Johannes Maletius (Jan z Sącza) / Jan Malecki

ca. 1482: born in Nowy Sącz in the kingdom of Poland

1522 - 1528 Printer in Cracow

1536 Moves to Royal Prussia, afterwards the Duchy of Prussia. Conversion to the Protestant faith

1537 Appointed by the Duke of Prussia to the post of parson and archpriest of Lyck (Ełk)

1546 Prints a Polish version of Luther's small catechism

1546 Letter to the rector of Königsberg University, Georg Sabinus, on the religious life of the old Baltic peoples, the "Liven" and "Prußen". He is thereby a pioneer in academic research into the ancient peoples of Prussia

1552 His Polish translation of the New Testament is printed

1567 His own work "Repetitio corporis doctrinae prutensiae"

1567 Johannes Maletius (Jan z Sącza) dies in Lyck (Ełk)

The opening lines of “De Russorum religione, ritibus nuptiarum, funerum, victu, vestitu” by Johannes Maletius (Jan z Sącza / Jan Malecki) , 1582

Source: Biblioteka Narodowa

In a letter dated 24th of December 1537 to Bishop Paul Speratus, Duke Albrecht of Prussia expressed his dissatisfaction with the new archpriest of Lyck in the Duchy of Prussia near the border of the kingdom of Poland, in the following terms. "He has failed to obtain complete security in the new church doctrine". The bishop was only too aware of this fact. Nevertheless in reality the person referred to, Johannes Maletius (Jan z Sącza), had completely different important qualities. Maletius spoke German, Polish, Latin, Czech and Ruthenian. Bishop Paul Speratus of Pomesanien was, amongst others, responsible for the southern part of Prussia, but like many of the leaders of the Prussian Church he spoke no Polish. Without Maletius he would have been unable to perform his duties. Thus Maletius became an important promoter of the Reformation for Polish-speaking citizens in Prussia.

Adam Gusowski, December 2013