The Fathers’ of the Church Attitude towards Representatives of Marine Professions

Juliusz Jundziłł

Abstract

The present author shows an attitude of the Fathers of the Church towards the people of marine professions. In his previous articles he took up the question of captains-steersmen, who were very respected for their knowledge and competence. This time he writes about sailors, oarsmen (remiges), fishermen, merchants and ship owners. The Fathers of the Church didn’t ascribe too much prestige to sailors for their hard and messy work, their poverty and peculiar way of life and behavior. They condemned also ship owners and merchants for making profits on the sea trade and exposing the sailors to danger. But some Fathers wrote friendly about seamen, about their courage, solidarity and care for travellers. On the other hand, the Fathers thought highly of fishermen, comparing them with farmers. Generally, it seems, that the tradition of ancient literature exerted decisive influence on the opinion of the Fathers of the Church on these professions.