Horvat, Irina Liuba: Icoane din colecţia Muzeului Judeţean Satu Mare (Satu Mare, 2014)
Introduction
The Imperial Diploma is being kept in two versions, Latin and Romanian, dated on June 8, 1761 (doc. 114). Considering that a letter sent from Vienna arrived in Máriapócs, in about 16 days, this means that at the end of June 1761 Olsavszky had the required official document to undertake visitations.130 Canonical visitation of parishes of Satu Mare county made by the Bishop Olsavszky started on August 23, 1761131 and held until September 14, 1761, with the following itinerary: Ciumeşti, Sanislău, Resighea, Andrid, Dindeşti Irina, Portiţa, Vezendiu (August 24, 1761), Tiream, Ghenci, Sânmiclăuş, Istrău, Pişcari, Terebeşti, Mădăras, Tătăreşti, Lipău, Pomi (representatives from Valea Vinului, Roşiori, Borleşti), Ardusat (representatives from Fărcaşa, Sârbi, Tămaia, Buzeşti, Bicău, Săcălăşeni, Aciua, Arieşu de Câmpie), Mocira (representatives from Recea, Satu Nou de Sus, Satu Nou de Jos, Chechiş, Groşi), Satu Nou de Sus (representatives from Dumbrăviţa, Rus, Bontăeni, Cărpiniş, Şurdeşti, Ocoliş, Dăneşti, Şişeşti, Unguraş, Tăuţii de Sus, Firiza, Ferneziu), royal city of Baia Mare132 (representatives from Ferneziu, Chinuzbaia, BaiaSprie), Cicârlău (representatives from Băiţa, Tăuţi Măghereuş, Buşag, Merişor, Bârgău, liba), Seini, Apa, Satu Mare (representatives from Cărăşeu, Culciu Mare, Apateu, Ruşeni, Odoreu, Botiz, Peleşu Mare, lank (Hungary), Petea, Vetiş), Doba (representatives from Sătmărel, Boghiş, Moftinu Mic, Domăneşti), city ofCarei, where he was welcomed by the Romanians and Ruthenians in the city.133 Such an event generally had the following routine: the bishop was welcomed by villagers, then in procession, with icons, banners etc. he was accompanied him to the church of the village where the decree of Maria Theresa from June 8, 1761 was read, Bishop was usually holding a speech, in general based on the document sent to the people of Satu Mare.134 And then those who were present swore allegiance to Bishop Olsavszky and that they will remain in union with the Church of Rome. We observe that the villages on the south of the county that had the more important actions against the union, each of them had been visited individually by the bishop, he thus ensuring the faith and obedience of the inhabitants. However not all residents had reacted to please the bishop. At Dindeşti there were still 2-3 remained faithful to sofronian doctrine. At Vezendiu someof the villagers didn’t welcome the bishop,the villagers of la Mădăras, Tătăreşti, Seini didn’t wait for him in procession, claiming it was a working day.135 We know for fact that on September 14 the Bishop was inCarei where he received a letter sent by Count Antal Károlyi from Pest on August 30, 1761.136 One of the most obvious consequences of the events of the years 1760-1761 was undoubtedly of the increasing number of vacant parishes especially in Satu Mare county. The list of 1762 proves the existence of a large number of vacant parishes: District of Satu Mare: (Noroieni, Băbăşeşti, Potău, Someşeni, Atiba (?) Pişcari, Doba; District of Codru (Chilia, Homorodu de Sus, Solduba, Medişa, Hodişa, Stâna); District of Borleşti (Valea Vinului, liba, Mestu (?); District of Oaş (Prilog, Trip, Călineşti); District of Baia Mare (Baia Mare, Chechiş, Şindreşti, Pezreifalu(?).137 What did suddenly happen Ibidem, dos. 1708. 131 Ibidem, dos. 1711, f. 20 v. 132Mihail Olsavszky writes to loan Branics On Septembrie 4, 1761 from Baia Mare (Nagy Banya ex visit) cf. Ibidem, dos. 1731, f. 3. 133Ibidem, dos. 1711, f. 20v. mlbidem, dos. 1694, f. 1-10. Se intitula: ’’Interogate de Semitis antiquis, quae sit via bona et ambulate in ea: et invemetis refrigerium animabus vestris”. 135Ibidem, dos. 1711, f. 17-20v. 136Ibidem, dos. 1714. 137Ibidem, dos. 1795, f. 1-2. 29
