About the distribution of the theory «The Third Romein» Russia of the 16th century

Abstract

In article is considered a question of distribution of the theory «The Third Rome» in Russia of the end of the XVI century. The research is based on texts of records on the Godunov’s Psalters. This century the name «The Third Rome» was applied to «The Russian land» and «The Russian tzardom». It is shown that one of the fi rst cases (perhaps, the fi rst) correlation of «the Third Rome» with «Moscow» was records Godunov’s Psalters. This complex of richly illuminated manuscripts was written in one of capital monastery between 1591 and 1600 by request of the uncle Boris Godunov of the boyar Dmitry Godunov. These manuscripts soon after their writing were enclosed in the largest cathedrals and monasteries of Russia: in Uspensky and Arkhangelsk Kremlin cathedrals, in monasteries — Chudov, Novodevichij, Troitse-Sergiyev, Kirillo-Belozersky, Soloveckij, Ipatyevsky in Kostroma and Makaryevsky in Kalyazin. In article the opinion that the first attempt of distribution of idea «the Third Rome» outside the capital was connected with distribution of Godunov’s Psalters is expressed. It anticipated it’s distribution in printing Nomocanon (Kormchaja) of 1653.

Keywords

• 16th century
• Russian history
• archaeography
• handwritten books
• book culture
• Godunovs
• the Third Rome
• records on books
• Chudov the monastery