The article focuses on the Epistle to Vladimir Monomach on fasting (Poslanie Vladimiru Monomachu o poste) written by metropolitan Nikifor I († 1121). The author aims at further investigating the hypothesis concerning the literary form employed for spiritual teachings. As she demonstrated in previous articles, both the Teaching to the spiritual son (Poučenie k duchovnomu čadu) of Georgij Zarubskij (12th century?) and the Epistle to Vladimir Monomach (Poslanie k Vladimiru Monomachu) of bishop Daniil († 1121) belong to this literary genre. Here she offers an analysis of Nikifor's Epistle based on the use of biblical quotations and rhetorical devices. Through them, she establishes that his Epistle also belongs to spiritual teachings. When compared with previously examined texts, however, the Epistle shows some peculiarities. In particular, its structure and contents are considerably more complex. The high level of elaboration throughout the text, as the author suggests, may depend on the fact that both the writer and the recipient were well-read men. Moreover, the presence of two liturgically meaningful quotations and different pragmatic levels in the use of biblical quotations can be established. As a result, the author more precisely defines the stylistic and functional features of spiritual teachings.
La letteratura di direzione spirituale: la testimonianza del Poslanie Vladimiru Monomachu o poste del metropolita Nikifor I
ROMOLI, FRANCESCA
2014-01-01
Abstract
The article focuses on the Epistle to Vladimir Monomach on fasting (Poslanie Vladimiru Monomachu o poste) written by metropolitan Nikifor I († 1121). The author aims at further investigating the hypothesis concerning the literary form employed for spiritual teachings. As she demonstrated in previous articles, both the Teaching to the spiritual son (Poučenie k duchovnomu čadu) of Georgij Zarubskij (12th century?) and the Epistle to Vladimir Monomach (Poslanie k Vladimiru Monomachu) of bishop Daniil († 1121) belong to this literary genre. Here she offers an analysis of Nikifor's Epistle based on the use of biblical quotations and rhetorical devices. Through them, she establishes that his Epistle also belongs to spiritual teachings. When compared with previously examined texts, however, the Epistle shows some peculiarities. In particular, its structure and contents are considerably more complex. The high level of elaboration throughout the text, as the author suggests, may depend on the fact that both the writer and the recipient were well-read men. Moreover, the presence of two liturgically meaningful quotations and different pragmatic levels in the use of biblical quotations can be established. As a result, the author more precisely defines the stylistic and functional features of spiritual teachings.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
