The original legislative and cultural monument of the inhabitants of ancient Russia, left to descendants from its authors in the 16th century, Domostroy is today an important historical heritage. This authoritative guide describes in detail the mechanism for regulating family relations and housekeeping. Today it is of great interest to researchers of the historical heritage of our ancestors.
A unique set of relevant rules and recommendations "Domostroy" was able to combine monumental spiritual and worldly life, thereby demonstrating that, only following the divine norms of life, you can achieve success in life and peace of mind. This "Household Encyclopedia" in very detail and clearly explains not only the rules of the household, but also the rules for the implementation of the rituals.
In this book, no aspects of the life of a Russian person of the 16th century, including wedding celebrations, various annual holidays and daily everyday details of pastime, are bypassed. It is interesting that even in our time, many foreign citizens believe that in the country Domostroy is still the handbook of every Russian citizen.
Due to the fact that in the 16th century there were a large number of handwritten books on parchment and paper delivered to our country from Europe, the books "Domostroya" existed in two forms: printed and manuscript. Historians claim that this was the reason for the appearance in circulation of two different versions of this epic encyclopedia. One version is distinguished by ancient syllables and strict, but wise instructions. And another version of an authoritative book is a set of rules with strange and rather strict customs. Today, the exact date of the creation of Domostroy is not known, but it is believed that he first appeared in Veliky Novgorod in the first half of the 16th century.
Authorship of Domostroi and its essence
It is interesting that the official point of view on the authorship of the famous domestic encyclopedia diverges. Some historical scholars believe that Archpriest Sylvester (confessor of Ivan the Terrible) created this monumental work as a spiritual instruction for his monarch. However, there is a large group of scientific researchers who are sure that this clergyman actually only rewrote the already existing version of the book, created in an earlier period in the history of Russia.
A detailed study of "Domostroi" allows us to judge this book as a guide revered by the executive branch and the church to life in all its fields: secular and spiritual. The structural construction of the version of Sylvester implies a separate preface, a message from son to father and other sixty-seven chapters devoted to honoring the authorities and household items, including family relationships and cooking.
It is immediately evident that almost all the chapters of Domostroi are oriented towards Christian values. It clearly shows respect for the older generation, the Christian veneration of the Holy Trinity and the Virgin Mary, proper worship of supernatural forces and holy relics. In addition, the rules of the "Law of God" are analyzed in detail, including a description of such things as laying the cross on oneself correctly and bowing down to the ground and waist, preparing for Holy Communion and using prosphora, how to behave in the church and other standards of behavior.
The red thread of "Homebuilding" traces the harmony of the power of the Church and the Tsar, which should be revered unconditionally.
Summary of "Domostroy"
In the most detail, especially emphasizing the importance of this issue, the “Homebuilding” prescribes father's instruction to his son, reverence and obedience to parents and needlework.
Focusing on these standards of everyday life, I want to especially highlight the following:
- Father's instruction to his son (father's commandment) begins with a blessing. After this, the father instructs the native child, along with his wife and children, to be guided by the Christian commandments. Especially valuable are the lines of instruction: "If this scripture is not accepted, then you will answer for yourself on the Day of Judgment."
This instruction is imbued with the spirit of greatness and fatherly wisdom. That is why the relevance of these lines applies to all times, including modernity. Today, the young generation is not guided by this epic wisdom, and therefore it becomes obvious to everyone where the frank separation between different generations comes from. And during the period of leadership in family relations, it was precisely the way of building the Domostroi that honoring the older generation was unconditional, which undoubtedly yielded positive results.
- Honoring and obeying parents excluded any possibility of condemning or insulting a father or mother by their children. Here the hierarchy of family power is clearly indicated, in which the instructions of the parents cannot be discussed, but are carried out implicitly. The love, reverence and obedience of children to their parents is determined by the very nature of the existence of family values. In violation of this rule, children are expected to be excommunicated and curse their parents. It is the clan attachment of descendants to their ancestors that allows us to talk about the fundamental support of society and its strength. Unfortunately, today parental authority has been significantly lost, which contributes to enormous disunity throughout society.
- The rule "On needlework" had a very serious status in view of the huge respect for honest work at that time. It was the quality performance of any work that was of paramount importance in assessing the human qualities of household members. Therefore, this rule was a proper measure of diligence, diligence and, as a consequence, the usefulness of each person for the family and society. Here, those people who are prone to deception, theft, greed and other Christian vices indulged in very serious condemnation. It is interesting that before completing any task, it was necessary to impose a cross on oneself, to seek the favor of the Lord, and to bow three times to the saints in front of their faces depicted in the icons. And before any needlework, it was necessary to wash your hands and cleanse your thoughts from unkind desires.
Cancel "Domostroi"
The set of unique rules "Domostroy" was abolished by the Soviet government in 1917. It is clear that the revolutionary propaganda of that historical era was based entirely on other ideological values, which the traditional norms of the Orthodox state abhorred. The class struggle with the autocracy and the state system excluded the norms of "Domostroy" customary for the Russian soul. Now, there were other rules of relations between people that relied exclusively on atheism and the class struggle with the bourgeoisie and landowners.
The invaluable experience of many generations, accumulated in this encyclopedia, was first devoted to persecution, and then to oblivion. And this could not but affect the moral state of society, which today seems quite fragmented.
