Data Novakovicziana retractata

Abstract

Rad ukazuje na problem datovanja prvorazrednog dokumenta za srpsku književnu i kulturnu istoriju prve polovine XVIII stoleća, Slovo o pohvalah i polzje nauk svobodnih Dionisija Novakovića, i na osnovu raspoloživih podataka koji su neupitni, pre svega onih, do sada neprimećenih, koji se nalaze u tekstu samoga dela, kao sigurno rešenje predlaže datum 9. (20) decembar 1742. godine. Preispituje se i veza između početka rada Akademije u Petrovaradinskom Šancu i proiznošenja ove besede i za prvi događaj se utvrđuje da se zbio pre i nezavisno od ove besede, 1741. godine.

The paper offers a resolution of disagreements that exist in the literature concerning the date when prominent Serbian educationalist of the first half of the 18th century Dionisije Novaković (c. 1705-1767) delivered his Speech on the Reputation and Usefulness of Liberal Sciences. The dating in previous researches rang from 1737 to 1744. It is very important to know when this work was created because it has a peculiar position in the history of Modern-Age Serbian literature as the first Serbian academic speech and manifesto of 18th century Serbian education. Very accurate dating of this work is possible due to information given in it by the author himself. First, in the very title it is indicated that the speech is delivered at the feast of The Conception of Mother of God. It is celebrated in the Orthodox Church on the 9th of December, in the new calendar (in the 18th century) on December 20th. The year of addressing this speech is indicated in its text in twice told author's declaration that he has been at the same place - the Habsburg Monarchy - for five years. The problem is to determine terminus a quo - when Novaković came to the Monarchy - as it is also controversial. Starting from the facts that Novaković completed his education in Kijev until the summer of 1737, but that he couldn't extend his stay there because he had already been required to come to the Monarchy to teach at the grammar school in Sremski Karlovci, and finding that school in the state of disorganization he became the teacher in the grammar school of bishop Visarion Pavlović in Petrovaradinski Šanac, as well that he had got this appointment enough before he gave his first known sermon there, which is dated May of 1738 - only sensible conclusion is that Novaković came up to the Monarchy until the end of 1737. Consequently he delivered his Speech on the Reputation and Usefulness of Liberal Sciences at the end of 1742, five years later, at the aforementioned feast. The text of this speech also helps to elucidate when Philosophical-theological academy in Petrovaradinski Šanac founded by Novaković started its work, which is not established with certainty, although it is an important date in the Serbian history, because this Academy was the first Serbian modern higher school. There are no indications in the speech that it was delivered on the occasion of opening the Academy - as some researchers claim - for it is not presented as a novelty. It was apparently opened a year before, because Novaković began writing the text-books for this Academy 1741.