(On the Issues of Terminological Identification in Research on Parishes of the Medieval Kingdom of Hungary in Slovak Medieval Studies)

Abstract: This paper addresses terminological issues in Slovak medieval scholarship related to research on medieval parishes in the Kingdom of Hungary. These problems, which occur to varying degrees in the works of Slovak medievalists, arise from inconsistent and ambiguous Latin terminology in medieval written sources, from its uncritical – sometimes even literal – translation, and from incomplete or inaccurate interpretation. These factors may lead to erroneous assessments of the status of churches within parish structures and of the roles of their administrators.
The paper outlines the problem of the erroneous conflation of two distinct categories: terms denoting clerical orders – such as priest (sacerdos, presbyter) – and terms denoting an ecclesiastical office, primarily that of parish priest. It also highlights the problem of automatically and uncritically equating general Latin terms with canon-law categories of churches within parish structures: ecclesia with a parish church and capella with a filial church or chapel, even though capella was often used to refer to churches that were in fact parish churches. The author emphasizes the need to consider the context in which the term was used and, among the various possible interpretations of capella, pays special attention to revenue-related contexts. The paper points out that the terms capella (or quarta) were used to designate parish churches subject to the so-called “magisterial right,” a specific form of benefice without the cure of souls (sine cura animarum) held by canons – magistri – who received a portion of the tithes, most often the quarter-tithe, as well as other revenues from certain parish churches and their parish priests. This is an issue that has received almost no attention in Slovak medieval studies.
The paper further outlines the terms plebania, plebanus, parochia, ecclesia parochialis, rector, and parochus in relation to the variable status of parishes, parish churches, and their administrators in the medieval Kingdom of Hungary. The author discusses existing interpretations in Slovak medieval studies, on which there is no significant consensus and which tend primarily to associate terms plebania, plebanus with parishes having either exempt status or the right to the full tithe. However, as Hungarian medieval studies has shown, the terms plebania and plebanus were also used for non-exempt parishes and/or for parishes whose parish priests were entitled “only” to a quarter-tithe. Even so, such parishes still enjoyed a privileged status in comparison with others. The author argues that the fundamental prerequisite for the privileged status of these parishes was that they were not burdened by the aforementioned magisterial right. In such cases, although the parson of a non-exempt parish was entitled only to a quarter-tithe, the magister did not receive a share of it. These aspects have not previously been linked. Because the aforementioned terms were used, differentiated, and combined inconsistently in the sources, the author argues that privileged and non-privileged parishes should not be distinguished on the basis of period terminology alone The paper presents cases in which, on the basis of period terminology, it is possible to speak of a privileged parish, as well as cases in which it is not. It also notes that the terms ecclesia parochialis and rector could refer to subordinate churches – the so-called “filial parish churches,” as the author calls them – and to their administrators. The concluding section defines medieval parishes in the strict sense as the lowest-level independent ecclesiastical districts, centred on parish churches that were not dependent on others and administered by parish priests who were not subordinate to other parsons.

Author: Filo, Jozef

DOI: 10.17846/CL.2026.19.1.39-51

Publication order reference:

Mgr. Jozef Filo, PhD.; Constantine the Philosopher University, Faculty of Arts, Institute for Research of Constantine and Methodius’ Cultural Heritage, Štefánikova 67, 949 01 Nitra, Slovakia; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0618-8513, WOS Researcher ID: GRN-7784-2022, SCOPUS Author ID: 57814061500

Source: Konštantínove listy, 2026, vol.: 19, issue: 1, pages: 39-51 (PDF file)

Keywords: CHURCH, CHAPEL, PARISH, PARSON, TERMINOLOGY, SLOVAK MEDIEVAL STUDIES, KINGDOM OF HUNGARY, MIDDLE AGES

Language: SLOVAK

Recommended Citation:
Filo, Jozef. 2026. O problémoch identifikácie pojmov pri výskume farností stredovekého Uhorského kráľovstva v slovenskej medievalistike (On the Issues of Terminological Identification in Research on Parishes of the Medieval Kingdom of Hungary in Slovak Medieval Studies). In Konštantínove listy [Constantine’s Letters] 19/1, 39-51.