Święci jako patronowie obiektów sakralnych w państwie zakonnym w Prusach – na przykładzie miast

The author discusses the medieval practice in the State of the Teutonic Order of placing sacral objects, especially parish and monastic churches, cathedrals and hospital chapels, under patronage of selected saints. Though there was nothing exceptional about it in the Christian Europe, the choice of saints, dependent on their particular traits and popularity, is interesting. Among the most popular ones were, of course, the Holy Virgin Mary, venerated especially by the Cistersians and Dominicans, St George, St John the Evangelist and St Nicholas – the latter being the patron of merchants and sailors. It may be safely said that local cults correlated to a large degree with the presence or absence of particular religious orders in the area, with their preferences as to the patronage of certain saints over others. One of the most widely known saints in Europe was undoubtedly St James, especially along the popular pilgrimage route from Prussia to Santiago de Compostella. St Adalbert of Prague also deserves special mention, especially for his mission and martyrdom in Prussia.