Gediminas' decree

Gediminas' decree, issued by Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania around 1320, was a formal proclamation that granted specific privileges to Black Ruthenian (Eastern Slavic) and other Eastern Orthodox populations within Lithuania. It assured religious freedoms and protected their rights, encouraging them to settle and support the Lithuanian state. This decree helped foster peaceful coexistence between Orthodox and Catholic communities, promoting stability and growth in a diverse territory. Essentially, it was a legal guarantee that allowed different religious groups to practice their faiths with autonomy, strengthening the unity and development of medieval Lithuania.