Catechetical Thinking in 17th-Century Moscow: In the Search of an Audience

• In Event: Religious Culture in Early Modern Eastern Europe: The Texts and Their Audiences

Abstract

Where was the Russian catechism in the 17th century? Why did the catechism of Belarusian Szymon Budny leave no trace in Moscow? And why did intellectuals in Moscow refuse the catechetical thinking of the Ukrainian Lavrentij Zyzanij? Was it because of dogmatic doubts and protestant and catholic principles of faith in these books, which were unacceptable to orthodox thinking? I will argue that beyond theological arguments, a significant role in the non-acceptance of Western European models in Moscow was played by form rather than content. Indeed, if we look closely, there is intense catechetical thinking going on in Russia in the 17th century. But it takes its own Russian form and hides all traces of Western European or Ukrainian predecessors. Therefore, I will look closer into the Kniga o Vere (1648), which is, in a way, a “Russian Crypto-Catechism.” I will search for similarities, adaptations, variations, and acculturation of this text with its predecessors in the broader context of the cultural processes of 17th-century Russia, which adapted Western European cultural impulses—but always in its own way and its own style.

Author

• Stefan Schneck, U of Zurich (Switzerland)