Berseneva, T. P. Phenomenon of Synergism in Old Russian Culture

Abstract: There have been obvious ups and downs in the development of the Russian culture. But despite discrete and catastrophic character of culture admitted by almost all researchers, Russian culture remains united and unique. The author of the article advances an idea that such unity is caused by the expansion of the central, ‘core’ ideals to the most of cultural spheres. Such ideals provide exceptional stability and sustainability. For Old Russia such ‘core’ ideals were based on Orthodoxy. However, along with Orthodoxy, Byzantium also gave Russia the theory and practice of Hesychasm –mystical and ascetic Orthodox tradition. Synergism is one of the main concepts of Hesychasm. Introducing the term ‘Synergism’ in his study, the author makes an attempt to describe the periods of golden age of the Russian culture from the point of view of the fullest expression of Hesychastic and Synergistic ideals. One of such periods fell upon the Old Russian culture, in particular, the XIV–XV centuries. It was the period when Russia adopted most of Hesychastic ideas form Byzantium which resulted in formation of a monastic culture, spread of the starets movement and expression of Hesychastic ideals in Andrey Rublev’s and Theophanes the Greek’s works, fresco painting, architecture of religious buildings and literature.

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