Hermeneutics of Old Russian Literature

1607-6192 2713-2226

IWL RAS

https://doi.org/10.22455/HORL.1607-6192-2025-24-101-158

Research Article and Publication of Archival Documents

Articles

METROPOLITAN OF GAZA PAISIUS LIGARIDES’ LETTER TO PATRIARCH NIKON JULY 12, 1662 AND ITS SEVENTEENTH CENTURY TRANSLATION

Sevastyanova

Svetlana K.

old-rus@imli.ru Rylik

Polina A.

old-rus@imli.ru

2025

24 101 158

2026

The correspondence between Paisius Ligarides, the Metropolitan of Gaza, and Patriarch Nikon holds significant historical relevance. In particular, the letters exchanged between them during the summer of 1662 are of great importance. These letters form part of what is known as Nikon’s “case” and include Ligarides’ response to Nikon’s initial communication. Ligarides’ epistle, written in Greek and preserved in his own handwriting, has received less scholarly attention than the Church Slavonic translation, which was prepared for Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and published by N.A. Gibbenet. This translation, based on a single extant manuscript, has also been subjected to less critical examination, particularly in terms of identifying the translator. This article specifically addresses two narratives: the original autograph of Ligarides and its Church Slavonic translation. The primary objective of this paper is to establish and analyze the authorship and characteristics of the translation of Ligarides’ letter to Nikon, which is important for understanding the evolution of Russian translation techniques in the second half of the 17th century. Assuming that the translation was done by members of the Chudov circle, most likely by Epiphanius Slavinetsky, the authors use existing researches on Epiphanius’ style and translation techniques to analyze the linguistic and stylistic features of the translation. Notable lexical features identified in the translation include complex two- and three-root constructions, a prevalence of prefixed words containing one to three prefixes, as well as the presence of archaisms, lexical Grecisms, and Polonisms. A focused examination is also conducted on the marginal notes, which elucidate the challenges of translation, including the clarification of meanings through the selection of synonyms and Russian equivalents for borrowed terms. Biblical references are also taken into account. The findings support the authors’ hypothesis that Epiphanius Slavinetsky was the likely translator of Ligarides’ epistle into Church Slavonic.

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