Russian Assumption Lavra on Mount Athos and Anthony of the Caves
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15407/uhj2018.05.004Keywords:
Athos, Ksilurga, Antonii of the Caves, Rus’, Kyiv, monasticism, monasteryAbstract
The birth of monasticism in Rus’ occurred under the direct influence of the monasteries of Mount Athos. Shortly after the Baptism of Rus’ on Mount Athos, an ancient monastery in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God, known as the Ksilurga, became a blacksmith for monasticism in Rus’ and the center of Orthodox books, culture and enlightenment. Act of 1016 that was found in the archives of the Great Lavra testifies that at this time an ancient monastery already existed on Mount Athos, its rector was Herasym the abbot. The most abundant abode was acquired during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise the Kyiv Prince. This can be seen from the documents of 1030, 1048 and 1070 that have been preserved in the archives of the Panteleimon Monastery on Mount Athos. There is still no glorious information about the monastic vows of St. Antonii of the Caves on Mount Athos who was the founder of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra. At the same time, the study of the history of the Athos monastery Ksilurga gives reason to believe that it happened in this monastery that was "the father of ancient monasticism". That is why this monastery can rightly be considered "maternal abode" for monasticism of Rus’. Like the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the Ksilourgou Monastery was dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God, which also indicates a certain connection between these ancient monasteries. Under their influence, the tradition to devote central churches to the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God gradually spread throughout Rus’. In the act of 1048, Constantine IX Monomachos the Byzantine emperor called the Ruthenian Athos Monastery Ksilurga the "Tsar Lavra", having secured corresponding privileges for it. Documents of 12th clearly testify that natives of Rus’ lived in this monastery. In particular, in the description of the property of the monastery Ksilurga of 1142, 49 "Ruthenian books" were mentioned, while the Greek books do not mention there. This indicates not only the nationality of the inhabitants of the monastery, but also one of their possible lessons – rewriting books.
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