Kornél Nagy

Between Lwów and Rome: Armenians in Transylvania and Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Lwów (1681-1691)

Introduction

Between lwów and rome: armenians in transylvania and armenian catholic archeparchy of lwów (1681-1691). Explore the Armenian Catholic church union in Transylvania (1681-1691) and the Lwów Archeparchy's role, critically analyzing previous works with new archival sources.

Abstract

In 1988, the renowned Polish-Armenian church historian Gregorio (Grzegorz) Petrowicz published a book in Italian about the history of the Armenian Catholic Archbishopric (1686-1954) in Lwów (Lemberg; now Lviv, Ukraine). In his book, he dedicated a subchapter to the church-union of Armenians in Transylvania in the late 17th century, principally based on the documents kept at the Historical Archive of the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of Faith (Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide) in Rome. At the same time, the scholarship has analyzed this book critically during the past two decades, and unfortunately, his subchapter proved to be very sketchy and poorly elaborated. His argumentations, however, regarding the history of the Armenians in Transylvania were based upon old, obsolete books published in the 19th and 20th centuries. Therefore, my article also deals with this problem from an ecclesiastical-historical perspective concerning the church-union of the Armenians in Transylvania. Furthermore, my study also aims primarily at analyzing the role of the Armenian Catholic Archiepiscopacy in Lwów in creating the process of the church-union of the Armenians in Transylvania in the years 1681- 1691. With regards to the methodology of my article, it is mere critical analysis focusing upon the incomplete as well as newly discovered manuscript sources kept in archives in Armenia, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and the Vatican.

Review

This article promises a critical re-evaluation of a pivotal period in the history of the Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Lwów and the Armenian community in Transylvania. Building upon, and significantly correcting, the work of Gregorio Petrowicz, the author aims to provide a more accurate and detailed account of the church-union process between 1681 and 1691. The focus on the interaction "Between Lwów and Rome" highlights the complex ecclesiastical and political dynamics at play, particularly concerning the role of the Lwów Archeparchy in shaping the religious landscape of Armenians in Transylvania during this crucial decade. A key strength of this study lies in its rigorous methodological approach and its commitment to extensive archival research. The abstract explicitly states that the article will move beyond "old, obsolete books" by critically analyzing existing incomplete sources and incorporating "newly discovered manuscript sources." The impressive list of archives – spanning Armenia, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Romania, and the Vatican – suggests a comprehensive and multi-perspectival investigation. This wide-ranging primary source base is essential for rectifying previous scholarly deficiencies and is likely to yield fresh insights into the intricate ecclesiastical-historical problem of the church-union. This research holds significant potential to enrich our understanding of Armenian ecclesiastical history and the broader religious landscape of early modern East-Central Europe. By providing a more nuanced and evidence-based account of the Armenian Catholic Archeparchy of Lwów's role in Transylvania, the article promises to challenge established narratives and fill a notable gap in scholarship. Its critical engagement with existing historiography, combined with its ambitious archival scope, positions this study as an important contribution to the fields of church history, Armenian studies, and regional history, offering a vital corrective to previous, underdeveloped accounts.

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