Gonesius, Peter

(Conyza, Goniadzki, Goniondzki), one of the early Unitarians of Poland, was born in Goniadz in 1525. His opposition to the doctrines of the Reformation in the early part of his public career won him the support of the Roman Catholics; but having in 1554 undertaken a journey through Germany and Switzerland, he became imbued with the doctrines of Servetus, and on his return to Poland he rejected all creeds except the Apostles', and openly advocated Unitarianism. He declared himself against infant baptism also. Chiefly through his influence the Reformed Church of Poland was divided in 1565 into two parties, Trinitarians and Unitarians. See Sandii Bibliotheca Antitrin. page 40; Fock, Der Socinanismus (Kiel, 1847); Lukaszewicz, Geshicte d. reformirten Kiraken in Lithauen, 2:69 (Lips. 1848-50); Mosheim, Ch. Hist. 3:228, note 12; Herzog, Real- Encyclop. 5:245; Krasinski, Reformation in Poland (Lps. 1841).