REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

Florentin OLTEANU et al.: Zsuzsanna Lorántffy, Comenius and Fagaras School 411
Zsuzsanna Lorántffy and the Romanian school from Fagaras
Consistent, the educated Princess continued the school policy in Fagaras, applying ideas
of the prestigious Jan Amos Comenius. The school was founded by the certificate degree
in April 3rd, 1657, after having made known the plan to the Romanian Leaders in and
Fagaras, and they promised with enthusiasm that " they will also offer their aid to this
holy and divine thing."
The school opened in the summer of 1657, and it brought a new spirit: a systematic
organization, a detailed study plan, meeting all requirements and operating conditions, the
premises of maintenance, the teachers, the students and their duties, rights and inspection, all
were established by a regulation whose content deserves to be known, not only because it
presents documentary importance, but also an indication of high cultural and educational level.
Our purpose is not to do a comprehensive study on the Romanian school founded in
1657 in Fagaras by Zsuzsana Lorantffy, but we want to mention some ideas that went
beyond the limits of time thinking and anticipated future requirements, two of which are
highly suggestive:
- "Romanians should have a special house both for teachers and for learners, and
auditorium and a separate courtyard, which through a common door people can meet,
those who are obliged to live in harmony with one another otherwise they will be
punished by masters”.
It should be the same for the Hungarian School "(see chap. I, art. 2 of Degree);
-„The Hungarian master take good correspondence, as friends of the same dominion
and both live together in harmony with their students as well, for that neither Romanians
from the Hungarian part, nor Hungarians from the Romanian part should have no
offense. Otherwise, they will be punished by their masters or magistrates according to
their fail "(see chap. II," On the master (teacher) Romanian Article 5 ".
We present as it followsthe script from the Certificate of April the 3rd, 1657, after the
Romanian translation made by Professor John Lupas:
,, I, Susana Lorantffy, widow of His Highness Lord, George Rakoczi, by the Grace of
God once prince of Transylvania, ruler of the Hungarian regions and the Szekley county
We let every one know by this letter and especially our honored and glorified Lord John
Kemeny of Gyergjomonostor, senior captain of Fagaras, our prefect now and in the
future, our judges of the court, chief magistrates, and all rulers from Fagaras , to rich
people, deans and priests in the present and the future, that we who know and reckon that
our chief duty is to defend and spread the religion and to preserve the public good,
considering the great ignorance is kept among the Romanian nation all over Fagaras
county, both common people and the nobles, and even those who would be indebted to
teach. Besides, being asked by the most enlightened persons, by Christian mercy I
ordered to stand here in Fagaras town, for their good future, a Romanian school with
teachers and learners of need, with all supplies needed for maintenance. For its
organization and leadership, I stated some laws by our subjects skilled in these things,
offering them and to the Romanian Leaders in Fagaras, they received those laws with
great joy after promising that they as well will assist to this holy and divine work. "