«Речь философа» в Повести временных лет: вопрос функции и адресата
"Speech of the philosopher" of the Povest' vremennykh let: the question of the function and the addressee

Summary/Abstract: In the article a hypothesis of catechetical function of the Philosopher’s Speech is being verified — a text which is a part of the “The Russian Primary Chronicle”. In comparison with the ancient church practice of catechesis it is being proven, that the text is composed by the example of Catechetical Liturgical reading (Catechism of the pagans). The introductory part of the “Reading of the Life and perishment of the blessed passion bearers Boris and Gleb” (“Chteniya o zhitii i pogublenii blazhennyh strastoterpcev Borisa i Gleba”), whose contents coincide with the content of annalistic Speech, and other data suggest that prior to Memorial holidays of Old Russian Saints preceded in the XI century posts and divine services associated with a massive catechesis. The direction and content emphasis of annalistic text suggests that the author and the subsequent editors focused on the audience, which was under the influence of heretical teachings, close to views of the Bogomils and Paulicians. Anti-Hebrew allusions of the prophetic partition of the Speech are explained by contamination of the adherents of this heresy with “zhidovins” by Old Russian polemicists, which was probably caused by a specific range of images, motifs and ideas of the Hebrew apocryphal literature, perceived as heretics.

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