Ivashko R. The Lviv Latin Archdiocese in the Union Processes with Eastern Christianity in 1410s – 1460s

In essence, place of the clergy and faithful of the Lviv Latin Archdiocese and subordinated to the Archbishops-Metropolitans of Lviv dioceses with cathedras in Lutsk, Kholm, Przemyśl, Baia, Kamianets and Kyiv in relation to Eastern Christians was to protect and spread the Latin doctrines of faith and culture. In this way, the Latin prelates organized jubilee celebrations, anti-Hussite and anti-Ottoman crusades, conducted diplomatic, inquisitorial and fiscal services, preached the truths of the faith to Eastern Christians, apparently, by attempting conversions, and cared for temples. They had governmental support in the Crown of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in this. In general, the history of interfaith relations in the Lviv Latin Archdiocese includes examples of conversions, tolerance, confrontation, loss and preservation of church property, interfaith alliance of the nobility to protect their rights, involvement of Christians in anti-Ottoman crusades to rescue Constantinople. The implementation of the Church Unions at the highest hierarchical level opened the prospect of establishing aurea mediocritas – “golden mean” – between proselytism, which was followed by Latin clergy of the Archdiocese, and tolerance. An important achievement in this direction was the royal permission of King Władysław III for functioning of parishes of the Eastern rite in the possession of the Jagiellonians, alongside with the ecclesiastical structures of the Latin Church according to the interfaith understanding in Florence. At the same time, in relation to Eastern Christians, there was a departure from the name “schismatics” and a reference to a softer definition – Christians of the Eastern, Greek rite. Moreover, given the growing threats from the Ottomans and Moscow, the Holy See tried to preserve the importance of cathedras of the Eastern Rite in Halych and Kyiv.