EN
In the middle ages, the mendicant order of Augustinians built four monasteries in the area of modern Slovakia, located on relatively compact territory in the historical regions of Spiš and Šariš - in Veľký Šariš, Hrabkov, Bardejov and Spišské Podhradie. Two monasteries were in smaller towns - oppidum (Veľký Šariš and Spišské Podhradie), while one was built in a larger town - civitas (Bardejov). The monastery in Hrabkov was situated in a rural environment. All of these monasteries were barely a day’s journey away from each other. This study will try to answer following questions: What was the mission of these monasteries? What function did they perform? How did they fulfil their mission to spread the Gospel? What role did their affiliation play in their foundation? The main objective will be to clarify the particular assignment of the individual priorates. It seems that it was not just about pastoral duties; otherwise a monastery would not have been built in rural Hrabkov. What then was their function?