Original scientific paper
Šimun Kožičić's conception of the liturgic language
Anton Benvin
Abstract
Šimun Kožičić's conception of the liturgic language
Šimun Kožičić Benja (around 1460-1536) from Zadar, bishop of Modruš or Krbava (form 1509 till his death) was a prominent figure in the public and cultural life of Croatia at the begining of the sixteenth century. By his merit a glagolitic printing-office was set up in Rijeka, where, in less than a year, six books have been printed (autumn 1530 till the end of may 1531: 1. Oficij rimski - 2. Misal hrvacki - 3. Knižice krsta - 4. Knižice odь žitiê rimskih arhierêovь i cesarovь - 5. Knižice odь bitiê redovničkoga - 6. Psaltir). As the publishing program systematically made changes in the given text "correcting" it, the following question arises: What was Kožičić's conception of the "liturgic" language"?
Having confirmed the different meanings of that concept throughout history and remembering the dramatic tenision concerning the language of service in the work of Konstantone-Cyrille and Methodius as well as the repercussions such views on the Glagolitic phenomenom in Croatia (from the tenth century on), the analysis of Kožičić's approach shows that he considered the "liturgic language" to be live, dynamic and developing. He thought that what was no longer in use and unintelligible had to be abandoned and replaced by better. Š. Kožičić reasoned that the liturgic language should not be a dead language, but the modern language of everyday usage. These ideas are in accordance with the original Cyrillo-Methodian vision. Following these ideas he named the most important book of his production and the most important book of the Catholic liturgy in general Missal hrvacki (Croatian Missal). Kožičić's ideas were correct and his aims and intentions were high, but his results were not quite so high. Some of our lingvists (I. Berčić, I. Broz, V. Jagić, Vj. Štefanić and others) have criticized his work, but his work has not yer been completely and thoroughly studied and a final opinion about his courageous and delicate mission will be possible only after a complete research of hs work.
Although he remained a pionir who did not have many followers he is an important historic figure because he did not accept the existing state of art and he instinctively craved for the better, investing in his endeavourings his means, his name and his respect. He was a predecessor of the modern conception of "liturgic language" and he forshadowed important reforms on an international scale.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
14588
URI
Publication date:
30.9.1984.
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