Korzo M.A. Forms of Existence of Texts from Other Confessions in Orthodox Book-Publishing of the 17th Century: the Case Study of Rzeczpospolita and Russia

Abstract: In the 17th century memorials of other confessions made a great impact on the development of Orthodox book-publishing in Rzeczpospolita and Moscovia and were one of the factors of the development of confessional identity of Orthodox Christians. The influence of Protestantism that prevailed at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries was replaced with the impact of Roman Catholic theology by the middle of the 17th century brought to Mosow by Kiev orthodox intellectuals and books. Orthodox bookmen adapted texts of other confessions to Orthodox tradition and used numerous editing methods and techniques. These methods are analyzed by the author of the article using the example of 'The Large Catechism' published by an activist of the 'brotherly movement' in Rzeczpospolita Lavrentiy Zizaniy Tustanovskiy (Moscow, 1627), 'Man's Peace with God' by an archmandrite of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra Innokenty Gizel (Kiev, 1669) and 'The Crown of Faith' by a Belorusian theologist Symeon Polotsky. The methodological basis of the research involves the confessionalization concept (Konfessionalisierung) introduced by the German historical school (E.W. Zeeden, H. Schilling) and the concept of 'polymorphous' Orthodox culture of the late 16th - early 18th centuries offered by an Italian researcher Giovanna Brogi Bercoff. The author of the article also emphasizes the influence of 'external', i.e. non-Orthodox memorials on the development of Orthodox confessional identity of the 17th century. However, the author refers to the identity that can be reconstructed based on the analysis of the memorials of Orthodox book-publishing. According to the author, the fact that 'external' non-Orthodox sources were widely used can be a proof that Kiev (to a greater extent) and Moscow (to a lesser extent) Orthodox Christians of the 17th century were at the stage of searching for their confessional image and that image was finally developed as a result of the creative dialogue between Orthodoxy and other confessions. 

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