Z dziejów badań nad reformacją w Polsce. Czasopismo „Odrodzenie i Reformacja w Polsce” i jego długoletni redaktor Janusz Tazbir

From the perspective of the celebration of the 500th anniversary of European Reformation symbolized by Martin Luther’s public plea, the author undertakes a synthetic assessment of studies on Protestantism in Poland with special emphasis on the journal “The Renaissance and Reformation in Poland” and the research and organizational achievements of its long-time editor-in-chief Janusz Tazbir (1927-2016). The journal provided inspiration for studies on denominational relations in the age of the Reformation and Counter-reformation not only in Poland. It continued after the Second World War the traditions of research on Protestantism in Old Poland, which had been begun after Poland regained independence by its excellent predecessor, the periodical “Reformation in Poland”. The high standard of the journal is to be largely credited to the personality of Professor Janusz Tazbir, who in the second half of the 20th century dominated the study of confessional transformations in Poland. At the same time he was also a historian of impressive scholarly achievements both as an analyst and synthetist, the author of works of lasting significance. His approach inspired the younger generation to tackle new topics and attempt to verify previous assertions from the history of Catholicism and Protestantism, various forms of interconfessional confrontations and the problem of religious tolerance.