Evangelický církevní řád z Velkého Meziříčí jako podklad integračních snah moravských evangelíků z konce 16. století

The study compares an undated text of an evangelical church ordinance found in the archive of the town of Lipník nad Bečvou probably from the beginning of the 1590s with a church ordinance that was created at an assembly of the evangelical nobility and clergy in Velké Meziříčí in October 1576, the final version of which was printed in Frankfurt an der Oder in 1581 and 1584. These textually very similar sources were studied in the context of integration attempts of Moravian evangelicals that took place in the last third of the 16th century and were meant to lead to a creation of a unified evangelical religious organization for the entire land. The study follows engagements of individual actors in these attempts, the basis of which was the church ordinance from Velké Meziříčí. It focusses especially on the role of the evangelical nobility that was involved in the making of the order from Velké Meziříčí and subsequently strove to disseminate it. It also discusses support the evangelical nobility and clergy sought for their activities in the Holy Roman Empire. In conclusion, the study attempts to answer the question as to why all these attempts to constitute a supraregional evangelical religious organization in Moravia failed. The study is based on evangelical sources and on the study of written documents by their catechismal opponents from among the Catholics and the Unity of Brethren.