The Cyril and Methodius Legacy, the Development of the First Slavic Literary Language in the Bulg... more The Cyril and Methodius Legacy, the Development of the First Slavic Literary Language in the Bulgarian Empire, and the translation of the Bible. Slavica Slovaca, 58, 2023, No 2, pp. 179-187 (Bratislava). With broad reference to various sources, the author presents the Cyril and Methodius Slavic Mission and its developments in the contest of the Christianisation of the Slavs and the complicated geopolitics of the Middle Age era. The essay focuses on different phases of the Slavic acculturation process starting with the first translations, including the entire Bible, and original works until to formation of a new cultural memory. The copious early Slavic written production, an overlooked page of European culture history, is considered through the paradigmatic example of Simeon's Miscellany, a collection of texts with the classical tradition of Patristic thought, which intended to offer a series of indispensable tools to understand the Bible and illustrate the traditional doctrine of the Christian East.
THE FIRST DESCRIPTION OF THE BIBLE AND ITS BOOKS IN THE FIRST BULGARIAN EMPIRE
The earliest evide... more THE FIRST DESCRIPTION OF THE BIBLE AND ITS BOOKS IN THE FIRST BULGARIAN EMPIRE The earliest evidence of a description of the Bible is contained in Simeon’s Miscellany, translated in the First Bulgarian Empire on the initiative of Tsar Simeon. This description is based on the writings of John Damascene and Gregory of Nazianzus, who presented the canonical books in their works following an orderly structure, while testifying to the existence of different interpretations and forms in which the Bible circulated in the Christian East. The description can be found in the final part of Simeon’s Miscellany, which arranged as a series of tools for understanding the fundamental concepts of Trinitarian theology and the figurative language of the sacred scriptures, as well as for constructing the Christian chronotope.
Au IXe siècle, deux frères, Cyrille et Méthode, ont été chargés de créer un nouvel alphabet et de... more Au IXe siècle, deux frères, Cyrille et Méthode, ont été chargés de créer un nouvel alphabet et de traduire des textes liturgiques et religieux en slavon, une oeuvre qui a accéléré la christianisation des Slaves.
Ostrožskaja Biblija i razvitie biblejskoj tradicii u slavjan: kollektivnaja monografija / Острожская Библия и развитие библейской традиции у славян: коллективная монография, 2022
On a forgotten copy of the Ostrog Bible in Italy
The paper will present information about a copy ... more On a forgotten copy of the Ostrog Bible in Italy The paper will present information about a copy of the Ostrog Bible conserved in the University Library of Bologna. This hitherto unexamined copy, belonging to the hieromonk of the Derman monastery Lavrentij Korman at the time of Prince Wladysław Dominik Zasławski-Ostrogski and Archbishop Meletii Smotrytsky, contains interesting glosses in various languages. Also noteworthy is a manuscript note in prosta mova, which indicates the year 1642.
Blocco tematico: Leksika slavjanskoj Biblii i ee značenie dlja istorii slavjanskoj rukopisnoj tra... more Blocco tematico: Leksika slavjanskoj Biblii i ee značenie dlja istorii slavjanskoj rukopisnoj tradicii. Lexicon of the Slavic Bible and Its Meaning for the History of Slavic Manuscript Tradition, a cura di M. Garzaniti, T. Afanasyeva, A. Alberti, in “Studi Slavistici”, xix, 1 (2022), pp.169-318 10.36253/Studi_Slavis-13168
Šĭstvujǫ nyně po slědu učitelju. Sbornik v čest na prof. d.f.n. Anna-Marija Totomanova, a cura di T. Slavova, G. Ganeva, M. Totomanova-Paneva, D. Atanasova, Sofija, 2021
Si riflette su quale sia stato l'orizzonte ermeneutico dei fratelli tessalonicesi e dei loro disc... more Si riflette su quale sia stato l'orizzonte ermeneutico dei fratelli tessalonicesi e dei loro discepoli attivi nel primo impero bulgaro e impegnati in una complessa opera di traduzione. Non si trattava soltanto di esporre una tecnica di traduzione o di insegnare dei metodi esegetici, offrendo degli strumenti esegetici fondamentali per la comprensione del messaggio cristiano che aveva raggiunto una forma assai complessa di elaborazione nel suo incontro con la cultura ellenistica e mediterranea. Era necessario soprattutto educare a una sensibilità per i significati più profondi presenti nelle sacre scritture in una concezione sapienziale, che dovremmo definire per certi aspetti mistica, che aveva caratterizzato soprattutto la tradizione dei primi secoli e che aveva avuto nei padri cappadoci e in primo luogo in Basilio di Cesarea un punto di riferimento sicuro.
Slavonic texts and traditions in honour of Catherine Mary MacRobert. Kirilo-Metodievski Studii 31, a cura di S. Nikolova, R. Kleminson, V. Željazkova, M. Dimitrova, Sofija 2021, pp.19-34., 2021
The purpose of this paper is to present the central part of Simeon’s Miscellany containing the Qu... more The purpose of this paper is to present the central part of Simeon’s Miscellany containing the Questions on the Old and New Testaments, primarily the result of the reworking of the so-called Pseudo-Anastasius. In the light of this analysis, it is evident that Simeon’s Miscellany offers a series of tools to illustrate Christian teaching from a Trinitarian perspective at the doctrinal and ethical level through the exegesis of biblical passages that are often difficult to interpret.
Славянское и балканское языкознание. Вып. 21: Палеославистика: Лексикология и текстология. К 100-летию Р. М. Цейтлин. Международная коллективная монография / Институт славяноведения РАН; Отв. ред. В. С. Ефимова. Москва, 2021. С.20-25, 2021
Research by Ralya Mikhailovna Cejtlin about the Lexicon of the Gospel Manuscript Tradition
The s... more Research by Ralya Mikhailovna Cejtlin about the Lexicon of the Gospel Manuscript Tradition
The study briefly illustrates some features of the scholar's research on the lexicon of the Gospel manuscript tradition, emphasizing the role of the Greek text and the distinction between textual and lexical variants.
Rajko Nahtigal in 100 let slavistike na Univerzi v Ljubljani, a cura di P. Stankovska, A. Derganc, A. Šivic-Dular, 2019
R. Nahtigal, Proglas k svetemu еvangeliju (1943). A Proposal for the Textual Reconstruction
Thro... more R. Nahtigal, Proglas k svetemu еvangeliju (1943). A Proposal for the Textual Reconstruction
Throughout the 20th century, some important studies on the Prologue to the Gospels (Proglas) were conducted. The essay written by R. Nahtigal (1943) offers an edition of the short poem in accordance with the various branches of the Eastern Slavic and Serbian manuscript tradition, alongside an accurate reconstruction based on its verse structure, accompanied by a broad and comprehensive philological commentary. At the end, there is a glossary of the reconstructed text which is of particular value. Comparison with subsequent studies and textual analysis highlights the importance of Nahtigal's research around the reconstruction of the Prologue, which is considered to be the first poetic composition in Church Slavonic language.
THE BULGARIAN GOSPEL OF RUSSIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY MS. F.П.I.122 (SECOND QUARTER OF THE 14-TH CENTU... more THE BULGARIAN GOSPEL OF RUSSIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY MS. F.П.I.122 (SECOND QUARTER OF THE 14-TH CENTURY) AND ITS IDENTIFICATION WITH THE EVANGELIUM BUCOVINENSE
The paper proposes and illustrates the identification of the manuscript RNB F.п.I.122 with the Evangelium Bucovinense, studied by V. Jagić, the traces of which were lost in the twenties of the last century. On the textual and lexical level the analysis of some variants in the text of the Gospel of John shows a series of coincidences with the Gospel of Tsar Ivan Aleksandеr, although in many cases interesting readings are observed that are more faithful to the ancient tradition witnessed by Codex Marianus. There is no doubt, however, that even in the Evangelium Bucovinense there are middle Bulgarian variants . In general, the effort to update the older version is clear, taking into account the recent innovations in the Balkan area.
СВ. КЛИМЕНТ ОХРИДСКИ В КУЛТУРАТА НА ЕВРОПА, СОФИЯ, 2018
SLAVONIC BIBLE AND LITURGY AT THE TIME OF CLEMENT OF OHRID
This paper presents some consideratio... more SLAVONIC BIBLE AND LITURGY AT THE TIME OF CLEMENT OF OHRID
This paper presents some considerations on the still open issues concerning the Slavonic translation of the holy scriptures and the liturgical language to better understand the action and work of Clement of Ohrid in the historical and cultural context of his time. In particular, the author points out that Cyrillo-Methodian and Clementine sources show a continuity between the period of his education under the guidance of the Thessalonian Brothers and the years of maturity, even taking into account changes occurring in the transition from Moravia to the Bulgarian empire.
Recent Researchеs in the Field of Slavic Gospel. Some Critical Reflections (1999–2016).
In the la... more Recent Researchеs in the Field of Slavic Gospel. Some Critical Reflections (1999–2016). In the last fifteen years, research on the Slavic Gospel manuscript tradition has reached new and important achievements especially with the spread of computer technology and the digitization process. Taking into account progress in the study of the Greek manuscript tradition, the author explains some basic guidelines: the textual structure of the Gospel book, the Menologion pericopes, theGospel book ornamentation, the new editions. In the end, the main essays on individual manuscripts or particular issues are introduced. The Slavic Gospel, therefore, is still a key issue of Slavic studies in the field of Slavic paleography, textual criticism, and linguistic analysis.
I testi cristiani nella storia e nella cultura. Prospettive di ricerca tra Russia e Italia. Atti del convegno di Perugia – Roma, 2-6 maggio 2006 e del seminario di San Pietroburgo, 22-24 settembre 2009, a cura di S. Boesch Gajano, E. G. Farrugia, S.J., M. Pliukhanova, 2013
L'eredità culturale e letteraria della Rus' e il rinnovamento degli studi della tradizione manosc... more L'eredità culturale e letteraria della Rus' e il rinnovamento degli studi della tradizione manoscritta biblica e liturgica nella Russia contemporanea, in I testi cristiani nella storia e nella cultura. Prospettive di ricerca tra Russia e Italia. Atti del convegno di Perugia – Roma, 2-6 maggio 2006 e del seminario di San Pietroburgo, 22-24 settembre 2009, a cura di S. Boesch Gajano, E. G. Farrugia, S.J., M. Pliukhanova, Roma 2013, pp.53-66
The Gospel Book and its liturgical function in the Byzantine-Slavic tradition, in Catalogue of Byzantine Manuscripts in their Liturgical Context. Subsidia 1. Challenges and perspectives, a cura di K. Spronk, G. Rouwhorst, S. Royé, Turnhout 2013, 2013
The Cyril and Methodius Legacy, the Development of the First Slavic Literary Language in the Bulg... more The Cyril and Methodius Legacy, the Development of the First Slavic Literary Language in the Bulgarian Empire, and the translation of the Bible. Slavica Slovaca, 58, 2023, No 2, pp. 179-187 (Bratislava). With broad reference to various sources, the author presents the Cyril and Methodius Slavic Mission and its developments in the contest of the Christianisation of the Slavs and the complicated geopolitics of the Middle Age era. The essay focuses on different phases of the Slavic acculturation process starting with the first translations, including the entire Bible, and original works until to formation of a new cultural memory. The copious early Slavic written production, an overlooked page of European culture history, is considered through the paradigmatic example of Simeon's Miscellany, a collection of texts with the classical tradition of Patristic thought, which intended to offer a series of indispensable tools to understand the Bible and illustrate the traditional doctrine of the Christian East.
THE FIRST DESCRIPTION OF THE BIBLE AND ITS BOOKS IN THE FIRST BULGARIAN EMPIRE
The earliest evide... more THE FIRST DESCRIPTION OF THE BIBLE AND ITS BOOKS IN THE FIRST BULGARIAN EMPIRE The earliest evidence of a description of the Bible is contained in Simeon’s Miscellany, translated in the First Bulgarian Empire on the initiative of Tsar Simeon. This description is based on the writings of John Damascene and Gregory of Nazianzus, who presented the canonical books in their works following an orderly structure, while testifying to the existence of different interpretations and forms in which the Bible circulated in the Christian East. The description can be found in the final part of Simeon’s Miscellany, which arranged as a series of tools for understanding the fundamental concepts of Trinitarian theology and the figurative language of the sacred scriptures, as well as for constructing the Christian chronotope.
Au IXe siècle, deux frères, Cyrille et Méthode, ont été chargés de créer un nouvel alphabet et de... more Au IXe siècle, deux frères, Cyrille et Méthode, ont été chargés de créer un nouvel alphabet et de traduire des textes liturgiques et religieux en slavon, une oeuvre qui a accéléré la christianisation des Slaves.
Ostrožskaja Biblija i razvitie biblejskoj tradicii u slavjan: kollektivnaja monografija / Острожская Библия и развитие библейской традиции у славян: коллективная монография, 2022
On a forgotten copy of the Ostrog Bible in Italy
The paper will present information about a copy ... more On a forgotten copy of the Ostrog Bible in Italy The paper will present information about a copy of the Ostrog Bible conserved in the University Library of Bologna. This hitherto unexamined copy, belonging to the hieromonk of the Derman monastery Lavrentij Korman at the time of Prince Wladysław Dominik Zasławski-Ostrogski and Archbishop Meletii Smotrytsky, contains interesting glosses in various languages. Also noteworthy is a manuscript note in prosta mova, which indicates the year 1642.
Blocco tematico: Leksika slavjanskoj Biblii i ee značenie dlja istorii slavjanskoj rukopisnoj tra... more Blocco tematico: Leksika slavjanskoj Biblii i ee značenie dlja istorii slavjanskoj rukopisnoj tradicii. Lexicon of the Slavic Bible and Its Meaning for the History of Slavic Manuscript Tradition, a cura di M. Garzaniti, T. Afanasyeva, A. Alberti, in “Studi Slavistici”, xix, 1 (2022), pp.169-318 10.36253/Studi_Slavis-13168
Šĭstvujǫ nyně po slědu učitelju. Sbornik v čest na prof. d.f.n. Anna-Marija Totomanova, a cura di T. Slavova, G. Ganeva, M. Totomanova-Paneva, D. Atanasova, Sofija, 2021
Si riflette su quale sia stato l'orizzonte ermeneutico dei fratelli tessalonicesi e dei loro disc... more Si riflette su quale sia stato l'orizzonte ermeneutico dei fratelli tessalonicesi e dei loro discepoli attivi nel primo impero bulgaro e impegnati in una complessa opera di traduzione. Non si trattava soltanto di esporre una tecnica di traduzione o di insegnare dei metodi esegetici, offrendo degli strumenti esegetici fondamentali per la comprensione del messaggio cristiano che aveva raggiunto una forma assai complessa di elaborazione nel suo incontro con la cultura ellenistica e mediterranea. Era necessario soprattutto educare a una sensibilità per i significati più profondi presenti nelle sacre scritture in una concezione sapienziale, che dovremmo definire per certi aspetti mistica, che aveva caratterizzato soprattutto la tradizione dei primi secoli e che aveva avuto nei padri cappadoci e in primo luogo in Basilio di Cesarea un punto di riferimento sicuro.
Slavonic texts and traditions in honour of Catherine Mary MacRobert. Kirilo-Metodievski Studii 31, a cura di S. Nikolova, R. Kleminson, V. Željazkova, M. Dimitrova, Sofija 2021, pp.19-34., 2021
The purpose of this paper is to present the central part of Simeon’s Miscellany containing the Qu... more The purpose of this paper is to present the central part of Simeon’s Miscellany containing the Questions on the Old and New Testaments, primarily the result of the reworking of the so-called Pseudo-Anastasius. In the light of this analysis, it is evident that Simeon’s Miscellany offers a series of tools to illustrate Christian teaching from a Trinitarian perspective at the doctrinal and ethical level through the exegesis of biblical passages that are often difficult to interpret.
Славянское и балканское языкознание. Вып. 21: Палеославистика: Лексикология и текстология. К 100-летию Р. М. Цейтлин. Международная коллективная монография / Институт славяноведения РАН; Отв. ред. В. С. Ефимова. Москва, 2021. С.20-25, 2021
Research by Ralya Mikhailovna Cejtlin about the Lexicon of the Gospel Manuscript Tradition
The s... more Research by Ralya Mikhailovna Cejtlin about the Lexicon of the Gospel Manuscript Tradition
The study briefly illustrates some features of the scholar's research on the lexicon of the Gospel manuscript tradition, emphasizing the role of the Greek text and the distinction between textual and lexical variants.
Rajko Nahtigal in 100 let slavistike na Univerzi v Ljubljani, a cura di P. Stankovska, A. Derganc, A. Šivic-Dular, 2019
R. Nahtigal, Proglas k svetemu еvangeliju (1943). A Proposal for the Textual Reconstruction
Thro... more R. Nahtigal, Proglas k svetemu еvangeliju (1943). A Proposal for the Textual Reconstruction
Throughout the 20th century, some important studies on the Prologue to the Gospels (Proglas) were conducted. The essay written by R. Nahtigal (1943) offers an edition of the short poem in accordance with the various branches of the Eastern Slavic and Serbian manuscript tradition, alongside an accurate reconstruction based on its verse structure, accompanied by a broad and comprehensive philological commentary. At the end, there is a glossary of the reconstructed text which is of particular value. Comparison with subsequent studies and textual analysis highlights the importance of Nahtigal's research around the reconstruction of the Prologue, which is considered to be the first poetic composition in Church Slavonic language.
THE BULGARIAN GOSPEL OF RUSSIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY MS. F.П.I.122 (SECOND QUARTER OF THE 14-TH CENTU... more THE BULGARIAN GOSPEL OF RUSSIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY MS. F.П.I.122 (SECOND QUARTER OF THE 14-TH CENTURY) AND ITS IDENTIFICATION WITH THE EVANGELIUM BUCOVINENSE
The paper proposes and illustrates the identification of the manuscript RNB F.п.I.122 with the Evangelium Bucovinense, studied by V. Jagić, the traces of which were lost in the twenties of the last century. On the textual and lexical level the analysis of some variants in the text of the Gospel of John shows a series of coincidences with the Gospel of Tsar Ivan Aleksandеr, although in many cases interesting readings are observed that are more faithful to the ancient tradition witnessed by Codex Marianus. There is no doubt, however, that even in the Evangelium Bucovinense there are middle Bulgarian variants . In general, the effort to update the older version is clear, taking into account the recent innovations in the Balkan area.
СВ. КЛИМЕНТ ОХРИДСКИ В КУЛТУРАТА НА ЕВРОПА, СОФИЯ, 2018
SLAVONIC BIBLE AND LITURGY AT THE TIME OF CLEMENT OF OHRID
This paper presents some consideratio... more SLAVONIC BIBLE AND LITURGY AT THE TIME OF CLEMENT OF OHRID
This paper presents some considerations on the still open issues concerning the Slavonic translation of the holy scriptures and the liturgical language to better understand the action and work of Clement of Ohrid in the historical and cultural context of his time. In particular, the author points out that Cyrillo-Methodian and Clementine sources show a continuity between the period of his education under the guidance of the Thessalonian Brothers and the years of maturity, even taking into account changes occurring in the transition from Moravia to the Bulgarian empire.
Recent Researchеs in the Field of Slavic Gospel. Some Critical Reflections (1999–2016).
In the la... more Recent Researchеs in the Field of Slavic Gospel. Some Critical Reflections (1999–2016). In the last fifteen years, research on the Slavic Gospel manuscript tradition has reached new and important achievements especially with the spread of computer technology and the digitization process. Taking into account progress in the study of the Greek manuscript tradition, the author explains some basic guidelines: the textual structure of the Gospel book, the Menologion pericopes, theGospel book ornamentation, the new editions. In the end, the main essays on individual manuscripts or particular issues are introduced. The Slavic Gospel, therefore, is still a key issue of Slavic studies in the field of Slavic paleography, textual criticism, and linguistic analysis.
I testi cristiani nella storia e nella cultura. Prospettive di ricerca tra Russia e Italia. Atti del convegno di Perugia – Roma, 2-6 maggio 2006 e del seminario di San Pietroburgo, 22-24 settembre 2009, a cura di S. Boesch Gajano, E. G. Farrugia, S.J., M. Pliukhanova, 2013
L'eredità culturale e letteraria della Rus' e il rinnovamento degli studi della tradizione manosc... more L'eredità culturale e letteraria della Rus' e il rinnovamento degli studi della tradizione manoscritta biblica e liturgica nella Russia contemporanea, in I testi cristiani nella storia e nella cultura. Prospettive di ricerca tra Russia e Italia. Atti del convegno di Perugia – Roma, 2-6 maggio 2006 e del seminario di San Pietroburgo, 22-24 settembre 2009, a cura di S. Boesch Gajano, E. G. Farrugia, S.J., M. Pliukhanova, Roma 2013, pp.53-66
The Gospel Book and its liturgical function in the Byzantine-Slavic tradition, in Catalogue of Byzantine Manuscripts in their Liturgical Context. Subsidia 1. Challenges and perspectives, a cura di K. Spronk, G. Rouwhorst, S. Royé, Turnhout 2013, 2013
The contribution proposes a detailed interpretation of Vita Methodii (ch. XIII) about the return ... more The contribution proposes a detailed interpretation of Vita Methodii (ch. XIII) about the return of the Moravian archbishop to Constantinople and offers a reconstruction of his relationships with the emperor Basilius I and the patriarch Photius in order to better understand the last period of Methodius's activity in Great Moravia.
The Cyrillo-Methodian Mission is a key issue in the research of Fr. Dvorník His first monograph,... more The Cyrillo-Methodian Mission is a key issue in the research of Fr. Dvorník His first monograph, which collected the results of his doctoral thesis, was devoted to the Slavs between Rome and Byzantium in the Ninth century and formed the basis of his subsequent monograph. Dvorník committed himself, in fact, to the lengthy task of analyzing the so-called Pannonian Legends, published in French as Les Légendes de Constantin et de Méthode vues de Byzance (Prague 1933), a masterpiece in the field of Slavic studies and Medieval history. Capitalizing on his extensive preparation in Prague in the field of history (Bidlo) and archaeology (Niederle) and his training in Paris in Byzantine (Diehl) and Slavic Studies (Mazon) Dvorník meticulously examined historical sources and archaeological data in order to check whether the scenarios offered by the Lives of the Thessalonian brothers were compatible with our historical knowledge. This approach enabled him to compare the research results in various disciplines with scientific accuracy, critically examining a bibliography which even then had reached very large dimensions. The Czech scholar aimed to offer a comprehensive and detailed historical and geopolitical view in which to place the beginning of the process of acculturation of the Slavs and the first written Slavic culture. During his subsequent research, the Cyrillo-Methodian issue did not disappear from his attention and Dvorník frequently returned to study, to point out certain scenarios and offer new perspectives for research, which should be better valued. Although the results achieved in the Thirties have obviously needed updating in the light of new data, the general approach offered by Fr. Dvorník remains fully valid.
ЕЗИЦИТЕ НА ХРИСТИЯНСКАТА МОЛИТВА: ИСТОРИЯ И СЪВРЕМЕННОСТ. LINGUE DELLA PREGHIERA CRISTIANA: STORIA E CONTEMPORANEITÀ. КИРИЛО-МЕТОДИЕВСКИ СТУДИИ, КН. 26. СОФИЯ, 2018
Хощоу пѧть словесъ... SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND TEACHING IN THE BYZANTINE EXEGETICAL TRADITION AT T... more Хощоу пѧть словесъ... SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND TEACHING IN THE BYZANTINE EXEGETICAL TRADITION AT THE TIME OF CONSTANTINE-CYRIL AND METHODIUS
The long passage from the first Letter to the Corinthians, quoted in the Life of Constantine Cyril (in particular 1Cor.14, 19), deals with a fundamental theme of the Cyril-Methodian mission, “speaking in tongues” and teaching. The paper examines this theme, present in the Cyril-Methodian sources, in the light of the Byzantine exegetical tradition at the time of Constantine-Cyril and Methodius. In particular, it focuses on Question 65 of the Greek miscellany Soterios, created in Constantinople in those years and translated into Slavic at the time of the Tsar Simeon. The Question 65, brief but complex collection of biblical and patristic passages, is a true apology of the bible, which contains clear indications on the topic of “speaking in tongues” and teaching and can be considered a source of inspiration for the Thessalonican brothers’s activities.
THE MISSIONARY LEGACY OF CYRIL AND METHODIUS
AND THE SYMEONIC FLORILEGIUM
(Summary)
The purpose o... more THE MISSIONARY LEGACY OF CYRIL AND METHODIUS AND THE SYMEONIC FLORILEGIUM (Summary) The purpose of this paper is to study the Cyrillo-Methodian mission from the perspective of Constantinople, both from a historical, doctrinal and theological angle to understand ancient Slavic written production. In particular, the author focused on historical circumstances and time of composition of the Greek original of Symeonic Florilegium. In the seventies of the ninth century Photius or his associates may have completed and dedicated the Soterios to the empress Eudoxia Ingerina, planning to use it to train missionaries destined to work with new peoples, from the Ros and the Protobulgarians to the Slavs.
Atti e memorie dell’Accademia toscana di Scienze e Lettere La Colombaria NS 73. I Punti cardinali nell’immaginario europeo (Atti del Convegno 7-8 aprile 2022), a cura di L. Cassi, A. Dei, pp.283-297, 2023
La concezione dello spazio geografico eurasiatico e del suo orientamento, elaborata nel corso del... more La concezione dello spazio geografico eurasiatico e del suo orientamento, elaborata nel corso del medioevo sulla base delle testimonianze degli antichi all'interno del complesso sistema simbolico di origine mediterranea, fu messa, dunque, a dura prova, proprio come l’idea della centralità della Terra, dalle testimonianze provenienti dall'Europa centro orientale e orientale. All’inizio dell’epoca moderna si elaborarono, comunque, delle mitologie sull'origine dei popoli, in particolare per l’Europa centro orientale l’idea di Sarmazia, e maturarono antiche concezioni medievali, come l’immagine di “antemurale”, finalizzate tuttavia a precise visioni geopolitiche. Rispondendo più in generale alla necessità di delineare un confine fra l'Europa e l'Asia, fra Occidente e Oriente, fra civiltà e barbarie, che aveva profonde implicazioni sul piano culturale, ponendo il problema dell'Alterità. A differenza della scoperta del Nuovo Mondo, in cui era più facile percepire la separazione dal continente europeo e l'alterità del nuovo continente, il confine fra l'Europa e l'Asia poneva la questione della collocazione della Russia e dell’eredità del mondo bizantino slavo in relazione alla cultura occidentale, un tema che rimane ancora oggi di grande attualità.
The Italian contributions to the XIII International Congress of Slavists (Ljubljana, 15-21 August... more The Italian contributions to the XIII International Congress of Slavists (Ljubljana, 15-21 August 2003) had a very limited circulation between the participants in the congress and the restricted circle of experts. Considering the high scientific value of the individual contributions, to which we continue to refer in the framework of Slavic literature, it was decided to publish these acts in the series "Library of Slavic Studies" also to celebrate the ten years of its existence. Faced with a consolidated tradition of studies in the philological and literary field, Italian Slavistics of the beginning of the millennium found itself facing new needs. On the one hand, a new generation of linguists has established themselves, who have developed a series of innovative research on Slavic languages, especially in the contrastive field. On the other hand, new research paths have developed in contemporary literature, especially in relation to the most recent historical circumstances ...
The essay proposes an interpretation of the eulogy of Symeon's Miscellany considering not only th... more The essay proposes an interpretation of the eulogy of Symeon's Miscellany considering not only the cultural context of the First Bulgarian Empire at the beginning of the tenth century, but also the historical situation and the literary production of the seventies and eighties of the previous century when the Greek original of the Miscellany known by the name of the Soterios was conceived in Constantinople. This eulogy helps us to better understand the reasons that led to the creation of the Slavic version of this anthology at the time of Symeon. In the Constantinopolitan environment, this anthology was conceived as an adequate tool of the kind required by monks and priests engaged in the education of the laity, with particular focus on the foundations of orthodox doctrine. In the new environment the initiative was taken by Tsar Symeon, who-on the strength of his theological training-assumed a decisive role while occupying the throne by taking responsibility for directly instructing the Bulgarian aristocracy, fully exploiting a tool in the Slavic language that would have been very useful.
Essays on the Spread of Humanistic and Renaissance Literary Civilization in the Slavic World (15th-17th Century), a cura di G. Siedina, Firenze 2020, pp.17-35, 2020
This study offers a synthetic view of the relationship of the Eastern Slavic world, inparticular ... more This study offers a synthetic view of the relationship of the Eastern Slavic world, inparticular Russia, with Humanism and the Renaissance, indicating new paths of researchon the identity formation of Muscovy and the Russian Empire in the European context.In particular, we focus on the arrival of Sophia Palaiologina in Moscow, on the activities ofMaximus the Greek in Russia, and on the idea of Rome and Moscow in the 16th century.
Gli studenti dei corsi di questo nuovo anno accademico potranno finalmente usufruire della nuova ... more Gli studenti dei corsi di questo nuovo anno accademico potranno finalmente usufruire della nuova edizione del mio volume "Gli slavi" (2019). È stato preparato sempre con la collaborazione di allievi ed amici. Qui si potrà scaricare l'indice e il primo dei capitoli.
Questo volume intende omaggiare Marcello Garzaniti in occasione del suo sessantesimo
compleanno ... more Questo volume intende omaggiare Marcello Garzaniti in occasione del suo sessantesimo
compleanno e del trentennale della sua carriera, a riconoscimento dell’impegno
generosamente profuso nell’ambito della ricerca, della divulgazione scientifica e della
didattica. L’eterogeneità dei contributi offerti da colleghi, allievi e amici testimonia
l’erudizione e la poliedricità d’interessi del festeggiato. Le cinque sezioni di cui si compone il volume spaziano infatti dalla storia della cultura alla storia della civiltà letteraria slava ecclesiastica, dalla linguistica alle letterature slave, senza trascurare la storia della slavistica. Il volume è completato dalla bibliografia della produzione scientifica di Marcello Garzaniti.
Arturo Cronia. L’eredità di un Maestro a cinquant’anni dalla scomparsa, a cura di R. Benacchio, M. Fin, Padova 2019, 2019
"The knowledge of the Slavic world in Italy" by A. Cronia. A milestone of Italian Slavistics
"Th... more "The knowledge of the Slavic world in Italy" by A. Cronia. A milestone of Italian Slavistics
"The knowledge of the Slavic world in Italy" is still confirmed today as a fundamental study. Published in the late fifties, the work, which has the subtitle "Historical-bibliographic assessment of a millennium", is the result of a demanding research work. The great attention to the sources and the presence of careful judgments on the critical literature still make it an indispensable starting point for research in this field.
Il mondo slavo e l’Europa, a cura di M.C. Bragone, M. Bidovec, 2019
The debate on “Eastern European pre-Renaissance” and “Orthodox Slavic revival” in
the light of re... more The debate on “Eastern European pre-Renaissance” and “Orthodox Slavic revival” in the light of recent research At the IV International Congress of Slavists which took place in Moscow (1958) D. S. Lichačëv presented a report on the Second South Slavic influence in Rus’ where he explained his idea of “Eastern European pre-Renaissance”. Lichačëv’s thesis received some critical comments by the young R. Picchio who at the time was developing the idea of “Orthodox Slavic revival (rinascita)”. The paper aims to revisit this debate taking account of subsequent developments in their research and in the light of the most recent studies.
Izvestija Rossijskoj akademii nauk. Serija litěratury i jazyka 78, 3, 2019
Starting from the debate of the Fifties between D.S. Likhachev and R. Picchio regarding the ideas... more Starting from the debate of the Fifties between D.S. Likhachev and R. Picchio regarding the ideas of “pre-renaissance” and “Slavic revival”, the article presents an analysis of the traditional periodization of Russian literature. Likhachev and Picchio agree in distinguishing a “Middle age” literature, which lasts until the end of the seventeenth century, from a later literature of “Modern” age, as we see in their publications here especially examined: the “Literature library of Ancient Rus” (Biblioteka literatury Drevney Rusi), edited by D.S. Likhachev, L.A. Dmitriyev, A.A. Alekseyev, N.V. Ponyrko (1997–2006) and the “History of Russian literary civilization”, directed by M. Colucci and R. Picchio (1997). On the basis of their comments on reconstruction of the literary canon the author focuses on some aspects of literary development in the first decades of the 16th century, that in Western history mark the passage from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern period, with particular reference to his researches on Maksim the Greek, as well as on the idea of Rome in Moscow. In the conclusion it is proposed that for Russian literary civilization, as for the rest of the European continent, we can identify a caesura that divides the medieval period from the modern era. In this perspective it is possible to better understand the literary production of the Muscovy and the first Russian empire not only in relation to the claim of the Rus heritage or to the Balkan and Byzantine world, but more generally in the wide European cultural and literary panorama.
The medieval origins of the idea of "Holy Russia". The commemoration of the Battle of Kulikovo (1... more The medieval origins of the idea of "Holy Russia". The commemoration of the Battle of Kulikovo (1380) in the Narration of the Battle with Mamai
The Narration of the Battle with Mamai (Skazanie o Mamaevom poboišče), dedicated to the famous Russian military victory over the Tatars on the Kulikovo Field (1380), is generally considered the central work of the Kulikovo cycle. The anonymous author develops a consistent reinterpretation of the historical event in a liturgical and commemorative key by constantly adopting forms of prayer and of hagiographic narrative. The analysis of the numerous biblical quotations that weave the plot introduces the deeper meaning of Narration: the final incorporation of the Hellenistic-Christian chronotope in the Slavic "Orthodox Christianity" in which Moscow and "Russian land" have become central.The medieval origins of the idea of "Holy Russia". The commemoration of the Battle of Kulikovo (1380) in the Narration of the Battle with Mamai
The Narration of the Battle with Mamai (Skazanie o Mamaevom poboišče), dedicated to the famous Russian military victory over the Tatars on the Kulikovo Field (1380), is generally considered the central work of the Kulikovo cycle. The anonymous author develops a consistent reinterpretation of the historical event in a liturgical and commemorative key by constantly adopting forms of prayer and of hagiographic narrative. The analysis of the numerous biblical quotations that weave the plot introduces the deeper meaning of Narration: the final incorporation of the Hellenistic-Christian chronotope in the Slavic "Orthodox Christianity" in which Moscow and "Russian land" have become central.
Reflexions on Nikolaos H. Trunte, Slavia Latina. Eine Einführung in die Geschichte der slavischen... more Reflexions on Nikolaos H. Trunte, Slavia Latina. Eine Einführung in die Geschichte der slavischen Sprachen und Kulturen Ostmitteleuropas, Otto Sagner, München-Berlin 2012 (= “Slavistische Beiträge”, 482)
Trudy Otdela drevnerusskoj literatury / Труды Отдела древнерусской литературы 69, 2022
The Anti-Latin Epistles of Maximus the Greek and Russian Public Controversy in the First Half of ... more The Anti-Latin Epistles of Maximus the Greek and Russian Public Controversy in the First Half of the 16th Century. Towards a Question of Contextualisation The author proposes an analysis of Maximus the Greek's First anti-Latin letter to F. I. Karpov, highlighting the innovative aspect of the argument in terms of both content and form. More specifically, the paper addresses the critique of Aristotelian rationalism that Maximus the Greek had encountered in Italy, especially through his close contacts with Giovanni Francesco Pico della Mirandola, and several other issues subject of lively debate in the West. The second aspect calls into play several quotations including one from John Chrysostom commenting on the vision of the prophet Isaiah (Is. 6: 1), and the use of a specific lexicon. These elements clearly distinguish this letter from coeval Russian public controversy. Analysing the letter in question in a broader context reveals how, in Moscow, Maximus the Greek was able to exploit his Italian cultural formation to address the most topical debates of his time and return to the sources of Holy Scripture and the Eastern tradition.
Istočnikovedenie literatury i jazyka (archeografija, tekstologija, poetika). Sbornik naučnych statej / Источниковедение литературы и языка (археография, текстология, поэтика): сборник научных статей; составители и ответственные редакторы: Е. И. Дергачева-Скоп, В. В. Подопригора. Новосибирск, 2022
The testimony of Maximus the Greek at the trials (1525, 1531).
A re-reading on the key of biblic... more The testimony of Maximus the Greek at the trials (1525, 1531). A re-reading on the key of biblical prophetism
In order to understand the various works in which Maximus the Greek defended his positions and refuted the accusations made against him, it is important to consider the documentation concerning the trials against the Athonite monk. This documentation, albeit partially, has come down to us, especially through the so-called "Siberian Codex" from the end of the 16th century, edited by N.N. Pokrovsky (1971). The interpretation of the documentation is complicated by the fact that the testimonies reflect a late phase in the reception of the deeds around the middle of the 16th century when the events of the two trials appear to be fused together and reworked for specific purposes in the milieu of Metropolitan Macarius. In any case, the trial documentation reflects the complex situation in which Maximus the Greek found himself in Moscow. In a difficult political context, athonite monk sought to direct the religious and secular figures who gathered around him towards the renewal of Christian life in the light of a spiritual understanding of Sacred Scripture and a return to the ideal models of early monasticism. In some respects, these tendencies reflect his experience in the West and the adoption of action inspired by biblical prophetism reminiscent of Girolamo Savonarola and his behaviour during the trial.
Itinerari danteschi nelle culture slave, a cura di G. Siedina, 2022
Maximus the Greek (c. 1470-1555/1556), one of the most influential members of the Greek diaspora ... more Maximus the Greek (c. 1470-1555/1556), one of the most influential members of the Greek diaspora in Russia, arrived in Moscow from Constantinople with an official delegation (1518) and remained there until his death at the time of Ivan the Terrible. It was only in the second half of the last century that it was discovered Maximus the Greek must be identified with Michael Trivolis, a young Greek humanist educated in Florence at the end of the 15th century. Like many of his contemporaries, Trivolis had been influenced by the preaching of Girolamo Savonarola. Systematic research on the relation between the work of Savonarola and the humanists close to him and the writings of Maximus the Greek has not yet been conducted, but the data collected to date allow us to establish a close relationship within the context of certain religious, philosophical, and social themes. The examination of a text dedicated to the exercise of power by emperors and princes, the Discourse more extended, written by Maximus the Greek by the time of Ivan the Terrible, shows not only direct correlations with some of Savonarola's cantos, but also the presence of images and themes from Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy and Cristoforo Landino's Comento, starting with the idea of empire. The collections of Maximus the Greek's writings, in which this Discourse appears, were widely disseminated, and left a deep mark on Russian culture.
The Consolatory Discourse of the Imprisoned Monk provides an insight into Maximus the Greek’s att... more The Consolatory Discourse of the Imprisoned Monk provides an insight into Maximus the Greek’s attitude towards imprisonment, which was already announced in his behaviour during the trials. This work appears strikingly similar to two of Savonarola’s short writings. The resemblance resides not only in the quotations from the Holy Scriptures – featuring the metaphor of spiritual combat – but more particularly in the themes of man’s ingratitude and hope in the just judgement of God. The idea of spiritual combat and the notion of the patience that allows one to endure the prison conditions, are also found in Francesco’s De remediis utriusque fortunae published in Italy at the end of the15th century. The reasons for Maximus the Greek’s specific attitude towards imprisonment, stemming from unjust persecution, can be reconstructed from the references to the Holy Scriptures, even when their meaning is not explicitly expressed. Biblical quotations often have thefunction of expanding the meaning of the text. In this work, they instead reflect the writer’s ideas, following the rationale of the unspoken found in the practice of self-censorship that is so crucial to an understanding of modern and contemporary literature.
FONS SAPIENTIAE VERBUM DEI. Сборник научных статей в честь 80-летия профессора Анатолия Алексеевича Алексеева. Санкт-Петербург, 2022
VERITAS HEBRAICA POLEMICS IN RUSSIA IN THE 16th CENTURYThe expression “hebraica veritas”, which c... more VERITAS HEBRAICA POLEMICS IN RUSSIA IN THE 16th CENTURYThe expression “hebraica veritas”, which can be found in a polemical writing of Maximus the Greek against the Spanish humanist Juan Luis Vives, expresses a concept that had been formulated in late antiquity by St. Jerome to justify the use of the Hebrew originals overthe Greek version of the Septuagint for the Latin translation of the Bible. The article shows that Maximus the Greek was aware of theongoing debate in the West about the Septuagint version and sets outthe reasons for his defense of it. Keywords: Hebrew Bible, Septuagint, Maximus the Greek, SlavonicBible.
Imperium and sacerdotium in sixteenth-century Russia: Filofei of Pskov and Maximus the Greek
The... more Imperium and sacerdotium in sixteenth-century Russia: Filofei of Pskov and Maximus the Greek
The relationship between imperium and sacerdotium was a fundamental issue in Russia between the 15th and 16th centuries, when the autocephaly of the Russian Church was established and the great principality of Moscow became an empire. Among the most significant reflections on the relationship between imperial power and the priestly function are two works that have marked the cultural history of Russia in very different ways: the Letter of the monk Filofei of the Eleazar Monastery of Pskov to the d'jak M.G. Misyur-Munekhin, considered the manifesto of the Moscow-Third Rome doctrine, and the Discourse on Instabilities and Disorders, one of the most important writings of Maximus the Greek. In his short treatise, in the form of an epistle, Filofei sets out to illustrate the upheavals of the cosmic and world order by articulating a complex reflection that can be reconstructed based on quotations from Holy Scripture and, more generally, from the ‘holy books’ at historical and theological level. In the Russian monk's argument, Rome's universal mission is not based on the ‘unshakeability’ of power, but rather on doctrinal orthodoxy, guaranteed by fidelity to ecclesiastical canons. The Moscow ruler has now become 'the sole emperor of Christians' and his role is to 'hold the reins of the divine holy thrones of the holy universal apostolic church, which in place of the Roman and Constantinopolitan churches, is in the city of Moscow, saved by God'. In his Discourse, Maximus the Greek, taking his cue from the songs of Girolamo Savonarola, develops a complex argument that, in the wake of Holy Scripture and tradition, seeks to interpret the crisis of the present times by illustrating the exercise of power and the role of the ecclesiastical magisterium. His reflection, however, does not develop at historical and sacramental theological level, as philosophy does, but rather in the exegetical and moral sphere. The careful choice of passages, especially from the Old Testament, above all from the Book of Wisdom, serves to develop a radical critique of the moral behaviour of the rulers of his time. From this perspective, the function of the priest does not appear to be primarily sacred, but rather prophetic, which prompts Maximus to expound a severe criticism of the rulers. The form of the dialogue, the cogent argumentation, and above all the implicit references to themes and concepts present in modern Western thought, illustrate the development of an original reflection urging the renewal of Eastern Christian thought. Despite their different approaches, both writers come together in the image of the widow in the desert, recalling the apocalyptic and eschatological dimension. Their different interpretations of the relationship between imperium and sacerdotium, moreover, do not appear to contradict each other, but are easy to integrate, complementing each other and illustrating enduring constants in the cultural history of Russia and, at the same time, a drive for renewal within the Eastern tradition.
In this work, Maximus the Greek set a goal to highlight the foundations of the vow of poverty, wh... more In this work, Maximus the Greek set a goal to highlight the foundations of the vow of poverty, which he believed to be clearly opposed not only to the management of the property but also to the very idea of possession. His position had received fundamental imprinting during his stay in Italy and subsequently matured within the tradition of Eastern monasticism, in a continuity that highlights the original synthesis he achieved in the new ecclesiastical and social situation in Russia.
To better understand the idea of poverty in Maximus the Greek’s works, the author analyzes the C... more To better understand the idea of poverty in Maximus the Greek’s works, the author analyzes the Controversy about the monastic way of life as we know it as one of his most important works. In particular, the intention is to determine the purpose of his Controversy by studying quotations from the Holy Scriptures and texts of the monastic tradition.
I Domenicani e la Russia (Dissertationes Historicae 37), Roma: Angelicum University Press, 2019
On the occasion of the second centenary of the entrustment of the parish church of St. Catherine ... more On the occasion of the second centenary of the entrustment of the parish church of St. Catherine of St. Petersburg to the Order of Preachers and the arrival of the first friars in the capital of the Russian Empire in the years 1815-1816, the Historical Institute of the Order of Preachers organized an International Historical Conference on the Dominicans and Russia at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome from 9 to 10 December 2016. In the volume of the same title, published by Bro. Viliam Štefan Dóci and Bro. Hyacinthe Destivelle, in collaboration with Fabio Simonelli and published in the series Dissertationes Historicae, the lectures given during the Conference are offered to the reader, together with some other essays on the history of relations between the Order and Russia at various levels. All of these are always bearing in mind, of course, that the geographical-political-legal concept of Russia has changed over the centuries.
The study goes beyond the theme of the presence of the Dominicans in Russia, which dates back to the 13th century. From the time of St. Hyacinth of Poland (Jacek Odrowąż), in the territory of Russia, the friars started concrete foundation projects, the results of which –success or failure as they may be– depending on various factors and not least, in the order of importance, the will of the secular authorities. One needs to look at the short duration of the first community in Rus’, in Kiev, founded in 1228-1229, which ended with the expulsion of the friars by Prince Vladimir IV Rurikovič in 1233. And again during the period of the last two hundred years or so, there is the invitation of Tsar Alexander I (1801-1825) to the Dominicans to establish in St. Petersburg, the only Dominican foundation in present-day Russia.
Already during the preparation of the Conference, it was clear that it would be impossible to present an overall history of the relations between the Dominican Order and Russia. The contributions in this volume dealt with only a few topics chronologically framed between the 15th and 21st centuries, to which many others could be related. However, the editors are convinced that this work, as a whole, gives an idea of the important role played by Russia in the Dominican history and may also be a starting point for further stimulating research.
The collection of the articles is introduced by an analysis of the sources present in the General Archives of the Order in Rome. Then, stories of friars and sisters of the Third Order from various European nations are presented from different angles and perspectives: particular attention is given to the cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow. And so, in the exchanges of men and ideas, their coming and going, the reader becomes aware of the theological reflections and other observations expressed by the Dominicans on Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church. He or she learns about ecumenical attempts as well as commitments aimed at strengthening the Roman Catholic identity. A paper on the relations between the Holy See and Russia, from Benedict XV to Paul VI, provides an adequate complement to the presentation of the difficult situation during the period of the Soviet Union. The testimony of Bro. Evgenij Heinrichs on the rebirth of the Order after the Communist persecution constitutes, in a certain sense, a bridge between the past and the present.
The individual contributions, in Italian, French, English, and Russian, are all accompanied at the end by an abstract in English and Russian. The volume can be ordered from Angelicum University Press (editoria@pust.it).
Michele Trivolis alias Massimo il Greco, Girolamo Savonarola e i domeniI Domenicani e la Russia, a cura di V.Š. Dóci OP, H. Destivelle OP, in Dissertationes Historicae XXXVII (2019), pp.41-74., 2019
Starting from the Italian version of some writings by Maximus the Grek the essay aims to reconstr... more Starting from the Italian version of some writings by Maximus the Grek the essay aims to reconstruct his relations with Savonarola and the Dominican Order, particularly with the convent of S. Marco. There the young humanist, who later became a monk on the mountain Athos, received his education as a Dominican novice. Even during his mission in Russia (from 1518), where he suffered long detention and a forced stay until his death, the memory of Savonarola and his work as a reformer remained alive helping to shape his activity as a writer and polemist.
Vestnik Moskovskogo universiteta. Serija 9. Filologija 4 (2019), pp.202-212, 2019
Анализируя глоссы сборника Максима Грека в Национальной би-блиотеке Франции (Man. Slave 123), авт... more Анализируя глоссы сборника Максима Грека в Национальной би-блиотеке Франции (Man. Slave 123), автор предлагает войти в лабораторию Максима Грека, чтобы понять его подход к языку и толкованию текста. Рассматриваемые глоссы предлагается разделить на группы по разным категориям: среди них есть отсылки к библейской лексике и библейским реалиям, а также к лексике и реалиям античной классики. В достаточном количестве присутствуют медицинские или научные объяснения. Библей-ские цитаты могут быть только упомянуты и адаптированы или введены в более полном виде. Одновременно встречаются более или менее обширные объяснения теологического и аскетического характера. Эта герменевти-ческая работа проводилась под знаком символической и аллегорической культуры, которая, как это было в случае Максима Грека, реализовалась как на уровне отношений между греческим и славянским, так и на уровне интерпретации отдельных языков. Анализ выявляет лингвистическое чутье и одновременно педагогические усилия монаха, цель которого состояла в том, чтобы предложить читателю важнейшие экзегические инструменты и методы, направленные на защиту восточной традиции от возрождения классической культуры и от сухости латинской схоластики, которые, каждая на свой манер, прорывались в русский мир. Филологическая деятельность Максима Грека показывает его представителем гуманистической ренессанс-ной культуры и начинателем процесса трансплантации новой культуры в церковно-славянскую традицию.
I Domenicani e la Russia, a cura di V.Š. Dóci OP, H. Destivelle OP, in Dissertationes Historicae XXXVII, 2019
Starting from Italian version of some writings by Maksim Grek
the essay aims to reconstruct his r... more Starting from Italian version of some writings by Maksim Grek the essay aims to reconstruct his relations with Savonarola and the Dominican Order, particularly with the convent of S. Marco. There the young humanist, who later became monk on the mountain Athos, received his education as Dominican novice. Even during his mission in Russia (from 1518), where he suffered a long detention and a forced stay until his death, the memory of Savonarola and his work as a reformer remained alive helping to shape his activity as writer and polemist.
Cette étude offre de manière concise et mise à jour le contenu du séminaire proposé à l’École Pra... more Cette étude offre de manière concise et mise à jour le contenu du séminaire proposé à l’École Pratique des Hautes Études (Mai 2018)
Roma e il mondo. Pим и мир. Scritti in onore di Rita Giuliani, a cura di S. Toscano, Ju. Nikolaeva, P. Buoncristiano, 2019
La lettera di Massimo al giovane nobile russo V. M. Tučkov con l’illustrazione del marchio tipogr... more La lettera di Massimo al giovane nobile russo V. M. Tučkov con l’illustrazione del marchio tipografico di Aldo Manuzio non solo dimostra che a Mosca nel primo quarto del Cinquecento erano presenti delle edizioni del più importante poligrafo del rinascimento, ma che alla corte moscovita si muoveva un intellettuale bizantino legato alla tradizione culturale umanistica, impegnato a diffondere il patrimonio degli antichi scrittori cristiani e classici che agiva senza sosta, pur nell’alveo della tradizione ortodossa, per difendere e far progredire questa eredità.
Marcello Garzaniti
Michael Trivolis / Maximus the Greek (c. 1470-1555/1556). The process of moder... more Marcello Garzaniti Michael Trivolis / Maximus the Greek (c. 1470-1555/1556). The process of modernisation and the end of Middle age in Russia. In Russia the figure of the Athonite monk Maximus was generally interpreted in relation to traditional Orthodox values and, in particular, to his anti-Renaissance position. This study aims to read his biography in the light both of the culture of humanism and the Christian renewal movements taking place between fifteenth and sixteenth century in Europe, and to highlight his role as educator in Russia. The ecclesiastic hierarchy tried to come to terms with Maximus’s authoritative personality, making the most of his work to counter the influence of the Western world, both Catholic and Protestant. At the same time they kept him under strict control, while he was still alive, and intervened harshly against anything that might undermine the framework of the church and the monastic tradition, in which the seeds sown by the Athonite monk still continued to germinate.
У истоков и источников: на международных и междисциплинарных путях. Юбилейный сборник в честь Александра Васильевича Назаренко. — М..: Институт российской истории РАН , 2019
Аннотация: В работе восстанавливается, на основе имеющихся источни-
ков, международная дипломатич... more Аннотация: В работе восстанавливается, на основе имеющихся источни- ков, международная дипломатическая обстановка в момент прибытия в Москву Максима Грека (1518). В особенности делается попытка пролить свет на отношения Максима с греческой диаспорой как на западе, так и в России, а также на роль папской дипломатии, в частности доминиканского ордена, которая стремилась к созданию антитурецкой коалиции с участием Москвы. Ключевые слова: Максим Грек, история России, папская дипломатия, осман- ский вопрос.
The arrival in Moscow of Maxim the Greek (1518) and the international diplomatic juncture
Abstract: On the basis of the available sources, the essay reconstructs the international diplomatic juncture in Moscow at the arrival of Maxim the Greek (1518) highlighting his relations with the Greek Diaspora both in the West and in Russia and the role of papal diplomacy, above all of the Dominican order that worked for the establishment of an anti-Turkish league that also included Moscow. Keywords: Maxim the Greek, Russian history, papal diplomacy, Ottoman question.
From Rome to Moscow: Sophia Palaiologina and the Greeks in Russia Between the End of the Middle A... more From Rome to Moscow: Sophia Palaiologina and the Greeks in Russia Between the End of the Middle Ages and the Beginning of the Modern Era. About the Recent Biography of T. Matasova (Moscow 2016)
In the popular series, Žizn’ zamečatel’nych ljudej (Lives of Famous People) was published the biography of Sophia Palaiologina, a figure who has left a deep mark on Russian history and culture. The volume, edited by T. Matasova (2016), tells the story of the descendant of the Byzantine imperial family, married in 1472 to the great prince of Moscow Ivan iii. The fascinating reconstruction of the cultural, social and political context opens up new perspectives for research.
Slavonic pilgrimage literature is an interesting example of the widespread knowledge of apocrypha... more Slavonic pilgrimage literature is an interesting example of the widespread knowledge of apocryphal literature not only through the written tradition but also through the mediation of the Palestine liturgical tradition and oral legends. The collective memory of Slavia Orthodoxa was formed, therefore, not only based on familiarity with the Holy Scriptures but also through liturgical tradition and oral legends attested in a complex of "holy books" where the apocryphal and legendary motifs enrich and complete the understanding of sacred history characters and events. Keywords Slavonic pilgrimage literature-Slavonic apocryphal literature-Slavonic Holy Scriptures-Palestine liturgical tradition
The edition of the Pilgrimage of Igumen Daniil, published in
2007 by a team of scholars under ... more The edition of the Pilgrimage of Igumen Daniil, published in
2007 by a team of scholars under the leadership of G. M. Prokhorov, allows us to compare the oldest manuscript of the “first redaction” (RNB Q.XVII.88) with the evidence of the Velikie Minei Četii (RNB Sof. № 1322). The latter version transforms the pilgrimage tale into a devotional text, which fits better with Metropolitan Makarij’s project of collecting the Slavia Orthodoxa cultural heritage.
The Foundаtion of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and the Monastic and Urban Space Formation in Old Russia
T... more The Foundаtion of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra and the Monastic and Urban Space Formation in Old Russia
The article traces the history of the founding of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, which is analyzed in order to understand the processes of formation of monastic and urban space in Russia. If the space is defined by a monastic appeal to Mount Athos and the Palestinian desert, the city space appeal to Constantinople and the cult of the Virgin model as a protector of the city.
Keywords: history of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the idea of space in Kievan Rus’, Rus’ relationships with Constantinople and Palestine.
Villa Vigoni 2019-2022 - Prima Conferenza / Première Conférence / Erste Konferenz
Conferenze Tr... more Villa Vigoni 2019-2022 - Prima Conferenza / Première Conférence / Erste Konferenz
Conferenze Trilaterali "Cristiani orientali e Repubblica delle Lettere fra XVI e XVIII sec.: Corrispondenze, viaggi, controversie" Ateliers trilatéraux "Chrétiens orientaux et République des Lettres aux 16e-18e siècles: correspondances, voyages, controverses" Trilaterale Forschungskonferenzen "Östliche Christen und die Gelehrtenrepublik zwischen dem 16. und dem 18. Jahrhundert: Briefwechsel, Reisen, Kontroversen"
I Corpora LBC. Informatica umanistica per il Lessico de Beni culturali, a cura di B. Billero, A. Farina, M.C. Nicolás Martinez, Firenze 2020, pp.101-122., 2020
This essay presents the criteria for the realization, the development phases and the possible app... more This essay presents the criteria for the realization, the development phases and the possible applications of the LBC Corpus in Russian, created in the framework of the Lexicon of Cultural Heritage (LBC) project. The work is divided into three sections. Section 1 illustrates path and objectives of the project and the phases of its realization. Section 2 sets out the criteria for the formation of multilingual LBC Corpora and describes the textual genres, authors and titles present in the Russian corpus, offering a first assessment of the current corpus configuration. Section 3 presents the specific characteristics of the LBC corpora and the possible uses of the Russian corpus, highlighting how it lends itself to different types of analysis, in areas of interest such as tourism and specialized translation.
The Language of Art and Cultural Heritage: A Plurilingual and Digital Perspective, a cura di A. Pano Alamán, V. Zotti, Cambridge 2020, pp.104-119., 2020
Nel contributo si esamina un caso di studio particolarmente significativo per ricostruire le stra... more Nel contributo si esamina un caso di studio particolarmente significativo per ricostruire le strategie linguistiche e semiotiche nella comunicazione del patrimonio artistico e culturale: il lemma "frjag" che in russo rimanda alla figura degli architetti italiani che operarono in Russia alla fine del Quattrocento e l’inizio del Cinquecento. Attraverso l’esplorazione dei tradizionali dizionari, ora per lo più online, ma soprattutto del Corpus della lingua russa nell’ambito del lessico dei beni culturali e del Corpus nazionale della Lingua russa ci si propone di mostrare l’importanza dell’approccio filologico e della lessicografia storica per la creazione di un Dizionario plurilingue corpus-based.
At the Roots of the Formation of an Autocephalous Church in Ukraine: an Historical-Cultural and A... more At the Roots of the Formation of an Autocephalous Church in Ukraine: an Historical-Cultural and Anthropological Perspective
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate, in the light of the religious and cultural history of the Eastern Slavic world, the roots and developments of the process of creating a national church in Ukraine, endowed with its own autonomy, as has already happened in other countries of the Orthodox tradition. The focus is not on the purely canonical aspects of the issue, but on the concepts of "ethnicity" (or "nation") and "territory", which belong to the cultural-historical and anthropological sphere, identifying some aspects that characterise the processes of the creation of autocephalous churches in the Eastern Slavic world.
Il volume offre un percorso sulle letterature slave, dalla tradizione orale e medievale all’età c... more Il volume offre un percorso sulle letterature slave, dalla tradizione orale e medievale all’età contemporanea. Particolare attenzione è rivolta all’iniziale orientamento mostrato verso il mondo latino germanico e bizantino; si prosegue illustrando la diffusione dell’umanesimo e del rinascimento e gli sviluppi d’epoca barocca e illuministica, suggerendo piste di ricerca per i secoli successivi. Il testo, ricco di approfondimenti, presenta una sintesi in chiave comparativa che mette in luce le relazioni con la nostra letteratura.
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Bible text tradition in Slavia Orthodoxa by Marcello Garzaniti
With broad reference to various sources, the author presents the Cyril and Methodius Slavic Mission and its developments in the contest of the Christianisation of the Slavs and the complicated geopolitics of the Middle Age era. The essay focuses on different phases of the Slavic acculturation process starting with the first translations, including the entire Bible, and original works until to formation of a new cultural memory. The copious early Slavic written production, an overlooked page of European culture history, is considered through the paradigmatic example of Simeon's Miscellany, a collection of texts with the classical tradition of Patristic thought, which intended to offer a series of indispensable tools to understand the Bible and illustrate the traditional doctrine of the Christian East.
The earliest evidence of a description of the Bible is contained in Simeon’s Miscellany, translated in the First Bulgarian Empire on the initiative of Tsar Simeon. This description is based on the writings of John Damascene and Gregory of Nazianzus, who presented the canonical books in their works following an orderly structure, while testifying to the existence of different interpretations and forms in which the Bible circulated in the Christian East. The description can be found in the final part of Simeon’s Miscellany, which arranged as a series of tools for understanding the fundamental concepts of Trinitarian theology and the figurative language of the sacred scriptures, as well as for constructing the Christian chronotope.
The paper will present information about a copy of the Ostrog Bible conserved in the University Library of Bologna. This hitherto unexamined copy, belonging to the hieromonk of the Derman monastery Lavrentij Korman at the time of Prince Wladysław Dominik Zasławski-Ostrogski and Archbishop Meletii Smotrytsky, contains interesting glosses in various languages. Also noteworthy is a manuscript note in prosta mova, which indicates the year 1642.
In the light of this analysis, it is evident that Simeon’s Miscellany offers a series of tools to illustrate Christian teaching from a Trinitarian perspective at the doctrinal and ethical level through the exegesis of biblical passages that are often difficult to interpret.
The study briefly illustrates some features of the scholar's research on the lexicon of the Gospel manuscript tradition, emphasizing the role of the Greek text and the distinction between textual and lexical variants.
Throughout the 20th century, some important studies on the Prologue to the Gospels (Proglas) were conducted. The essay written by R. Nahtigal (1943) offers an edition of the short poem in accordance with the various branches of the Eastern Slavic and Serbian manuscript tradition, alongside an accurate reconstruction based on its verse structure, accompanied by a broad and comprehensive philological commentary. At the end, there is a glossary of the reconstructed text which is of particular value. Comparison with subsequent studies and textual analysis highlights the importance of Nahtigal's research around the reconstruction of the Prologue, which is considered to be the first poetic composition in Church Slavonic language.
The paper proposes and illustrates the identification of the manuscript RNB F.п.I.122 with the Evangelium Bucovinense, studied by V. Jagić, the traces of which were lost in the twenties of the last century. On the textual and lexical level the analysis of some variants in the text of the Gospel of John shows a series of coincidences with the Gospel of Tsar Ivan Aleksandеr, although in many cases interesting readings are observed that are more faithful to the ancient tradition witnessed by Codex Marianus. There is no doubt, however, that even in the Evangelium
Bucovinense there are middle Bulgarian variants . In general, the effort to update the older version is clear, taking into account the recent innovations in the Balkan area.
This paper presents some considerations on the still open issues concerning the Slavonic translation of the holy scriptures and the liturgical language to better understand the action and work of Clement of Ohrid in the historical and cultural context of his time. In particular, the author points out that Cyrillo-Methodian and Clementine sources show a continuity between the period of his education under the guidance of the Thessalonian Brothers and the years of maturity, even taking into account changes occurring in the transition from Moravia to the Bulgarian empire.
In the last fifteen years, research on the Slavic Gospel manuscript tradition has reached new and important achievements especially with the spread of computer technology and the digitization process. Taking into account progress in the study of the Greek manuscript tradition, the author explains some basic guidelines: the textual structure of the Gospel book, the Menologion pericopes, theGospel book ornamentation, the new editions. In the end, the main essays on individual manuscripts or particular issues are introduced. The Slavic Gospel, therefore, is still a key issue of Slavic studies in the field of Slavic paleography, textual criticism, and linguistic analysis.
With broad reference to various sources, the author presents the Cyril and Methodius Slavic Mission and its developments in the contest of the Christianisation of the Slavs and the complicated geopolitics of the Middle Age era. The essay focuses on different phases of the Slavic acculturation process starting with the first translations, including the entire Bible, and original works until to formation of a new cultural memory. The copious early Slavic written production, an overlooked page of European culture history, is considered through the paradigmatic example of Simeon's Miscellany, a collection of texts with the classical tradition of Patristic thought, which intended to offer a series of indispensable tools to understand the Bible and illustrate the traditional doctrine of the Christian East.
The earliest evidence of a description of the Bible is contained in Simeon’s Miscellany, translated in the First Bulgarian Empire on the initiative of Tsar Simeon. This description is based on the writings of John Damascene and Gregory of Nazianzus, who presented the canonical books in their works following an orderly structure, while testifying to the existence of different interpretations and forms in which the Bible circulated in the Christian East. The description can be found in the final part of Simeon’s Miscellany, which arranged as a series of tools for understanding the fundamental concepts of Trinitarian theology and the figurative language of the sacred scriptures, as well as for constructing the Christian chronotope.
The paper will present information about a copy of the Ostrog Bible conserved in the University Library of Bologna. This hitherto unexamined copy, belonging to the hieromonk of the Derman monastery Lavrentij Korman at the time of Prince Wladysław Dominik Zasławski-Ostrogski and Archbishop Meletii Smotrytsky, contains interesting glosses in various languages. Also noteworthy is a manuscript note in prosta mova, which indicates the year 1642.
In the light of this analysis, it is evident that Simeon’s Miscellany offers a series of tools to illustrate Christian teaching from a Trinitarian perspective at the doctrinal and ethical level through the exegesis of biblical passages that are often difficult to interpret.
The study briefly illustrates some features of the scholar's research on the lexicon of the Gospel manuscript tradition, emphasizing the role of the Greek text and the distinction between textual and lexical variants.
Throughout the 20th century, some important studies on the Prologue to the Gospels (Proglas) were conducted. The essay written by R. Nahtigal (1943) offers an edition of the short poem in accordance with the various branches of the Eastern Slavic and Serbian manuscript tradition, alongside an accurate reconstruction based on its verse structure, accompanied by a broad and comprehensive philological commentary. At the end, there is a glossary of the reconstructed text which is of particular value. Comparison with subsequent studies and textual analysis highlights the importance of Nahtigal's research around the reconstruction of the Prologue, which is considered to be the first poetic composition in Church Slavonic language.
The paper proposes and illustrates the identification of the manuscript RNB F.п.I.122 with the Evangelium Bucovinense, studied by V. Jagić, the traces of which were lost in the twenties of the last century. On the textual and lexical level the analysis of some variants in the text of the Gospel of John shows a series of coincidences with the Gospel of Tsar Ivan Aleksandеr, although in many cases interesting readings are observed that are more faithful to the ancient tradition witnessed by Codex Marianus. There is no doubt, however, that even in the Evangelium
Bucovinense there are middle Bulgarian variants . In general, the effort to update the older version is clear, taking into account the recent innovations in the Balkan area.
This paper presents some considerations on the still open issues concerning the Slavonic translation of the holy scriptures and the liturgical language to better understand the action and work of Clement of Ohrid in the historical and cultural context of his time. In particular, the author points out that Cyrillo-Methodian and Clementine sources show a continuity between the period of his education under the guidance of the Thessalonian Brothers and the years of maturity, even taking into account changes occurring in the transition from Moravia to the Bulgarian empire.
In the last fifteen years, research on the Slavic Gospel manuscript tradition has reached new and important achievements especially with the spread of computer technology and the digitization process. Taking into account progress in the study of the Greek manuscript tradition, the author explains some basic guidelines: the textual structure of the Gospel book, the Menologion pericopes, theGospel book ornamentation, the new editions. In the end, the main essays on individual manuscripts or particular issues are introduced. The Slavic Gospel, therefore, is still a key issue of Slavic studies in the field of Slavic paleography, textual criticism, and linguistic analysis.
This approach enabled him to compare the research results in various disciplines with scientific accuracy, critically examining a bibliography which even then had reached very large dimensions. The Czech scholar aimed to offer a comprehensive and detailed historical and geopolitical view in which to place the beginning of the process of acculturation of the Slavs and the first written Slavic culture. During his subsequent research, the Cyrillo-Methodian issue did not disappear from his attention and Dvorník frequently returned to study, to point out certain scenarios and offer new perspectives for research, which should be better valued. Although the results achieved in the Thirties have obviously needed updating in the light of new data, the general approach offered by Fr. Dvorník remains fully valid.
The long passage from the first Letter to the Corinthians, quoted in the Life of Constantine Cyril (in particular 1Cor.14, 19), deals with a fundamental theme of the Cyril-Methodian mission, “speaking in tongues” and teaching. The paper examines this theme, present in the Cyril-Methodian sources, in the light of the Byzantine exegetical tradition at the time of Constantine-Cyril and Methodius. In particular, it focuses on Question 65 of the Greek miscellany Soterios, created in Constantinople in those years and translated into Slavic at the time of the Tsar Simeon. The Question 65, brief but complex collection of biblical and patristic passages, is a true apology of the bible, which contains clear indications on the topic of “speaking in tongues” and teaching and can be considered a source of inspiration for the Thessalonican brothers’s activities.
AND THE SYMEONIC FLORILEGIUM
(Summary)
The purpose of this paper is to study the Cyrillo-Methodian mission from the perspective
of Constantinople, both from a historical, doctrinal and theological angle to understand ancient
Slavic written production. In particular, the author focused on historical circumstances and
time of composition of the Greek original of Symeonic Florilegium. In the seventies of the ninth century Photius or his associates may have completed and dedicated the Soterios to the empress Eudoxia Ingerina, planning to use it to train missionaries destined to work with
new peoples, from the Ros and the Protobulgarians to the Slavs.
compleanno e del trentennale della sua carriera, a riconoscimento dell’impegno
generosamente profuso nell’ambito della ricerca, della divulgazione scientifica e della
didattica. L’eterogeneità dei contributi offerti da colleghi, allievi e amici testimonia
l’erudizione e la poliedricità d’interessi del festeggiato. Le cinque sezioni di cui si compone il volume spaziano infatti dalla storia della cultura alla storia della civiltà letteraria slava ecclesiastica, dalla linguistica alle letterature slave, senza trascurare la storia della slavistica. Il volume è completato dalla bibliografia della produzione scientifica di Marcello Garzaniti.
"The knowledge of the Slavic world in Italy" is still confirmed today as a fundamental study. Published in the late fifties, the work, which has the subtitle "Historical-bibliographic assessment of a millennium", is the result of a demanding research work. The great attention to the sources and the presence of careful judgments on the critical literature still make it an indispensable starting point for research in this field.
the light of recent research
At the IV International Congress of Slavists which took place in Moscow (1958) D. S.
Lichačëv presented a report on the Second South Slavic influence in Rus’ where he explained
his idea of “Eastern European pre-Renaissance”. Lichačëv’s thesis received some
critical comments by the young R. Picchio who at the time was developing the idea of
“Orthodox Slavic revival (rinascita)”. The paper aims to revisit this debate taking account
of subsequent developments in their research and in the light of the most recent studies.
of “pre-renaissance” and “Slavic revival”, the article presents an analysis of the traditional periodization of
Russian literature. Likhachev and Picchio agree in distinguishing a “Middle age” literature, which lasts until
the end of the seventeenth century, from a later literature of “Modern” age, as we see in their publications here
especially examined: the “Literature library of Ancient Rus” (Biblioteka literatury Drevney Rusi), edited by D.S.
Likhachev, L.A. Dmitriyev, A.A. Alekseyev, N.V. Ponyrko (1997–2006) and the “History of Russian literary
civilization”, directed by M. Colucci and R. Picchio (1997). On the basis of their comments on reconstruction
of the literary canon the author focuses on some aspects of literary development in the first decades of the 16th
century, that in Western history mark the passage from the Middle Ages to the Early Modern period, with
particular reference to his researches on Maksim the Greek, as well as on the idea of Rome in Moscow. In the
conclusion it is proposed that for Russian literary civilization, as for the rest of the European continent, we
can identify a caesura that divides the medieval period from the modern era. In this perspective it is possible to
better understand the literary production of the Muscovy and the first Russian empire not only in relation to the claim of the Rus heritage or to the Balkan and Byzantine world, but more generally in the wide European
cultural and literary panorama.
The Narration of the Battle with Mamai (Skazanie o Mamaevom poboišče), dedicated to the famous Russian military victory over the Tatars on the Kulikovo Field (1380), is generally considered the central work of the Kulikovo cycle. The anonymous author develops a consistent reinterpretation of the historical event in a liturgical and commemorative key by constantly adopting forms of prayer and of hagiographic narrative. The analysis of the numerous biblical quotations that weave the plot introduces the deeper meaning of Narration: the final incorporation of the Hellenistic-Christian chronotope in the Slavic "Orthodox Christianity" in which Moscow and "Russian land" have become central.The medieval origins of the idea of "Holy Russia". The commemoration of the Battle of Kulikovo (1380) in the Narration of the Battle with Mamai
The Narration of the Battle with Mamai (Skazanie o Mamaevom poboišče), dedicated to the famous Russian military victory over the Tatars on the Kulikovo Field (1380), is generally considered the central work of the Kulikovo cycle. The anonymous author develops a consistent reinterpretation of the historical event in a liturgical and commemorative key by constantly adopting forms of prayer and of hagiographic narrative. The analysis of the numerous biblical quotations that weave the plot introduces the deeper meaning of Narration: the final incorporation of the Hellenistic-Christian chronotope in the Slavic "Orthodox Christianity" in which Moscow and "Russian land" have become central.
The author proposes an analysis of Maximus the Greek's First anti-Latin letter to F. I. Karpov, highlighting the innovative aspect of the argument in terms of both content and form. More specifically, the paper addresses the critique of Aristotelian rationalism that Maximus the Greek had encountered in Italy, especially through his close contacts with Giovanni Francesco Pico della Mirandola, and several other issues subject of lively debate in the West. The second aspect calls into play several quotations including one from John Chrysostom commenting on the vision of the prophet Isaiah (Is. 6: 1), and the use of a specific lexicon. These elements clearly distinguish this letter from coeval Russian public controversy. Analysing the letter in question in a broader context reveals how, in Moscow, Maximus the Greek was able to exploit his Italian cultural formation to address the most topical debates of his time and return to the sources of Holy Scripture and the Eastern tradition.
A re-reading on the key of biblical prophetism
In order to understand the various works in which Maximus the Greek defended his positions and refuted the accusations made against him, it is important to consider the documentation concerning the trials against the Athonite monk. This documentation, albeit partially, has come down to us, especially through the so-called "Siberian Codex" from the end of the 16th century, edited by N.N. Pokrovsky (1971). The interpretation of the documentation is complicated by the fact that the testimonies reflect a late phase in the reception of the deeds around the middle of the 16th century when the events of the two trials appear to be fused together and reworked for specific purposes in the milieu of Metropolitan Macarius. In any case, the trial documentation reflects the complex situation in which Maximus the Greek found himself in Moscow. In a difficult political context, athonite monk sought to direct the religious and secular figures who gathered around him towards the renewal of Christian life in the light of a spiritual understanding of Sacred Scripture and a return to the ideal models of early monasticism. In some respects, these tendencies reflect his experience in the West and the adoption of action inspired by biblical prophetism reminiscent of Girolamo Savonarola and his behaviour during the trial.
Keywords: Hebrew Bible, Septuagint, Maximus the Greek, SlavonicBible.
The relationship between imperium and sacerdotium was a fundamental issue in Russia between the 15th and 16th centuries, when the autocephaly of the Russian Church was established and the great principality of Moscow became an empire. Among the most significant reflections on the relationship between imperial power and the priestly function are two works that have marked the cultural history of Russia in very different ways: the Letter of the monk Filofei of the Eleazar Monastery of Pskov to the d'jak M.G. Misyur-Munekhin, considered the manifesto of the Moscow-Third Rome doctrine, and the Discourse on Instabilities and Disorders, one of the most important writings of Maximus the Greek.
In his short treatise, in the form of an epistle, Filofei sets out to illustrate the upheavals of the cosmic and world order by articulating a complex reflection that can be reconstructed based on quotations from Holy Scripture and, more generally, from the ‘holy books’ at historical and theological level. In the Russian monk's argument, Rome's universal mission is not based on the ‘unshakeability’ of power, but rather on doctrinal orthodoxy, guaranteed by fidelity to ecclesiastical canons. The Moscow ruler has now become 'the sole emperor of Christians' and his role is to 'hold the reins of the divine holy thrones of the holy universal apostolic church, which in place of the Roman and Constantinopolitan churches, is in the city of Moscow, saved by God'.
In his Discourse, Maximus the Greek, taking his cue from the songs of Girolamo Savonarola, develops a complex argument that, in the wake of Holy Scripture and tradition, seeks to interpret the crisis of the present times by illustrating the exercise of power and the role of the ecclesiastical magisterium. His reflection, however, does not develop at historical and sacramental theological level, as philosophy does, but rather in the exegetical and moral sphere. The careful choice of passages, especially from the Old Testament, above all from the Book of Wisdom, serves to develop a radical critique of the moral behaviour of the rulers of his time. From this perspective, the function of the priest does not appear to be primarily sacred, but rather prophetic, which prompts Maximus to expound a severe criticism of the rulers. The form of the dialogue, the cogent argumentation, and above all the implicit references to themes and concepts present in modern Western thought, illustrate the development of an original reflection urging the renewal of Eastern Christian thought.
Despite their different approaches, both writers come together in the image of the widow in the desert, recalling the apocalyptic and eschatological dimension. Their different interpretations of the relationship between imperium and sacerdotium, moreover, do not appear to contradict each other, but are easy to integrate, complementing each other and illustrating enduring constants in the cultural history of Russia and, at the same time, a drive for renewal within the Eastern tradition.
The study goes beyond the theme of the presence of the Dominicans in Russia, which dates back to the 13th century. From the time of St. Hyacinth of Poland (Jacek Odrowąż), in the territory of Russia, the friars started concrete foundation projects, the results of which –success or failure as they may be– depending on various factors and not least, in the order of importance, the will of the secular authorities. One needs to look at the short duration of the first community in Rus’, in Kiev, founded in 1228-1229, which ended with the expulsion of the friars by Prince Vladimir IV Rurikovič in 1233. And again during the period of the last two hundred years or so, there is the invitation of Tsar Alexander I (1801-1825) to the Dominicans to establish in St. Petersburg, the only Dominican foundation in present-day Russia.
Already during the preparation of the Conference, it was clear that it would be impossible to present an overall history of the relations between the Dominican Order and Russia. The contributions in this volume dealt with only a few topics chronologically framed between the 15th and 21st centuries, to which many others could be related. However, the editors are convinced that this work, as a whole, gives an idea of the important role played by Russia in the Dominican history and may also be a starting point for further stimulating research.
The collection of the articles is introduced by an analysis of the sources present in the General Archives of the Order in Rome. Then, stories of friars and sisters of the Third Order from various European nations are presented from different angles and perspectives: particular attention is given to the cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow. And so, in the exchanges of men and ideas, their coming and going, the reader becomes aware of the theological reflections and other observations expressed by the Dominicans on Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church. He or she learns about ecumenical attempts as well as commitments aimed at strengthening the Roman Catholic identity. A paper on the relations between the Holy See and Russia, from Benedict XV to Paul VI, provides an adequate complement to the presentation of the difficult situation during the period of the Soviet Union. The testimony of Bro. Evgenij Heinrichs on the rebirth of the Order after the Communist persecution constitutes, in a certain sense, a bridge between the past and the present.
The individual contributions, in Italian, French, English, and Russian, are all accompanied at the end by an abstract in English and Russian. The volume can be ordered from Angelicum University Press (editoria@pust.it).
the essay aims to reconstruct his relations with Savonarola and the
Dominican Order, particularly with the convent of S. Marco. There
the young humanist, who later became monk on the mountain
Athos, received his education as Dominican novice. Even during his
mission in Russia (from 1518), where he suffered a long detention
and a forced stay until his death, the memory of Savonarola and his
work as a reformer remained alive helping to shape his activity as
writer and polemist.
Michael Trivolis / Maximus the Greek (c. 1470-1555/1556). The process of modernisation and the end of Middle age in Russia.
In Russia the figure of the Athonite monk Maximus was generally interpreted in relation to traditional Orthodox values and, in particular, to his anti-Renaissance position. This study aims to read his biography in the light both of the culture of humanism and the Christian renewal movements taking place between fifteenth and sixteenth century in Europe, and to highlight his role as educator in Russia. The ecclesiastic hierarchy tried to come to terms with Maximus’s authoritative personality, making the most of his work to counter the influence of the Western world, both Catholic and Protestant. At the same time they kept him under strict control, while he was still alive, and intervened harshly against anything that might undermine the framework of the church and the monastic tradition, in which the seeds sown by the Athonite monk still continued to germinate.
ков, международная дипломатическая обстановка в момент прибытия в
Москву Максима Грека (1518). В особенности делается попытка пролить
свет на отношения Максима с греческой диаспорой как на западе, так и в
России, а также на роль папской дипломатии, в частности доминиканского
ордена, которая стремилась к созданию антитурецкой коалиции с участием
Москвы.
Ключевые слова: Максим Грек, история России, папская дипломатия, осман-
ский вопрос.
The arrival in Moscow of Maxim the Greek (1518) and the international diplomatic juncture
Abstract: On the basis of the available sources, the essay reconstructs the
international diplomatic juncture in Moscow at the arrival of Maxim the Greek
(1518) highlighting his relations with the Greek Diaspora both in the West and
in Russia and the role of papal diplomacy, above all of the Dominican order that
worked for the establishment of an anti-Turkish league that also included Moscow.
Keywords: Maxim the Greek, Russian history, papal diplomacy, Ottoman
question.
In the popular series, Žizn’ zamečatel’nych ljudej (Lives of Famous People) was published the biography of Sophia Palaiologina, a figure who has left a deep mark on Russian history and culture. The volume, edited by T. Matasova (2016), tells the story of the descendant of the Byzantine imperial family, married in 1472 to the great prince of Moscow Ivan iii. The fascinating reconstruction of the cultural, social and political context opens up new perspectives for research.
Keywords Slavonic pilgrimage literature-Slavonic apocryphal literature-Slavonic Holy Scriptures-Palestine liturgical tradition
2007 by a team of scholars under the leadership of G. M. Prokhorov, allows us to compare the oldest manuscript of the “first redaction” (RNB Q.XVII.88) with the evidence of the Velikie Minei Četii (RNB Sof. № 1322). The latter version transforms the pilgrimage tale into a devotional text, which fits better with Metropolitan Makarij’s project of collecting the Slavia Orthodoxa cultural heritage.
The article traces the history of the founding of the Kiev-Pechersk monastery, which is analyzed in order to understand the processes of formation of monastic and urban space in Russia. If the space is defined by a monastic appeal to Mount Athos and the Palestinian desert, the city space appeal to Constantinople and the cult of the Virgin model as a protector of the city.
Keywords: history of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the idea of space in Kievan Rus’, Rus’ relationships with Constantinople and Palestine.
Conferenze Trilaterali "Cristiani orientali e Repubblica delle Lettere fra XVI e XVIII sec.: Corrispondenze, viaggi, controversie"
Ateliers trilatéraux "Chrétiens orientaux et République des Lettres aux 16e-18e siècles: correspondances, voyages, controverses"
Trilaterale Forschungskonferenzen "Östliche Christen und die Gelehrtenrepublik zwischen dem 16. und dem 18. Jahrhundert: Briefwechsel, Reisen, Kontroversen"
The purpose of this paper is to illustrate, in the light of the religious and cultural history of the Eastern Slavic world, the roots and developments of the process of creating a national church in Ukraine, endowed with its own autonomy, as has already happened in other countries of the Orthodox tradition. The focus is not on the purely canonical aspects of the issue, but on the concepts of "ethnicity" (or "nation") and "territory", which belong to the cultural-historical and anthropological sphere, identifying some aspects that characterise the processes of the creation of autocephalous churches in the Eastern Slavic world.