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Jerzy Łojko
On the Cistercian Obituaries from Greater Poland
as Sources to Conduct Research on the Composition
of Order Bodies at the Turn of the 19th Century
Abstract
Monastic obituaries are a valuable historical source. They almost synthesize the histories of many
abbeys, by presenting their clientelism and prayer relations. The revival of the studies on this
particular source, inspired by the achievements of the school of professor Tellebach, the edito
rial work of Monumenra Poloniae Historica (Z. Kozłowska Budkowa, K. Jasiński, K. Maleczyński)
and the most recent publications (K. Oliński, K. Witkowski) are an inspiration to finally take in
terest in numerous obituaries, which, in majority, were written in the 18th century.
The author of this article profoundly analyzed the obituaries from the Cistercian monas
tery in Bledzew (near Gorzów Wielkopolski) and the hand-written books on the profession,
published monastic and diocesan schemes, and other resources comprising information which
makes it possible to create a critical commentary and to explain the proce 72