Jan Maria Michał Kowalski (1871–1942) – Leader of the Mariavite Church in Poland. Outline of the Issues

The article presents the activities of Jan Maria Michał Kowalski and rates his importance as the leader of the Mariavite Church in Poland. Kowalski was the main ideologist of the church and its reformer. He engaged in publishing activities and initiated the publication of Mariavite press. He published his own translations of the Holy Scripture and other religious texts into Polish. He engaged in charitable activities. However, Kowalski’s merits were overshadowed by criminal cases, including sexual offences against minors. The introduction contains methodological explanations, a historical outline and a characterization of Mariavitism as an originally Polish confession that began in 1906. The following parts present a biographical outline and activities of Kowalski, his reforms and court trials. It was stated, among others, that Kowalski played the most important role in the development of Mariavitism and he had the greatest influence on the form of the Mariavite press. Kowalski’s achievements also consist in increasing the role of the Polish language in liturgy, in religious texts, as well as in his writing and publishing activities. On the other hand, traces of authoritarianism were evident in his actions.