Emergence and Development of Old Bulgarian Historical Apocalyptics in the 11th–12th CC.

Abstract | Full Text

Introduction. The author analyzes the complex (cycle) of historical apocalyptical works compiled in medieval Bulgaria under the Byzantine domination (1018-1186). The cycle includes interpolated Slavonic translations of prophecies about the End of days popular in the Eastern Orthodox world (Revelation by St. Methodius of Patara; apocryphal Visions of prophets Isaiah and Daniel). These works are considered as specific Bulgarian kind of history writing. Methods. The author reveals the methods of interpolating and compiling the above mentioned works and analyzes the contents of the interpolations in three fields – sacral geography, apocalyptic prosopography and historical reminiscences. As a whole, these interpolations allow to judge on the Bulgarian spiritual culture and literature under the Byzantine domination and on the contents of the historical memory preserved among ordinary Bulgarian clergy of the Archbishopric of Ochrid. Analysis. Bulgarian toponyms, names of Bulgarian rulers and reminiscences of their deeds in the mentioned works were defined by the reflections of their authors on Bulgarian history and current military, political and social cataclysms being reconsidered against the background of growing acute apocalyptical expectations. Thus, the historical apocalyptic works apart and the whole cycle were open for further additions and changes as well as to new interpretations of the permanent contents. Conclusion. The cycle of the historical apocalyptic works created in the Bulgarian lands in the 11th c. in the situation of common for Bulgarians and Greeks apocalyptic expectations and represented the image of common Byzantino-Bulgarian destiny after 1018. By the same time the prophecies on places and actors of the apocalypticevents were re-oriented to Bulgarian lands and supplemented with reminiscences of the few events and persons from Bulgarian history known to the compilers of these works.