Korzo Margarita

The Apostles’ and the Athanasian Creeds in the Religious Writings of the Metropolitanate of Kiev (16-17 th. centuries)

Abstract

The study considers what status in the religious writings of the Metropolitanate of Kiev and Russia of the 16–17th centuries had two old Christian creeds — the Apostles’ and the Athanasian. As main sources are examined printed editions of the Orthodox Brotherhood of Vilnius, catechisms by Lavrentij Zyzanij (1627) and by the Orthodox metropolitan of Kiev Peter Mohyla (1645), manuscript catechetical manual «Veniets Very» (1670) and two printed catechisms by Simeon Polotskiy. All authors that belonged to the so-called Kievan theological school accepted the Apostles’ Creed as an authentic one and used it as a basis for their presentation of Christian doctrine. A similar role the given creed played in the Catholic Church and in all Protestant denominations. The Moscow tradition, which presented by the manuscript heritage of Euthymeos of Chudov (Moscow State Historical Museum, the Synodal Collection) attributed the Apostles’ Creed as a heretic confession by Marcellus and denied its use in catechetical and liturgical practices. A completely different status got the confession attributed to Athanasius of Alexandria. The given creed was borrowed in the Moscow tradition through Kievan editions, was printed in Psalters (since 1647) and school primers (since Both in the religious writings of the Metropolitanate of Kiev and Russia the creed was used mainly for polemical purposes (initially in a controversy with Antitrinitarians later — with the Old Believers).

Keywords

The Apostles’ Creed, the Athanasian Creed, religious writings of the Metropolitanate of Kiev and Russia of the 16th and 17th centuries.

References

1. 2001 “Afanasiev simvol very” (Creed of Athanasius), in Pravoslavnaja jenciklopedija, Moscow, 2001, vol. 3, pp. 696–697.
2. Viktorov A. E. 1863 “Opis' biblioteki ieromonaha Evfimija” (List of Library of Monk Priest Euphymius), in Letopisi russkoj literatury i drevnosti, izdavaemyja Nikolaem Tihonravovym, Moscow, 1863, vol. 5/3: Smes'.
3. Voznesenskij A. V. K istorii slavjanskoj pechatnoj Psaltiri. Moskovskaja tradicija XVI–XVII vekov. Prostaja Psaltir' (To History of Slavic Printed Psalter. Moscow Tradition of XVI–XVII Centuries. Simple Psalter), Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, 2010.
4. Grigor'ev A. B. 2011 “«Katehizis» mitropolita Arsenija Macievicha v rjadu rukopisnyh i pechatnyh katehizisov XVIII v.” (Catechism of Metropolitan Arsenij Macievich among Manuscript and Printed Catechisms of XVIII Cent.), in Filaretovskij al'manah, Moscow, 2011, vol. 7, pp. 163–213.
5. Dmitriev M. V. Mezhdu Rimom i Car'gradom. Genezis Brestskoj cerkovnoj unii 1595–1596 gg. (Between Rome and Constantinople. Genesis of Church Union 1595–1596), Moscow, 2003.
6. Zhurova L. I. 1997 “Poslanija Maksima Greka Nikolaju nemchinu protiv latinjan” (Letters of Maxim the Greek to Nikolaj the German against Latins), in Gumanitarnye nauki v Sibiri, 1997, vol. 2, pp. 69–76.
7. Ilarion (Alfeev). Hristos — Pobeditel' ada. Tema soshestvija vo ad v vostochnohristianskoj tradicii (Christ — Winner of Hell. Theme of Descend to Hwll in East Christian Tradition), Saint-Petersburg, 2001.
8. Karpov A. Azbukovniki ili alfavity inostrannyh rechej po spiskam Soloveckoj biblioteki (Azbukovniks or Alphabets of Foreign Speeches according to Lists of Solovki Library), Kazan', 1877.
9. Korzo M. A. Nravstvennoe bogoslovie Simeona Polockogo: osvoenie katolicheskoj tradicii moskovskimi knizhnikami vtoroj poloviny XVII v. (Moral Theology of Simeon Polockij: Mastering of Catholic Tradition by Moscow Scribers of Second Half of XVII Cent.), Moscow, 2011.
10. Korzo M. A. 2005 “O strukture i soderzhanii bukvarnyh katehizisov moskovskoj pechati XVII — nachala XVIII veka” (About Structure and Content of Alphabet Catechisms of Moscow Print of XVII — Begin of XVIII Centuries), in Slavjanovedenie, 2005, vol. 2, pp. 74–84.
11. Korzo M. A. Ukrainskaja i belorusskaja kateheticheskaja tradicija konca XVI–XVIII vv.: Stanovlenie, jevoljucija i problemy zaimstvovanij (Ukrainian and Byelorussian Catechism Tradition of End of XVI–XVIII Cent.: Formation, Evolution and Problems of Adoption), Moscow, 2007.
12. Nadson A. 1973 “Eueuski bukvar 1618 g.” (Hebrew Alphabet Book of 1618), in Bozhym shljaham, God XXI, 1973, vol. 1/135, pp. 3–9.
13. Galenchanka G. Ja. (ed.) Kniga Belarusi: 1517–1917. Zvodny katalog (Byelorussian Book: 1517–1917. General Catalogue), Minsk, 1986.
14. Opisanie rukopisej Soloveckogo monastyrja, nahodjashhihsja v biblioteke Kazanskoj Duhovnoj akademii (Description of Manuscripts of Solovki Monastery, that Are in Library of Kazanskaja Spiritual Academy), Kazan', 1881, vol. 1.
15. Evdokimov P. Pravoslavie (Orthodoxy), Moscow, 2002.
16. Sobolevskij A. I. Perevodnaja literatura Moskovskoj Rusi XIV–XVII vekov: Bibliograficheskie materialy (Translation Literatire of Moscow Rus’ in XIV–XVII Centuries: Bibliographical Materials), Saint-Petersburg, 1903.
17. Chernov V. V. 2001 “Apostol'skij simvol very” (Apostolic Creed), in Pravoslavnaja jenciklopedija, Moscow, 2001, vol. 3, pp. 124–125.
18. Chuba G. Ukrains'ki rukopisni uchitel'ni Evangelija. Doslidzhennja, katalog, opisi (Ukranian Manustript Teaching Gospels. Studies, Catalog, Lists), Kiïv, L'viv, 2011.
19. Jusim M. A. 1993 “Knigi iz biblioteki Simeona Polockogo — Sil'vestra Medvedeva” (Books from Library of Simeon Polockij — Silvester Medvedev), in TODRL, 1993, vol. 47, pp. 317–318.
20. Baumann K. Aberglaube für Laien. Zur Programmatik und Überlieferung spätmittelalterlicher Superstitionen-Kritik, Würzburg, 1989, vol. 2.
21. Bibliothek der Symbole und Glaubensregeln der alten Kirche, Hildesheim, 1962.
22. Borkowska M. Królewskie modlitewniki. Studium z kultury religij nej epoki Jagiellonów (XV i początek XVI wieku), Lublin, 1999.
23. Bühler C. F. 1953 “The Apostles and the Creed”, in Speculum, 1953, vol. 28/2, pp. 335–339.
24. Hryniewicz W. 1979 ““Zstąpienie do piekieł” w tradycji wschodniej”, in Roczniki Teologiczno-Kanoniczne, 1979, vol. 26/3, pp. 41–52.
25. Lobwasser A. Der Psalter des Königlichen Propheten Davids, Hildesheim, 2004, vol. 1–2.
26. Longosz St. 1997 “Struktura Symbolu Apostolskiego”, in Knapiński R. (ed.) Symbol Apostolski w nauczaniu i sztuce Kościoła Katolickiego do Soboru Trydenckiego, Lublin, 1997, pp. 76–98.
27. Cross F. L. (ed.) The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, Oxford, 1977.
28. Pylak B. 1973 “Apostolski skład wiary”, in Encyklopedia Katolicka, Lublin, 1973. vol. 1, pp. 818–819.
29. Słoński St. Psałterz Puławski, Warszawa, 1916.
30. Staats R. 1993 “Das Nizänum in der Lutherischen Reformation”, in Grane L. (ed.) Auctoritas Patrum. Zur Rezeption der Kirchenväter im 15. und 16. Jahrhundert, Mainz, 1993, pp. 213–226.
31. Stammler W. 1960 “Mittelalterliche Prosa in Deutscher Sprache”, in Stammler W. Deutsche Philologie im Aufriss, Berlin, 1960, vol. 2, pp. 749–1102.
32. Starowieyski M. “Legenda o powstaniu Składu Apostolskiego“, in Symbol Apostolski w nauczaniu i sztuce Kościoła Katolickiego, pp. 51–62.
33. Caspari C. P. (ed.) Ungedruckte, unbeachtete und wenig beachtete Quellen zur Geschichte des Taufsymbols und der Glaubensregel, Christiania, 1875, vol. 3.
34. Walter H. Der Heidelberger Katechismus im konfessionspolitischen Kräftespiel seiner Frühzeit. Historisch-bibliographische Einführung, Zürich, 1983.
35. Wydra W., Rzepka W. R. Chrestomatia staropolska. Teksty do roku 1543, Wrocław, 1995.

Information about the author

Korzo Margarita