Abstract

The article deals with hypotheses regarding the dating of Life (Vita) of Theodosius of the Caves. Two versions are in the focus of attention: the creation of the monument no later than 1088, before the death of Caves abbot Nikon (a hypothesis put forward by A.Yu. Kubaerv and accepted by A.A. Shakhmatov, new arguments in favor of which were relatively recently brought by A. Poppe), and not earlier than 1107–1108 (the hypothesis proposed by S.A. Bugoslavsky, currently defended by Yu.A. Artamonov). Evidence is given in favor of writing the Life (Vita) between March 1088 and August 1091, after the death of Nikon and before the transfer of the relics of Theodosius to a new church. A strong argument against the version that the Life (Vita) of Nikon was written during Nikon’s lifetime is calling him a “luminary” on a par with the long-dead Theodosius and Anthony and calling him “great.” No less strong argument against the version of the creation of the literary monument in 1107– 1108 is the lack of news about the transfer of the relics of the monk. The rest of the evidence substantiating both the earlier and later versions of the writing of Nestor’s work does not seem convincing. Thus, the lower (terminus post quem) and upper (terminus ante quem) chronological boundaries are established quite definitely. 

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