| Abstract [eng] |
This thesis examines the Decalogue in Lithuanian catechisms from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries, aiming to reveal similarities among the texts, analyse their structure and linguistic expression, and identify cultural changes related to denomination and historical period. Although the limited previous research on the Decalogue has emphasized the stability of religious texts, this study demonstrates that the Decalogue in the Lithuanian tradition was not static. The research material consists of 30 Decalogue texts: 11 Lutheran, 14 Catholic, and 5 Reformed. The study combines quantitative analysis, carried out using the “Lexos” text analysis program, with qualitative analysis of grammatical forms, vocabulary, and syntax. The automated similarity analysis showed that Reformed texts form a distinct group and are the longest, while Catholic and Lutheran texts are more interwoven, although eighteenth–nineteenth century Lutheran catechisms exhibit greater internal similarity. Qualitative analysis revealed that the greatest similarity among texts is determined not by period, but by confessional affiliation. The formulations of the commandments in Lutheran and Reformed catechisms are more stable than those in Catholic texts. Most Lutheran formulations remained largely unchanged either after the catechism of Martynas Mažvydas (1547) or after that of Gabriel Engel (1722). Similarly, most Reformed formulations became stabilised after the 1653 catechism. In contrast, Catholic texts display greater variability and ongoing revision well into the late nineteenth century. Despite differences between confessions, certain similarities can be observed, as some phrases from Lutheran catechisms were adopted in other traditions. Moreover, catechism texts reflect the social attitudes of their time, particularly gender inequality in the context of family and marriage. The limitations of the study are related to the relatively small corpus and inconsistent orthography of the texts. Future research could expand the scope by including a broader range of sources and texts from later periods. Nevertheless, this study is the first to systematically examine the Decalogue texts in 16th–19th century Lithuanian catechisms, and the obtained results provide a basis for further research in this field. |
