Socinian schools

Socinian schools (социніянські школи; sotsyniianski shkoly). Educational institutions founded in Ukraine by the Socinians. The schools existed from the end of the 16th to the first half of the 17th century. The most significant of the schools was in Kyselyn ([Kysylyn] now in Volhynia oblast); it was founded in 1612. Attempts were made to have it reorganized as an academy. Other well-known schools were in Hoshcha, Liakhivtsi, and Cherniakhiv. The program of study placed great emphasis on the development of rational thought, mathematics, philosophy, rhetoric, Latin, and anti-Catholic polemics. Protestant scholars and publicists, such as O. Kysil, M. Tverdokhlib, P. Stehman, and Stefan Nemyrych, taught in these schools. The schools were closed in 1658 after the Socinian sect was banned by the Polish Sejm.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 4 (1993).]