One versus three Antonio Possevino and Antitrinitarians in Transylvania

Abstract

Alongside Lutheranism and Calvinism, even more radical forms of Protestantism emerged in the 16th century, such as Antitrinitarism, which attacked fundamental Christian beliefs. However, neither Catholic, nor Protestant states welcomed heterodox views, so their proponents were forced to flee to the East, building their own churches in Poland and Transylvania. In the western parts of the continent they were largely unknown, so when the first representatives of the Counter-Reformation arrived, they were confronted with a new, obscure foe. Antonio Possevino, an important figure of the Catholic Reformation, wrote a lengthy polemic book against Antitrinitarism based on his own experiences. Possevino’s work outlines the history of Antitrinitarism, summarizes its doctrines, and refutes its most important book, De falsa et vera unius Dei […] cognitione. It was only published in 1586, after a heated debate between Possevino, his Jesuit censors, and the pope, and it was printed in three cities at the same time with different titles and prefaces. This history outlines some tactics of the Catholic Reformation, with a focus on the importance of printed books.