Modernization Through Occidentalization: Combining Eastern Traditions and Western Influences in Basilian Monasteries in Eighteenth-Century Poland-Lithuania

Abstract

This article analyzes the mechanisms and extent of artistic Occidentalization in Basilian monasteries in eighteenth-century Poland-Lithuania. The prominent Basilian Order was the sole monastic community within the Uniate (Greek Catholic) Church, which merged Byzantine traditions and Tridentine Catholicism. The study makes use of digital humanities research tools: data gathering, analysis, and visualization were done in Nodegoat, GIS, and Gephi. Thanks to the substantial corpus of sources, it was possible to analyze the presence of various Eastern and Western features in all 188 monasteries. Basilian monasteries underwent numerous changes over time as they began to deviate from the model of their medieval forebearers. New monasteries appeared in urban areas rather than remote locations as had been the case in the past, and the monastery complexes them-selves changed in appearance. The church, for example, no longer had to be oriented to the east. The most significant alterations, however, could be seen in the church interior. Inspired by Roman Catholic churches, Basilians introduced numerous side altars, pulpits, confession-als, benches, and choir lofts with organs. The iconostasis, a distinctive feature of a Byzan-tine-rite interior, was creatively remodeled to include side altars, sculptures, and frescoes instead of icons, or it was amalgamated with the main altar altogether. Conversely, the introduction of Western traditions seems to have scarcely influenced the selection of patron saints for churches and altars. These changes, however, took place gradually and were not uniform across all locations, thereby underscoring the importance of regional variations within the Basilian Order. The article argues that these aforementioned changes were not part of a process of ideological Catholicization; rather, they stemmed from pragmatic decisions to modernize the Uniate Church in order to facilitate its growing pastoral and educational activities.