Hermeneutics of Old Russian Literature Hermeneutics of Old Russian Literature 1607-6192 2713-2226 IWL RAS https://doi.org/10.22455/HORL.1607-6192-2024-23-683-704 Research Article Articles “THE CHILD OF OBEDIENCE NEVER DIES”: THE IMAGE OF ST. ACACIUS OF SINAI IN LITERATURE AND ART Popova Tatiana G. old-rus@imli.ru 2024 23 683 704 Copyright © 2026, IWL RAS 2026 The article analyzes the image of the monk Acacius, created by St. John Climacus in the Homily “On Obedience.” This is the only source that has preserved information about the life of St. Acacius. The image of the young monk became a symbol of obedience and was further developed in Byzantine and Slavic culture. The name Acacius is firmly associated with the epithet “Sinai,” which is historically incorrect, because the story takes place not in Sinai, but in Asia Minor (Anatolia). St. Acacius suffered martyrdom, being killed by his evil mentor. Clarifications and additions have been made to the article about the St. Acacius in the Orthodox Encyclopedia (vol. 1). The date January 8 has been added to the saint’s feast days. A possible source of the incorrect wording “died after a short illness” has been identified; this inaccuracy may go back to the Menaions of St. Demetrius of Rostov, who added details to the text of the Life of Acacius that were missing in the Ladder. To the list of images of the St. Acacius from 4 names added 13 names of monuments of Byzantine, post-Byzantine and Russian art that preserved the image of the St. Acacius, including the Life Icon of St. John Climacus, painted in the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery around 1572. The tradition of depicting Acacius in the image of an old man is especially noted as not at all corresponding to the literary source, but taking place in Novgorod monumental painting of the 12th–15th centuries and in Russian Art of the late 19th — early 20th centuries. 1. Annenkov, V. 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