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The «Keleyny letopisets» by Dimitry of Rostov and «The World Chronicle» by Johannes Nauclerus
DOI of the paper: 10.15382/sturIII201438.51-68
Abstract
The «Kelejnyj letopisets» by St. Dimitry, Metropolitan of Rostov (1651–1709) is a work on the sacred and world history, based on numerous Western sources, writings of European theologians and historians. The paper is concerned with one of these sources, «The World Chronicle» by German historian Johannes Nauclerus (1425–1510). This is a work, which recounts universal history from the Creation to 1501. Dimitry of Rostov possessed an exemplar of this work edited in Cologne in 1544; now this exemplar is kept in the Research Department for Rare Books of the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The author of the paper analyses St. Dimitry’s marginal notes in «The World Chronicle», compares fragments of both texts, identifi es borrowings from «The World Chronicle» in the «Kelejnyj letopisets». According to the author’s observations, Dimitry of Rostov used «The World Chronicle» for accurate dating of biblical events. Also, Dimitry of Rostov borrowed from «The World Chronicle» some apocryphal legends. Besides, «The World Chronicle» was one of the main sources of information on the history of the Ancient Near East and classical mythology. Generally, Dimitry of Rostov compared this information with similar fragments of works by other West-European authors, such as Cornelius a Lapide, Jacob Bergomensis, Christan Adrichomius etc. Besides, through the medium of «The World Chronicle» Dimitry of Rostov was acquainted with works by medieval authors such as St. Augustine, Pseudo-Hegesippus, Pseudo-Berossus etc. Based on the analysis, the author makes conclusions on main principles of Dimitry of Rostov’s work with the borrowed material. The author considers that Dimitry of Rostov borrowed from Western sources only factual information, but he reconsidered it independently, whereby the «Kelejnyj letopisets» is a deeply original work both artistically and ideologically
Keywords
Dimitry of Rostov, The «Kelejnyj letopisets», Johannes Nauclerus, «The World Chronicle», chronography, sacred history, Western sources.
References
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