Natasha's Dance (122 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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* Unlike their Catholic counterpart!, Russian Orthodox priests were allowed to marry
* Unlike their Catholic counterpart!, Russian Orthodox priests were allowed to marry
* Unlike their Catholic counterpart!, Russian Orthodox priests were allowed to marry
guidance of a ‘holy man’ or ‘elder’ who was in touch with the ‘energies’ of God. The great flow
guidance of a ‘holy man’ or ‘elder’ who was in touch with the ‘energies’ of God. The great flow
guidance of a ‘holy man’ or ‘elder’ who was in touch with the ‘energies’ of God. The great flow
Paissy’s ideas were gradually embraced in the early decades of the nineteenth century b
Paissy’s ideas were gradually embraced in the early decades of the nineteenth century b
Paissy’s ideas were gradually embraced in the early decades of the nineteenth century b
starets,
1
2
20. Hermits at a monastery in northern Russia. Those standing have taken
20. Hermits at a monastery in northern Russia. Those standing have taken
20. Hermits at a monastery in northern Russia. Those standing have taken
20. Hermits at a monastery in northern Russia. Those standing have taken
the vows of the schema (skhima), the strictest monastic rules in the
the vows of the schema (skhima), the strictest monastic rules in the
the vows of the schema (skhima), the strictest monastic rules in the
the vows of the schema (skhima)
the strictest monastic rules in the
Orthodox Church. Their habits show the instruments of the martyrdom of
Orthodox Church. Their habits show the instruments of the martyrdom of
Orthodox Church. Their habits show the instruments of the martyrdom of
Orthodox Church. Their habits show the instruments of the martyrdom of
Christ and a text in Church Slavonic from Luke 9:24
Christ and a text in Church Slavonic from Luke 9:24
Christ and a text in Church Slavonic from Luke 9:24
Christ and a text in Church Slavonic from Luke 9:24
up Father Vassian, an old monk at Optina (and the model for Father Ferrapont in The Brothe
up Father Vassian, an old monk at Optina (and the model for Father Ferrapont in The Brothe
up Father Vassian, an old monk at Optina (and the model for Father Ferrapont in The Brothe
The Brothers Karamazov),
3
It was only natural that the nineteenth-century search for a true Russian faith should lo
It was only natural that the nineteenth-century search for a true Russian faith should lo
It was only natural that the nineteenth-century search for a true Russian faith should lo
4
This emphasis on the mystical experience of the Divinity was associated with two impor
This emphasis on the mystical experience of the Divinity was associated with two impor
This emphasis on the mystical experience of the Divinity was associated with two impor
experience
because they let themselves be slaughtered without resistance). The second consequenc
because they let themselves be slaughtered without resistance). The second consequenc
because they let themselves be slaughtered without resistance). The second consequenc
Primary Chronicle,
5
The Russian Church is contained entirely in its liturgy, and to understand it there is no
The Russian Church is contained entirely in its liturgy, and to understand it there is no
The Russian Church is contained entirely in its liturgy, and to understand it there is no
Nowhere could the excitement and commotion be felt as keenly as in the church. At the door
Nowhere could the excitement and commotion be felt as keenly as in the church. At the door
Nowhere could the excitement and commotion be felt as keenly as in the church. At the door
there were serious worthy people standing. There could be no question of any concentra
there were serious worthy people standing. There could be no question of any concentra
there were serious worthy people standing. There could be no question of any concentra
You are struck by the same same kind of extraordinary sense of motion in the Easter servi
You are struck by the same same kind of extraordinary sense of motion in the Easter servi
You are struck by the same same kind of extraordinary sense of motion in the Easter servi
6
Anyone who goes to a Russian church service is bound to be impressed by the beauty of its
Anyone who goes to a Russian church service is bound to be impressed by the beauty of its
Anyone who goes to a Russian church service is bound to be impressed by the beauty of its
znamenny
(znameni)
Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
Vespers,
All Night Vigil
stand not simply as a work of sacred art but also as the synthesis of an entire culture of re
stand not simply as a work of sacred art but also as the synthesis of an entire culture of re
stand not simply as a work of sacred art but also as the synthesis of an entire culture of re
Russians pray with their eyes open - their gaze fixed on an icon. For contemplating the icon
Russians pray with their eyes open - their gaze fixed on an icon. For contemplating the icon
Russians pray with their eyes open - their gaze fixed on an icon. For contemplating the icon
I once stood at a shrine and gazed at a wonder-working icon of the Mother of God, thinking o
I once stood at a shrine and gazed at a wonder-working icon of the Mother of God, thinking o
I once stood at a shrine and gazed at a wonder-working icon of the Mother of God, thinking o
7
Icons came to Russia from Byzantium in the tenth century, and for the first two hundred years
Icons came to Russia from Byzantium in the tenth century, and for the first two hundred years
Icons came to Russia from Byzantium in the tenth century, and for the first two hundred years
space and to symbolize the fact, in the words of Russia’s greatest icon scholar Leonid Ouspen
space and to symbolize the fact, in the words of Russia’s greatest icon scholar Leonid Ouspen
space and to symbolize the fact, in the words of Russia’s greatest icon scholar Leonid Ouspen
8
Andrei Rublev
It is hard to overstress the importance of the fact that Russia received its Christianity f
It is hard to overstress the importance of the fact that Russia received its Christianity f
It is hard to overstress the importance of the fact that Russia received its Christianity f
9
With Byzantium’s decline, Russia was cut off from the mainstream of Christian civiliza
With Byzantium’s decline, Russia was cut off from the mainstream of Christian civiliza
With Byzantium’s decline, Russia was cut off from the mainstream of Christian civiliza
It had no lingua franca like Latin - the Russian clergy, for example, being mostly ignoran
It had no lingua franca like Latin - the Russian clergy, for example, being mostly ignoran
It had no lingua franca like Latin - the Russian clergy, for example, being mostly ignoran
The rituals of the Church were the basis of these national differences. There was one es
The rituals of the Church were the basis of these national differences. There was one es
The rituals of the Church were the basis of these national differences. There was one es
The whole of Russian life in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was permeated wit
The whole of Russian life in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was permeated wit
The whole of Russian life in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was permeated wit
At around 2 p.m. on the Sunday of Shrovetide, horses would be harnessed up to two or three
At around 2 p.m. on the Sunday of Shrovetide, horses would be harnessed up to two or three
At around 2 p.m. on the Sunday of Shrovetide, horses would be harnessed up to two or three
tuzhiki’.
10
In Moscow there would be skating on the ice of the Moscow river, where a famous fairgrou
In Moscow there would be skating on the ice of the Moscow river, where a famous fairgrou
In Moscow there would be skating on the ice of the Moscow river, where a famous fairgrou
11
On the eve of Easter Moscow broke out of its ordered services and a screaming, raving mark
On the eve of Easter Moscow broke out of its ordered services and a screaming, raving mark
On the eve of Easter Moscow broke out of its ordered services and a screaming, raving mark
piety. We went every year to take part in this traditional Moscow celebration with our fat
piety. We went every year to take part in this traditional Moscow celebration with our fat
piety. We went every year to take part in this traditional Moscow celebration with our fat
12
The Easter service is the most important service, and the most beautiful, in the Russian
The Easter service is the most important service, and the most beautiful, in the Russian
The Easter service is the most important service, and the most beautiful, in the Russian
The peasants would come directly from church to exchange Easter greetings. There would be
The peasants would come directly from church to exchange Easter greetings. There would be
The peasants would come directly from church to exchange Easter greetings. There would be
kulicb
our nanny would give out beer or homebrew. We received so many kisses from faces with bear
our nanny would give out beer or homebrew. We received so many kisses from faces with bear
our nanny would give out beer or homebrew. We received so many kisses from faces with bear
13
The procession of the icons on the Easter Monday, in which icons were brought to every house
The procession of the icons on the Easter Monday, in which icons were brought to every house
The procession of the icons on the Easter Monday, in which icons were brought to every house
There were so many people who wanted to receive the Icon of the Heavenly Virgin and the Mart
There were so many people who wanted to receive the Icon of the Heavenly Virgin and the Mart
There were so many people who wanted to receive the Icon of the Heavenly Virgin and the Mart
by our housekeeper would take the heavy icon and carry it up the front steps with difficulty
by our housekeeper would take the heavy icon and carry it up the front steps with difficulty
by our housekeeper would take the heavy icon and carry it up the front steps with difficulty
samovar
14
Religious rituals were at the heart of the Russian faith and national consciousness. Th
Religious rituals were at the heart of the Russian faith and national consciousness. Th
Religious rituals were at the heart of the Russian faith and national consciousness. Th
may appear to be about some obscure points of ritual (the most contentious reform alt
may appear to be about some obscure points of ritual (the most contentious reform alt
may appear to be about some obscure points of ritual (the most contentious reform alt
15
In many ways the Old Believers remained more faithful than the established Church to the s
In many ways the Old Believers remained more faithful than the established Church to the s
In many ways the Old Believers remained more faithful than the established Church to the s
16
by the rituals of their faith and the patriarchal customs of medieval Muscovy. They were
by the rituals of their faith and the patriarchal customs of medieval Muscovy. They were
by the rituals of their faith and the patriarchal customs of medieval Muscovy. They were
Persecuted by the government for much of their history, the Old Believers had a strong liber
Persecuted by the government for much of their history, the Old Believers had a strong liber
Persecuted by the government for much of their history, the Old Believers had a strong liber
bezpoptsy)
This Utopian search was equally pursued by diverse peasant sects and religious wande
This Utopian search was equally pursued by diverse peasant sects and religious wande
This Utopian search was equally pursued by diverse peasant sects and religious wande
Khlysty
Khristy,
Dhikbobortsy),
Stranniki),
Molokane),
(Skoptsy),
Russia was a breeding ground for Christian anarchists and Utopians. The mystical foundati
Russia was a breeding ground for Christian anarchists and Utopians. The mystical foundati
Russia was a breeding ground for Christian anarchists and Utopians. The mystical foundati
17
(pravda)
18
19
The oldest of these folk myths was the legend of Kitezh - a sacred city that was hidden under
The oldest of these folk myths was the legend of Kitezh - a sacred city that was hidden under
The oldest of these folk myths was the legend of Kitezh - a sacred city that was hidden under
Over the centuries the legend became mixed with other stories about towns and monaster
Over the centuries the legend became mixed with other stories about towns and monaster

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