix for his maintenance a yearly salary of 3,000 roubles, which are to be paid him from the re

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

vennes of those governments. 3. To the jurisdiction of the bishop of Pinsk, are to belong the monasteries and churches of the Romish persuasion in the government of Minsk and Volhinsk; and to the bishop of Letitchev, is instrusted the conduct of the monastic and secolar clergy of the Romish religion in the governments of Podolsk, Braslavsk and Vosnesensk. 4. For the examination in these dioceses of causes depending, by ecclesiastical and civil laws, upon the decision of ecclesiastical courts, there are to be established in the houses of the bishops and under their controul, in Pinsk and Letitchev, consistories, consisting of three members chosen by the bishops of those dioceses, from among our subjects. Affairs relating to the trial of causes not belonging to the clergy are to be judget in the consistorial courts, in the presence of a deputy from the civil government; and those who may be dissatisfied with the decision therein pronounced, may prefer their complaints to our senate. 5. Imposing on the bishops of Pinsk and Letitchev the duty of preserving good order in the monasteries and churches of their bishopsricks, we authorize them to appoint to the monasteries inspectors and other superiors, to consecrate ecclesiastics according to the rites of the Romish religion, and to fix the revenues necessary for the support of the churches. 6. By virtue of the ordinances published throughout the whole of our empire, we forbid any invitation or admission into our dominions of foreign clergy; and in conformity thereto, all those hitherto sent from without the frontiers, without having sworn fidelity to us, are to be secular judgment for not fulfilling our laws; and all who may establish themselves in such duties are to be sent under arrest into the government courts of justice, to be dealt with according to the laws. 7. We renew our commands forbidding bishops, monasteries, and all clergy of the Romish feath, to acknowledge themselves dependent on any ecclesiastical powers whatever without

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

[ocr errors]

to

to obey their

the boundaries of our empire ; to maintain relations prejudicial to the public tranquillity; to send to those ecclesiastical powers, revenues, or part thereof; choose provincial or general superiors; orders; and in case of any bulls being sent from the Pope, or communications written in his name, the said clergy of the Romish faith must act strictly in conformity to the oukase given by us to the senate on the 17th of January 1782, under pain of trial according to the civil laws. In other respects, all monastic orders have to depend solely on the bishops of their dioceses. 8. We forbid the clergy of the Romish religion under any pretext whatever, to incline, persuade, or convert to the confession of the Romish faith, not only the true believers of the Eastern church, but the followers of other Christian religions, under pain of being prosecuted for such transgression, with the utmost severity of the laws.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

9. We command, that circumstantial reports shall be made to us respecting all the monasteries of the Romish church, mentioning particularly those in which attention is paid to the instruction of youth, or which by other occupations agreeable to God, benefit society. 10. As to what relates to the parts separated from the said governments, and joined to those of Kiev, Tchernigov, Moghilev and Polotsk, the churches and monasteries of the Romish religion contained therein, are to be under the jurisdiction of the archbishop of Moghilev, of the Romish church, by virtue of the oukase given by us to the senate, on the 17th of January 1782. The directing senate have commanded: For the due fulfilment of the oukase of her Imperial majesty, the said oukase is transmitted to you, general in chief, senator and knight, to the end that you, in communicating through the proper channel, these her Imperial majesty's supreme commands to Serakovsky, bishop of the diocese of Letitchev, and to Tsetsishevsky, of the diocese of Pinsk, should also

[ocr errors]

from yourself prescribe to them that they, in conformity to the oth article of this oukase, should send to the senate without delay circumstantial reports, each in his diocese, respecting all the monasteries of the Romish church, with the remarks as ordained by the said article, in order to be submitted to her Imperial majesty. And for the due fulfilment of the said oukase respecting the parts separated from the said government, and joined to those of Kiev, Tchernigov, Moghilev, and Polotsk, and included in the ecclesiastical administration of the Romish faith, under the jurisdiction of Sestrentsevitch, archbishop of Moghilev, of the Romish church, it is to be prescribed to the said archbishop, that he should without delay transmit to the senate the reports required respecting the Romish monasteries contained in those places; for which purpose, the oukase is transmitted to the said archbishop, and in like manner it is made known to count Platow Alekcandrovitch Zouboff, general of artillery, governor general of Ekaterinoslav, Vosnesensk and Favretchev, and Knight of several orders; to Peter Petrovitch Passek, general in Chief, governor generel of White Russia, as also to the governors of Kiev and Tchernigov. The original signed, Chief Secretary, Yavery Litinsky; Secretary, Sergei Podobiedov; Honorary Counsellor, Paul Ikosoff.

(A true translation)

September 27, 1795.

BARA NICOLAY.

« AnteriorContinuar »