UDC

821.161+393+251

Authors

Natal’ya N. Bedina
Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov; nab. Severnoy Dviny 17, Arkhangelsk, 163002, Russian Federation;
e-mail: bedina-nat@yandex.ru

Abstract

This article studies the reflection of mediaeval eschatological ideas in the necrology as a genre of divine service texts. The main form of necrology (a death bill) consisting of a list of the dead to be prayed for embodies the image of the world as a book (a register) with inherent semantics of integrity and completeness. This listing principle traces the necrology to the biblical eschatological image of “heavenly books”. In Russia, starting from the late 15th century necrologies were preceded by literary prefaces. This article focuses on the genre and semantic analysis of the Preface attributed by I.V. Dergacheva to Patriarch Job of Moscow and attempts to identify mediaeval eschatological ideas in it. The main subject of the Preface is “minor” eschatology, i.e. particular judgement. However, the eschatology of the Preface is not only pragmatic in nature; it is also the eschatology of communion with God. The text has certain oratorical features forming the public space of the divine service text. Moreover, the conversation involves both the dead, the living, and God. Necrology as a genre is based on the appeal to God in the hope of His mercy. “Eschatological optimism” (I.V. Dergachev) of necrological prefaces and understanding of the prayer as grace define the structural and semantic features of necrologies, where memory is viewed as a form of conciliar liturgical service. Remembrance of the deceased in prayer is central to the general Christian commemoration culture. It also includes funeral rites and necropolis construction. However, while ritual practice is a direct reflection of folk and mythological ideas, the necrological liturgical tradition dispels the archaic notion of death as the opposite of the living world. The fact that commemoration practice does not divide the deceased into “clean” and “dirty” embodies the ideal of the “promised wholeness” (V.N. Matonin), whose supreme manifestation is love and mercy.

Keywords

eschatology, necrology, divine service books, oratorical prose

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