In 1587 King Sigismund chose III. He reigned in 1588.

There is almost a whole literature dealing mainly history and stories of this election on this issue. Fact beyond any doubt is the one that the result of these elections contributed much to the Jew settled in Brest (after farmer customs duties and other state taxes in Lithuania) royal servant Saul Yudichev Val.

Son of the famous Rabbi of Padua in Italy, Saul learned in his youth (as was the custom in Italy), various sciences of the time, but wanting to improve and in the teachings of the Talmud, he went to one of Eshibot’s (Jewish seminary or religious Academy of Sciences) in Poland. He got into Brest Eshibot, renowned Talmudic and the Italian believes should be above the Italian, their ram’s (rectors) [Hebrew Text].

Prince Radzivil being then in Italy in Padua and just needed money, he turned to the rich Rabbi (father Saul) with a request to help out loan   /1/ Typical behavior of the then nobles. Prince with the same name and an acquaintance, does not go to Italy to any colleague, Prince, and to the stranger Jew. And he was educated and kind and could not understand that a Jew must be in a hopeless situation, and because it is more extortion than requested. Pride taught insolence, despotism and absence in relation to the Jews. However, this is not the type of, and exclusive feature of most Christians then. , which gratefully {63} return as soon as arrive home. Rabbi granted his request. Struck up a conversation. Rabbi incidentally told that his son was living somewhere in Poland. The prince promised to track him down and took the engraved card Saul. Arriving in Brest, he once said in eshibote young man who learns of Saul. Immediately invited him to talk and found that he was dealing with a scientist and an expert in languages and appointed him as his counselor and companion Diet.

Upon the death of Batory was convened in Warsaw Sejm electors. Nobility was divided into two parties, who were unable to come to an agreement for a long time, whom to choose. And only after the intervention of Saul was chosen Sigmund III.   /1/ So there Brest legend of the one-day reign of Saul in Poland.

Sigmund remember Saul and gave him a big gold moniston (chain) with Brilliant.

Saul built a synagogue in Brest, its gallery or female, eshibot, bath and seven shops. At his request, the rabbis ruled that in Brest should not be more than one bath (mikveh) Saul's house, and her income will go to help his poor relatives for dowry, 50 men and women 100 zlotys.

Saul also had many enemies. From time immemorial, do not like living in luxury and luxury, and do good despotically. Virtue despot intolerable tyranny. Sometimes you have to accept and be silent when such virtue is made from funds collected by what ever the privilege of money from the poor people of the same. Silent and hate. Maybe there is not the best people envy.

It is said that after the death of the queen, the king intended to marry Saul's daughter, but she married another (some rabbi's son) because of jealousy of Saul to the Jewish religion.

Before his death. Saul commanded to sell the necklace and money to the poor.

Bath house of Saul [Hebrew Text] is in Brest and now.

Policy at the time threw the old manners of a surprise attack on the edge that want to win, or even taken away. Entered into a custom action prep, plant enemies in the heart of the quiet edge of the gap and prepare the population. According to the initial education took Rome, to bring the mind to the desired residents. Formed federation. Clergy and other representatives received secret circulars; together with the manual. Are false teaching, suggestion, intrigue, {64} confusion, turmoil, clashes, killing the missionary consul or other official and no longer needed. The rest is done as would be necessary, and ground and naval forces on the feet, his rescue, and happily commit begun. There is still a shadow of shame in people, even when cases wish to give legal form, cover, even though they know that everything is naked and ashamed nobody.

And only some Jews were peaceful in Brest at the time.

Spirit of Orthodoxy diligent effort in Brest. From Moscow to directly receive benefits. According to some historians, there were up to ten in Brest Orthodox churches and two monasteries. And if both sides now, Polish and Russian, each with historical documents, true and dubious prove their advantage, then it was not. Acclimatization and then fight, that was the mode.

And where only the spirit of Orthodox intensified, manifested unprecedented intolerance toward Jews.   /1/ In Vilna, for example, supported the orthodoxy, anticipating the transition town Kopec ends to Russia, in Moscow in advance bustled to and expel Jews from Vilna. They are called the worst ulcer. Said that Russia had not heard about the Jews. They knew that the Jews did not use such an arrangement in Moscow, which they found in the Polish government. V1654, at the request Mogilevsky (Orthodox) citizens, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich ordered all Jews expelled from Mogilev, etc. facts. Russian monuments of antiquity that V. 1872.

Not due to persecution by Sigmund II reformers gusitsizm as Lutheranism spread quickly and strongly, in a short time, and covered the whole of Poland. Also spread to Lithuania. Prince Radzivil patronized Calvinism and Arianism.

Jews clung to their religion without pestering or to any other. And not to be seen (Poles) tried to persuade them to a new religion, especially for political purposes. The Polish government was always a democratic and tolerant, and all attempts of the Jesuits, were weak without the support of the king. Jews in politics were the safest. They are never afraid of the enemy as territorial claims, so they can be without assimilation left alone. Moreover, when other religion as fresh, new and more varied can be sent to another path, one order of the governor, without foreign enemies, the Jews could not be send . Showed that Rome, Spain and Portugal. Religion of the Jews is too old, deep-rooted, so Jews are always a way as to reconcile with her life, despite the terrible distance.

{65}However, trying to find help and the Jews, the treacherous aid, but not in matters of religion. So there was little Jews have fallen into a new religion   /1/ Tajemnice źydowskie (can be Tajeranice Talmuda, can not remember). Lead name (Yuzefovich) Brest rabbi passed into Catholicism. But words pamphleteer no importance is attached. He lies shamelessly. , except some rare, by choice) for personal gain clicked as Yuzefovich etc.

Radzivil requested 17-Pińczów scientists to translate the Bible into Polish, and its cost is printed in Brest in 1563 this Bible in the spirit of the Reformation.   /2/ Then all the Reformed and German influence in Lithuania starts to weaken. However, religious intellectual ferment about the Reformation Luther was still quite strong in Poland and Lithuania. But this Radzivil son (Nicholas), Bishop Yuri Radzivil zealot Jesuits, a devout Catholic, gave large sums to redeem all are copies of the Bible and the May   /3/ Monuments Eng. old. west. lips. Ros. III Vilna. in 1581 from all sides were collected and stacked in a large bonfire in the square in Vilnius and together with other heterodox books were transferred to the flame   /4/ Roman Catholicism in Russia, Tolstoy. .

And such impulses papal supporters had for its aim more politics than religion   /5/ Historya Literatury Polskiej. .

Brest Bible became unheard rarity.

And so it became the center of Brest nasty different currents in different directions, different national aspirations. Brest, on the borders of disputed land was by the very course of history, to become such a center. Jews did not go over. Other people passionately engaged in religious matters and intriguing.

But Sigmund III was a devout Catholic and stricter policies. He has not forgotten that the weakness and indifference in religion, there is a desire of his enemies, that if the church goes, goes out with her and the entire state, when the enemies offer instead of Catholicism or Protestantism, Orthodoxy. We must be firm in the faith of not less than the enemy. This was the slogan then.

Activities of the Jesuits arrived in Poland at that time, found a good soil. Wondered end all directions. But, according to Jesuit. Brakes, all obstacles were put currents. Catholicism prevailed. Orthodox array goes into the union voluntarily. They were the ones who realized that the weak-religion and physical strength should give strong {66} ruling to strengthen peace and harmony in the country. Maybe they were the ones who found the difference between the two churches negligible, not worth a single human life; those who recognized the legitimate rulers; those who have found that to be zealous for the best place, the place of the indigenous religion, and not only where there is freedom of religion, not freedom intrigue.

Vladislav prince expressed his conviction of union:

But rather it is the most common in the history of the assimilation process heterodox inhabitants edge, and before intelligentsia stick that is followed by the representatives of religion and then mass. Formed a kind of Poles Orthodox law, which can not be surprised, though mean their favor, just the difference between the two churches in their belief lost ground under him.

Others, not having any convictions themselves, obey the Priests union.

But other, more strong in faith, or agitation led by Orthodox priests left in Orthodoxy, did not want to abandon the religion of their fathers, and were willing to suffer for it. The Moscow government patronized the movement and found, of course, his faithful spiritual.

Starting religious union was in 1591   /1/ However, from Rome for a long time before it went on the Union (Roman Catholicism in Russia). In Europe found it natural and desirable, firstly because in Europe, almost all then were Papists, and were considered a boon to combine all the churches, and all Slavs into a single state, and secondly, that they were convinced that Russia itself has taken first Catholic Christianity first, but then broke away and went to the Eastern rite of Constantinople. , in June.

{67} That is, first there was no difference between the two churches. It was formed only after the images of the saints (see translation Montesquieu Polenova Petersburg in 1769 in the preface). Himself Montiske Chapter XXII says:

[mixed French and Russian Text]

Montesquieu in his Considerations sur les causes de la grandeur de romain et de leur decadence.

It was followed by other historians. This opinion is also mentioned in "Roman Catholicism in Russia, Count D. Tolstoy," as completely thorough. But we know that the Lithuanian princes since 1413 thought about the union, gussitsizme. Said that the Poles could not even have been ridiculed.

Monuments Vilna v. V page 20 of the lead


script rer. Prus sicar III, 376


the following words about this:

month. Spoken and written even before this one  /1/ Famous Florentine cathedral, where the outcome of this issue. about having to connect to the Catholic Orthodox Church, recognizing the Pope head of the church, but with the performance, however, the Eastern rites. This is the union church. But in 1591, in Brest was the first congress of bishops Podlasie, Volhynia, Chelm Russia and Lithuania. Amounted to the first letter of the union; signed by: Kiril Terletski, Gideon Balaban, Leonti Pelchitsky, Dionysius Zbiruysky. In the charter of the bishops stated willingness to recognize their shepherd dad, if he agrees to leave the Eastern Rite Church, to which people have become accustomed. The report was presented to the king. He agreed.

In Odpowiedź na wydaną za granicą broszurę Vilna 1874 p. III contains a bull of Pope Clement VIII on December 23, 1595 relating to the union, which reads as follows:

That is: All the sacred rites and ceremonies, which are sent to the bishops and clergy Russian statutes sacred liturgy, as well as committing saints required unless they are not contrary to the truth and the teachings of the Catholic faith, and do not exclude dialogue with the Roman church, the same bishops and clergy apostolic grace and allows our reserve.

The role of the union in Brest was not passive, not limited only to those that gave Congress a place for himself. Brest contributed to the union, and persecution against the union. When opened in 1592 in Vilna School of Orthodox brotherhood, there have been invited of professor of Brest. This school, ie fraternity strongly opposed the union and tried hard to thwart her plans. Opposed the introduction of the new calendar, etc. True sons of Orthodoxy in Brest send complaints, denunciations . But Bishop Brest-Vladimir Potiy worked energetically in favor of the union. He had in Brest many ardent devotees of the union .

In 1596, the king called for Congress Brest solemn proclamation and recognition of the union with Rome. Council was held in Brest church of St. Nicholas,   /2/ Kholmskaya Rus Acts. Generally church named St. Nicholas historians usually taken as proof of the existence of the Orthodox element. However, at the same proof P. Batyushkov in Monument Russian antiquities that V. Vilna, page 11 tries to explain that Catholics are rebuilt church, and from there they are. on the former mesge, which is now in the fortress called kindergarten   /3/ Kharkevich. The subject of the meeting, there was no settled rites constitute the main differences between Catholic {68}and Orthodox churches. There was held and an agreement signed. Is also not known what rites remained. Russian historians have recently begun to talk about, except if Uniate congress held in Brest both Orthodox congress   /1/ Kholmskaya Rus 67. Uniate congress were: Metropolitan Ragoza, Bishops Vladimir-Brest Ipatios Potsey, Lutsk - Kiril Terletski, Polotsk - Herman, Pinsky - Gogol, Chelm - Sbiruysky and does archimandrites, three Catholic bishop with nary Jesuits as ambassadors of the Pope, the ambassadors of the king of Polish nobles and others. Orthodox representatives defending Orthodoxy were two patriarchs Exarch Tsaregradskiy - Nicephorus and Alexandria - Cyril Lucaris; Luke Metropolitan veligradsky; Macarius - Archimandrite monastery Simon Peter's holy mountain and still there were some Archpriests priests, monks and many state dignitaries, and between Duke Konstantin Ostrog his son, Alexander, with a detachment of armed men   /2/ Kholmskaya Russia. This army proved hardness orthodoxy ready to defend the life of religion. Army set by the people or the government of the people? Not known. But no blood was spilled. Act took place. , as well as ambassadors from different provinces and fraternities. Historians leading fact that Orthodox Congress with as many representatives and people still there were rumors, disputes, quarrels, said to have been each other even excommunication from the church and a curse. Finally union was signing and bring the expected benefits: an open rupture between the Polish and the Moscow Court, secret intrigues increased and intensified, fierce, wrestling, etc.

In 1597 Ipatios Potsey, first bishop of Vladimir-Brest subsequently Uniate Metropolitan, took places not long before in Brest fraternal Orthodox school, and transformed it into a Uniate   /3/ Kholmskaya Russia. Usually, any church or religious fraternity had their so-called parochial school, sometimes seminary. Only (except Jewish) former school in Brest, every church ascribes to himself. , and a teacher in her determined exported them from Rome scientist Uniates Peter Arkoudi, Greek, educated in Rome.

{69} Completely different way worked Jewish Congress four countries. He worked quietly and peacefully. He was not annoyed with regard to religion, did not affect the nationality. Collected every 2-3 years or more rabbis: Poznan, Cracow, Lvov, Lublin and Brest. Meeting took place on the big fairs. Lithuania subsequently seceded and formed their own congresses three counties: Brest, Grodno and Pinsk. The entire area was subjected to the decisions of the district town. Brest district had 280 towns and villages. Lithuanian congresses established Meer Saulovich Val (he lived like his father in Brest and there was a rabbi). And he was a favorite of King. He may be standing up for the honor of Lithuanian rabbis who have not been properly be dependent on the Polish rabbis who stood below in learning and secular knowledge, why Lithuanian rabbis often appeared before the congress. Maybe that personal vanity Meer led this new step. As a rabbi and an honorary member of the community, he wanted to be, appear in the records of Congress   /1/ He, indeed, and appears in the first minutes of the first Congress in 1623 and Congress in 1628 , which could not before, because there were other representatives from other cities, who presented the first places in the protocols to be signed. The first congress was held in 1623 in the young community were taken after the composition of the Congress. For example, in 1670 in Vilna; Slutsky 1691 Conventions ceased in 1761. For the first signature in the decisions of Congresses Brest Rabbi signature followed other rabbis, then city representatives, before Brest, and then other cities. Between the decisions of the congresses, directly or indirectly related to the city of Brest, both decisive and in fulfilling, wonderful as follows: The Congress 1623: Do not give nonresident shnorreram helps, more than the cost to the nearest town and feed for 1 day. Otherwise have to deal with letters of recommendation from their main district of the city. As part of the Brest district includes: Mezhireche, Voin Yanov, Roshosh, Lomazov, Bela Pischats, Vlodava, Kohden, Slavatichi, High, Amstibov, Kobrin, Gorodets, Pruzany, Malh, Siedlce, Charnavchycy, Kamenetz, Shereshev, Rozhany, Slonim, Dvorec, Nowogrydek, Nesvizh, Slutsk, Minsk, Mogilev and Volyn. Brest Jewish community byl Secretary then Suher Ber   /2/ [hebrew text]

{70} At the congress in 1626 decided to issue annually married 30 poor girls. Brest - 12, Grodno - 10, Pinsk - 8. Every girl giving 30 zloty.

Collects taxes on the Brest district Joel from Brest, what gets 200 zloty, except for travel.

At the congress in 1628 chose representatives to the state of the Sejms, Beyreha Jews from Brest, Isayu of Vilna and grandee of Mordko Lomazov.

Appointed tax farmers taxes across the country for three years Moishe Leyzirovicha from Brest, his sons and companions, they pay in cash the city of Brest 1200, 500 Grodno, Pinsk 400 zloty.

At the congress in 1634: Issue pious Joseph Leyzorovich, a resident of Brest, on a trip to Palestine (expenses) and send annually, 40 thalers him there. Moishe Leyzorovich from Brest Brest wills in favor of the community at all thousand zloty.

On any general misfortune has befallen the Jews on charges in Brest or in another district, by common consent of all three counties, the costs come from the general fold.

At the congress in 1637 57 young Jews put on the cities, where there is a rabbi, to give them to the Talmud Torah (Jewish seminary genus), define them in the service, or to learn the craft. Brest with the county receives -35 young, Grodno - 10, Pinsk - 12.

At the Congress 1639. Meeting costs and receive the king, passing Brest determined: half of the community fund, half of the same offices throughout the country; if you give a gift to the king, the money goes to him solely from the cash community (Brest).

Congresses take place twice in the Brest district, once in Grodno and Pinsk in one turn. The most honorable person at the Congress considered Brest rabbi.

In 1647, the country had different persons Brest zloty 100,000 and 14,000 zloty %. In particular, only one rabbi Brest 1200 zlotyh and 240 zloty %. Brest representatives lenders had bills to 35,040 zloty for representatives of the country. Appointed Srul Abram and Shmul, brestskih nobles charge tributes in the country, to pay off debts.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We followed the Christian population is being complaints for complaints by different priests Brest {71} residents insults, beatings and abduction values   /1/ They do not complain to the Jesuits, to Catholic monasteries on the Catholic clergy, who according to some sources, was taken from the Orthodox Church all the property. Complained about private individuals. But there were many complaints about the union, on the Catholics. Complaints go to the bishop and the Zaporozhye Cossacks were transferred to Moscow. The consequence was an assault complaints Khmelnitsky and Moscow troops and the fall of Poland . So priests known complaints Zacharias, Lagodovskogo and Zhdanovicha (1629) is also a priest Radovskii church; complaint priest Chernavchitskago   /2/ Acts. (1631).

Uniate Church was making progress. For example,   /3/ ibid. 1631 Brest merchant Ivan Dobranovich bequeaths house, his, who was in Brest on near the castle, between houses locksmith Kurinec and Vitchalkovskaya, together with the land and hill, bequeathed all new mortgaged then in Brest Uniate church and monastery Unitarian.

In 1632, King Sigismund of orders  /4/ Acts. that by virtue of the privileges granted to them workshops: barmen, bakers, mechanics and repairers of Brest, Grodskiy court, as well as other authorities, according to the Magdeburg   /5/ Magdeburg law practiced in Germany. When settled in the Polish cities many Germans Magdeburg Law was introduced in many Polish and Lithuanian cities (including Brest). In the beginning, it was granted to the monasteries and from the XIII century and the spiritual name and whole cities. With the difficult issues and important appeals should first apply to the German city of Magdeburg as a higher court, but then broke off this move and solved the problems in the country. In other matters, was canon law, Lithuanian statutes and other. In Magdeburg law found considerable support for the middle class, workshops and even peasants. According to the general laws of the country all the same privileges enjoyed one gentry landowners. D. Tolstoy. Roman Catholicism in Russia, Volume I, page 479-480. Handwörterbuch der Staatswissenschaften глава I. the right to render them every assistance and support and punished not complying with the craft items and rebellious royal privileges.

King adds that this decree, he wanted to show his concern for the welfare of the people.