Genre of Life in the Works by Epiphanius the Wise

Abstract

This article is devoted to the study of the originality of the hagiographic genre in the work of the outstanding writer of the 14th–15th centuries, the Reverend Epiphanius the Wise. The specifics and structure of hagiographic texts are studied, their classification is presented, the connection of the original Old Russian works with the Byzantine hagiographic canon is emphasized. According to the author of the article, the hagiographic genre reaches its peak in its development in the era of the formation of a centralized Russian state. Epiphanius the Wise, a recognized master of his times, creating hagiobiographies of St. Stephen of Perm (the saintly type of life) and Sergius, abbot of Radonezh (the reverend type of life), relies on early Byzantine and medieval Russian traditions and creates a new stylistic principle, which was called “weaving of words”: synonymous series of epithets, lexical repetitions, anaphors, techniques homeotelevton, homeoptoton, text rhythmization, etc. It is thanks to the new manner of narration that, for the first time in Russian literature, the possibility of fixing the inner life of Orthodox ascetics and studying their spiritual experience opens up. The author of the article, analyzing the “Life of Stephen of Perm” and “Life of Sergius of Radonezh”, created by Epiphany the Wise, actualizes their significance in the formation of the phenomenon of holiness and comes to the conclusion that these hagiographic works are closely related to the main line of Russian literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, associated with attention to the inner world of man, his spiritual quest and spiritual experiences. The author suggests including the texts of Epiphanius the Wise in the list of additional literature for schoolchildren, justifying this by the fact that familiarity with the works of the outstanding scribe will prepare students for thoughtful reading and deeper understanding of the novels of Russian writers of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Keywords:

genre of life, ancient Russian literature, Byzantine hagiographic canon, the style of “weaving words”, Epiphanius the Wise, Stephen of Perm, Sergius of Radonezh