One of the most interesting monuments in the Old RussianLiterature is the famous "Life of Avvakum". His summary is an autobiographical story about the fate and deeds of the old man, about his faithful service to God. Written in a completely new genre for this time, the work demonstrates a unique style and peculiar language.
A work that has come down to us from time immemorial,consists of three familiar parts. In the first of these (introduction), the author sets forth the church dogmas of the true faith, which he professes. In the main part, the saint tells about his life: about birth and childhood, about persecutions and exile, about his thoughts and observations. In conclusion, Avvakum delivers separate stories about the healing of possessed people, and also addresses Elder Epiphanius, his soul mate, companion and spiritual father. The summary of the "Life of Avvakum" tells us that it was Epiphanius who pushed him to write this work so that the word of God and the learned truths would not go into oblivion. In turn, Protopop advises him to write a similar work about himself so that people will know about his hard life.
The first autobiographical compositionOld Russian literature not only tells about the long-suffering life of the holy elder. It was a brilliant work that not only includes “boring” facts from life, but also contains a certain message from a rebel who did not put up with the vices of either his flock or other priests. For harsh criticism of the patriarch, and even the tsar-father himself, for rejecting church reform (Avvakum was and remained an old believer) he was not only sent into exile, his ecclesiastical duties were canceled, but also executed by a terrible death. After torture, he was burned in a wooden house along with his associates in Pustozersk.
This is the summary of the Life of the Protopopee.Avvakuma. The manner of his writing is filled with poetics and emotions. The elder understands that the canons are destroyed, but he does not want to put up with it, he further spreads the light of God's truth. Even in exile, the disgraced protopop preaches and writes letters, struggles with “lawlessness” and teaches true faith. Avvakum, the great teacher of the church, did not even agree to the queen's requests to renounce his convictions.
Summary of "The Lives of Avvakum"It also contains an element of miracle as evidence of the veracity of ideas that the elder preaches. In the name of Jesus Christ, the saint cast out demons and healed the weak. Author's digressions testify to the experience of the writer who cares about the integrity and unity of the entire narrative. Later, these techniques will become mandatory in fiction.
The appearance of the autobiographical workmarked a new stage in the development of literature in Russia. After all, Avvakum's followers, and simply other authors who did not share his views, approached the world: there is a departure from the canons, literary fiction, the language becomes more alive, “peasant”. Old Russian literature has ceased to be purely ecclesiastical, it is more consistent with the new society - a more educated, prone to self-reflection on life, religion, the state will arrange and its ideals.
