Rac(C)ovian Catechism

Rac(c)ovian Catechism was a Polish Protestant compilation stating the different articles of the Slavic Reformers. It was published in 1605 at Racova, a city in the Polish palatinate Sandomir, which owed its origin to the Reformer John Sieminsky, and by his son's (Jacob) acceptance of the Socinian doctrines became the headquarters of this branch of the Polish Reformed Church. Racova became the seat of a theological school. The general synods were held there, of which those of 1580 and 1603 are of historic importance; and, the printing of the Socinians being done there, the catechism came to be known as the Raccovian. It was prepared by Schmalz, Morkorzowsky, and Volkel, and was based on the theological writings of F. Socinus. A Latin edition was published in 1609, dedicated to King James I. of England; a German edition in 1608, dedicated to the Wittenberg University. In 1818 Rees made an English version of the Raccovian Catechism An abridgment was published in Polish and German in 1605, 1623; and in 1629 in Latin. See Krasinski, Hist. of the Ref. in Poland, ii, 370; Gieseler, Eccles. Hist. vol. iv; Mosheim, Eccles. Hist. vol. iii; London, Divinity of Christ (see Index); Farrar, Critical Hist. of Free Thought, p. 391; Waterland, Works, vol. vi; Hallam, Intr. to Hist. of Lit. i, 554; ii, 335. (J. H. W.)