Ruše Latin School

In 113 years, 6,600 students attended the school, including more than 300 locals. The school experienced a special boom during the directorship of a local priest, Luka Jamnik. Thanks to him, theatre plays took place in the area in front of the church on "Ruška Nedelja", a holiday of the Ruše parish, at the beginning of September, which marks the beginning of the rich cultural development of Ruše.

Religious plays in Ruše HOC ANNO (in this year) 1680, a theatre stage was made from various greenery in the cemetery, on which, in the afternoon hours, on September 14, local actors staged a play for the first time in honour of the mighty protector of Ruše, Mary. (record in the Ruška Cerkvena Kronika, 53b)

Religious plays were closely connected with the Latin school (which existed here from 1645 to 1760) and were first introduced during the period when that school reached its peak. They were organized by Luka Jamnik, pastor and headmaster of this school at the time. After his death, these games were continued by his successors for almost half a century. Typically, they marked the end of the school year. The performances were likely modeled after Jesuit school plays, and it is also possible that they were inspired by Benedictine school plays. The plays were primarily intended for pilgrims who came to Ruše in large numbers during this time, especially on the so-called Ruše Saturday or Sunday, i.e., the first Sunday after Little Marian (Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on September 8), celebrating the Virgin Mary name. The content of these plays was mostly selected to honor the Virgin Mary. The text of these plays was probably in Latin (as a Latin exercise for the students of the school). Undoubtedly, however, excerpts in the Slovenian vernacular were inserted into the Latin text, especially in the comedic scenes. In addition to German, Slovenian was introduced at the Latin school, at least in the first grade. 

For the year 1700, the chronicler reports about a certain poem that was recited in German on the stage on the Sunday when the anniversary of the church's consecration was celebrated. On Ruše Saturday, this poem was repeated in Slovenian in front of a very large audience.