What is "Domostroy"? "Domostroy": author, year of creation, summary

A unique cultural monument remained to contemporaries from the inhabitants of ancient Russia. Compiled in the 16th century, the book was the only correct guide not only for those who build a house. It was taken as a basis in the issues of creating a family and farming. What is "Domostroy", what it was for our ancestors and what is its significance for historians? Let's try to understand.

Encyclopedia of the Household of Ancient Rus

Domostroy is a set of rules and advice for every day. He united in himself the spiritual and the worldly. No wonder this book was the first "Encyclopedia of the household" - that's what Domostroy is.

In addition to advice and recommendations, it introduced the rules of ritual rites. Weddings, festivities and daily pastime were to be coordinated with this book.

Some foreigners are mistakenly convinced that the contents of "Domostroi" are known to all, without exception, residents of Russia.

The appearance of "Domostroy"

In the 16th century, the number of manuscript books increased. They were very valuable. Instead of parchment, paper was successfully used, which was delivered to Russia from Europe. Therefore, the creation of "Domostroi" could be both in manuscript form and in print. Some researchers report two versions of the ancient encyclopedia. One of them has a very ancient syllable, strict, but correct and wise. And the second is piqued with rigid and strange orders.

There was "Domostroy" (the year of its creation is not known for certain) in the first half of the 16th century in Veliky Novgorod.

Predecessors were such Slavonic collections with instructions and recommendations, as "Zlatoust", "Izmaragd", "Golden chain".

In "Domostroy" all previously published knowledge and norms were generalized. Exploring the "Teachings" of Monomakh, one can find much in common in the rules of moral behavior of different eras.

Who owns the authorship?

Opinions about the creators of the unique encyclopedia diverge. Some researchers are sure that the author of "Domostroy" is a confessor of Ivan the Terrible - Protopope Sylvester. He created a book for the guidance of the king. Others believe that Sylvester just rewrote "Domostroy" in the middle of the 16th century.

Summary

It is worth studying the contents of this book on the household, in order to understand what it was committed to and why it was so revered by the church. If we take as the basis the creation of Sylvester, then it has a preface, a message from the son to the father and almost 70 (more precisely 67) chapters. They were reunited in the main sections devoted to the spiritual, worldly, family, cooking.

Virtually all chapters have a close connection with Christian rules and commandments. After "father's son's punishment," the next chapter tells how Christians correctly believe in the Holy Trinity and the Most-Pure Mother of God. It says how to worship holy relics and holy forces.

The author of "Domostroi" tells the readers in detail how to make obeisances, to be baptized, to receive communion, and to use prophora. What is forbidden to do in the temple.

Great importance in the book is given to the veneration of the king and every ruler, which united the importance for the people of the church and ruler.

The instruction of the father to his son

I would like to see the book "Domostroy", a brief description of which is described above, a little more.

A special place is occupied by the most important instruction of "Domostroi" - the father's commandment. Turning to his son, he first of all blesses him. Further, he instructs his son, his wife and children to live according to Christian laws, with truth and a clear conscience, believing and keeping the commandments of God. The father gives these lines to his son and his household members and stresses: "If you do not accept this script, you will answer for yourself on the Day of Judgment."

It is invested with majesty, wisdom and pride. Such instructions would be relevant at any time. After all, all parents wish their children good, want to see them as honest, merciful and worthy people. Modern youth often do not hear such phrases from their fathers and mothers. A "Domostroy", the year of its creation fell for a period of special veneration of God, put everything in its place. This is the law that should be followed, and the point. He was not questioned. He placed all members of the family on his "steps", determined the relations between them and, most importantly, united them. That's what Domostroy is.

Honoring and obeying father and mother

Children are strictly prohibited from cursing their parents, insulting them and condemning them. All instructions must be fulfilled without question, without discussing what the parents said.

All children should love their father and mother, obey them, honor their old age and obey them in everything. Those who disobey will be condemned and excommunicated from the church. And the children who pay obedience to their father and mother are not to be afraid - they will live in goodness and without adversity.

The chapter is filled with wisdom, respect for the individual. It recalls the continuity of the future and the past, that the veneration of parents is the strength of the whole society. Unfortunately, this is not being propagated now as a truth and norm. Parents have lost their authority for their children.

About needlework

In those days, honest work was respected very highly. Therefore, the rules of "Domostroi" touched on the conscientious and high-quality execution of any work.

Those who are lying, working dishonestly, stealing, not doing good for the good of society are indulged in condemnation. Before the beginning of any business it was required to cross himself and ask for the blessing of the Lord, to bow three times to the earth with the saints. Any needlework (cooking, stocking, handicrafts) should start with pure thoughts and washed hands.

Everything that is done with pure thoughts and desires will benefit people. Is it possible to argue with this? ..

The prohibition of "Domostroy"

With the advent of the new government in 1917, this set of rules was abolished and even banned. Of course, this was due to the fact that the revolutionaries opposed religious propaganda and everything connected with this. Therefore, Domostroy could not be approved by the new government. The struggle against autocracy and serfdom (supported by the church) forbade the mention of religion and Orthodoxy.

In any literature, the authors of the time brought the reader to the idea of atheism. Of course, the book with the teachings on the veneration of priests and monks, their spiritual fathers, service to the tsar and all the rulers could not be resolved in any case.

Such a struggle with religion for many decades has not had a positive effect on the morality of modern society.

Educational value

Despite the mention in the book of such words as "terrible judgment", "devil", "evil", all these commandments could now become a good guide to everyday actions. Taking into account the fact that "for today's residents of Russia" laws are not written ", it is not possible to rely on a set of generally accepted rules.

Manners of behavior are developed, proceeding from the norms of morality, which are laid by parents, school, society. Not always pay due attention to this. Not to mention that any rules are accepted by everyone for daily use. The Church has ceased to be so seriously taken by people to honor all the divine commandments.

Now many works are being reinterpreted and acquire new meaning. Works that were rejected, condemned, recognized as genius and talented. "Domostroy" is one of such unique creations that carry for the modern family, the younger generation and all people a lot of valuable practical advice for each day. The main idea of the book is the education of children from the very first days, the direction of the child to good deeds and the manifestation of good in all their actions. Is not this now so lacking in our society, full of lies, hypocrisy, envy, anger and aggression?

Historical meaning

Thanks to the appearance of this book, today we can get information about the life and life of people of that time. "Domostroy" was written for a wide range of readers, for people of different social status. This guide for the military, clerks, servicemen and all the citizens who have a family, create their own hearth. Regardless of whether the book reflects a real life or is the rule for creating an ideal life, it has immense historical significance for the people now living in Russia. Researchers study on it leisure, cultural and intellectual life of the population of Russia in the 16th century. Although while such entertainment did not exist at all, as any entertainment the church condemned and forbade. What is Domostroy for historians? This is an important information about private life, family values, religious rules, traditions and laws of everyday life in a Russian family of that time.