unitarnych

Unitarnych is the Polish term for Unitarians, adherents of Unitarianism, a religious tradition that emphasizes the oneness of God and rejects the doctrine of the Trinity. While Unitarian ideas have appeared in various Christian and non-Christian contexts, in Polish history the term is closely associated with the group known historically as the Polish Brethren or Socinians, who promoted nontrinitarian theology, biblical rationalism, and believer’s baptism, and who sought to interpret Christianity in light of reason.

The name derives from the principle of the unity of God and is rendered in Polish as unitarny for the adjective and unitarnych for the genitive/plural forms.

In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Socinians established the Racovian Academy in Raków and produced key theological works, such as the Racovian Catechism. They formed organized congregations and published tracts that influenced later liberal religious thought. Due to pressure from Catholic and political authorities, many Unitarians migrated during the 17th and 18th centuries to places such as the Netherlands and Transylvania, contributing to the international diffusion of unitarian ideas.

In modern times, Unitarianism has diversified into various religious expressions, including Unitarian churches and the Unitarian Universalist movement. Globally, Unitarians emphasize freedom of belief, the use of reason in religion, and social justice, with congregations ranging from traditional, non-trinitarian churches to more pluralist liberal communities. In Poland, as in other parts of Europe, the historical term evokes the early Socinian heritage and its role in debates about toleration and religious conscience.